Afternoon Fatigue

MommaBear started this discussion · 12/14/2010

Ugh, I don't know if it is just the winter setting into my bones or what, but by 3:00 in the afternoon I am soooo tired. I am getting good sleep at night, not sluggish when waking in the morning, but right about that 3:00 mark, my eyes start to get heavy and I want to go into nap mode. I'm thinking it just has to do with the wonderful season of winter, but if anyone has any simple tips or advice, I'd love to hear it!

13 replies

chemgoddess1 · 12/14/2010
Vitamin B12, vitamin D, tanning Also I had really good effects with7-keto DHEA last year.
poledanceromance · 12/15/2010
I have this problem. I also have a family history of skin cancer, so I absolutely refuse to set foot into a tanning bed, even a low-power one, even for 2 minutes at a time. I just won't do it. I also see the price tag on those SAD lights is waaaaaaayyy too high for what they are. What are my options?
MommaBear · 12/15/2010
Would a One-A-Day type Vitamin cover me for the B12 and Vitamin D?
MommaBear · 12/15/2010
PDR, when I used to live in my condo, I had this nice huge patio window that the sun would shine through - I would lay in my house butt naked sunning myself (I was up too high for anyone to see, especially if I was lying flat on the floor). I don't know if you get any of the nasty rays that way - it didn't tan me or anything, I just felt like it gave me a good dose of the sun that was lacking in the winter. 😎
EagleSpirit · 12/15/2010
Vitamin D! ☀️ ☀️ ☀️ I have this problem every year: I get so fatigued that I'm constantly getting sick and feeling blue. I didn't realize that your vitamin D levels can get so awfully low. The amount of vitamin D in my multivitamins isn't nearly enough. I'm allergic to the sun so I don't expose myself to the UV's without the strongest sunblock I can get my hands on. Vitamin D supplements are my only option. This is the first year I started taking vitamin D and it has been a miracle supplement! I'm not dreaming of bed by early afternoon, nor am I needing so much sleep at night. (I can easily sleep 12 hours or more every day of winter) And my mood! SAD (seasonally affective disorder) doesn't have a chance with me anymore. What an improvement! 🥂 I can't answer about the B12 because I have a defiency and have to take sublinguals of this vitamin. It's either the sublinguals or the shots and I hated giving myself the needles. So I'm not sure if your multi will have enough B12...?
hookedonpole · 12/15/2010
For YEARS I struggled with fatigue and anemia, come to find out it was caused by B12 deficiency. I have to get the shots which up until couple months ago were given by doctor's office. Now have to give myself, but again HUBBY to the resuce. Poor guy was SO nervous first time even though doctor showed us how. Other stuff doesn't work for me since body doesn't absorb it, other than injections. I hope you feel better soon.
MichelleH · 12/15/2010
Another thing to consider is a change in diet with the winter weather? I know if you eat a heavy meal or very starchy, it will make you tired? Might also make a difference...
minicoopergrl · 12/15/2010
I have the same problem and I thought it was due to my 430a wake up time (I have to be in the office at 6a). On my commute home (I leave at 3p), im tired. Sometimes its bad enough where ive nodded off at a stop sign (dont worry, I put the e-brake on when im at a light). Its hit or miss if I can nap in the afternoon, but if I sit down to relax I end up falling asleep on the couch. I used to tan for a bit but it wasnt doing much for me, id get pink but no tan. I will find some b12 and vitamin d suppliments and give those a try.
chemgoddess1 · 12/15/2010
PDR, there are full spectrum bulbs that you can buy for reptiles that are pretty cheap. The now even have the spiral fluorescent ones that can go into any screw in socket. Try replacing a bulb or two in your house with them. Momma...One a Days will not cut it. I order a lot through Swanson Vitamins. Their prices are really cheap and their quality is outstanding! You can also generally find coupons on the internet for them. On the B12 I only buy the 500 mcg because any more than that and I am too energized. On the D's I have the high potency 2000 IU. On the 7-keto I was taking 100 mg twice a day. Stepping onto my soap box: Many of the multivitamins out there have a form of the chemical that is not a bioavailable form....basically only a small percent of it actually gets into your body, the rest is flushed down the toilet. The ones that are better for you are going to cost upwards of $20+ a bottle.
Poleluver · 12/15/2010
This is something I get and am hooked on 5 hr energy shots. In theory if you can stay up during the day regularly without other issues you could possibly sleep through the night after a few days of this. If an energy shot is too strong you can half it. ( the dollar store is cheapest). A protien snack isn't always enough. 1) are you enemic, hypothyroid issues, working out too close to bedtime??? The lack of sleep at night could be anxiety or stress, going through a weight loss time. I've had several intervals of those and usually it passes. I also would forget to think about a peice of bread before bed ( I was hungry some of the time). Also if I really need to sleep I take half a 25 mg Benadryl tablet an hour before bed so I am tired and it generally lasts 5 hrs. If you take more it can last longer and make you groggy if you are not careful with expirimenting. Theres also Meletonin. Hope you feel more energized and sleep when you need it!
ottersocks · 12/15/2010
My naturopath has told me that B12 isn't absorbed orally and injections are really the only way to get it in you. (She may be motivated by getting paid to give me shots though, so....) One other thing to think about is hypothyroid. Not sure how old you are but it's so common from the 30s on and is just about the most missed diagnosis in women. If you continue to feel punk, a thyroid function test is a cheap and easy thing for your doc to order. Make sure to get the test that tests multiple types of thyroid function though--they usually just order T4 and there are a few other more sensitive tests to do as well.
EagleSpirit · 12/16/2010
My naturopath has told me that B12 isn't absorbed orally and injections are really the only way to get it in you. (She may be motivated by getting paid to give me shots though, so....) Wow, that's completely different from what I was told by two doctors of mine. 🤔 They both said that sublinguals are just as affective as injections, and one said that taking a sublingual every day is a more even way of keeping it in your system. I got the shots every two or three weeks, and by the end of that time I was getting pretty fatigued again.
chemgoddess1 · 12/16/2010
Eventually, scientists discovered that a substance called intrinsic factor is necessary to absorb vitamin B12 through the digestive tract. Some people are born without the ability to make intrinsic factor or lack it due to other reasons, such as gastrointestinal surgery. Logically, doctors decided that vitamin B12 injections would help people who don't have intrinsic factor. Injections are typically prescribed for those that have been shown to have deficiencies. I would have to do some more research on the injections as I am not sure how quickly it clears your system. I just read that there is also a patch available but I am sure that there is a bit of a cost involved. Honestly, I will go to the store and but a $6 bottle of pills that will last me more than a month as opposed to having to get poked. I am not a fan of needles.