Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group EXTREMELY sleepy after eating

Hello, Salianboy:

Congratulations on starting the diet; this will--eventually--decrease the postprandial ennui.

This is due to CO2 exchange and because we have AS there are many nutrients depleted from our systems, not all of which can be easily replaced with supplementation and in this case (enzymes) not so easily diagnosed.

But I would be interested in something else: Metabolic syndrome (Metabolic X); this is a definite possibility and good to get key hormones checked.

AS causes not only muscle weakness, but also systemic muscle (includes heart) wasting and endurance issues.

We do get a terrible, crushing fatigue that is nearly incapacitating and I would recommend some supplements that seem to help but first help lower inflammation with about 2g effective GLA (many capsules of borage seed oil best taken at once before bed) and 4-6oz fresh wheatgrass juice for couple days several weeks in a row.

Then CoQ10, magnesium (citrate is good--just couple of tablespoonfuls and not the whole bottle like before a 'procedure,') leucine (most common BCAA--free form amino acid; weightlifting places have these and lysine is also good) about 2g/day. Take a good probiotic or find Stonyfield Farms or Brown Cow yoghurt and eat 2oz per day even if restricting dairy. Increase snacking before lunch and before dinner; just something safe--pistachios or macadamias/almonds/walnuts but have just a little raisins or dried cranberries too. And important to drink about 6oz unsweetened concord grape juice with these two snacks. The nitrogen/CO2 tide that causes the severe exhaustion will be reduced and eventually eliminated, once the AS is in sustained remission through diet; keep up the good work!

HEALTH,
John

Thank you all for the warm reception and helpful suggestions. I will definitely discuss both the coeliac and blood sugar possibilities with my GP once she gets back from vacation. Fortunately she is usually very determined to get to the heart of my issues, but we haven't been in contact since I visited the the sleep doc in the spring. I kind of wanted to take a break from doctors for a while.

Thinking on your hypoglycemia suggestions, I find that I have to correct myself a bit as well. I wasn't 100% correct in stating that the crash is of the same intensity whatever I eat. In the past it has been somewhat reduced when I have eaten a medium-sized pure protein and fat meal without any carbs at all. This indicates that blood sugar may indeed be the culprit.

I guess the plan for now is to continue the NSD and adjust the protein and fat to carb ratio. I have tried to go low carb in the past, but it has proven difficult. Then again my determination has grown a lot as the pain of AS has worsened. Whether low carb works or not, I'll try to take my problem up with my GP once again.

I'll attempt to give a try to the stuff you mentioned, DragonSlayer, although some of it sounds pretty exotic. It would take a bit of searching to get it all together, except for the magnesium, which I am already taking.

Anyway, thanks again, and I'll keep you posted on my progress!

It does sound more like blood sugar than anything else.

Does diabetes run in your family?

Try taking a walk after you eat and see if that helps.

If you are starting to have blood sugar issues, but before it shows up as high blood glucose, the walking should help make the cells more susceptible to the insulin.

Diabetes runs on both sides of my family, my blood sugar is now in the prediabetes range. But long ago, even before it showed up in my blood work, food would make me sleepy: the more I ate, the more sugar I ate, the more complex carb I ate, the less I moved after eating. Only years later did it finally catch up to me as far as showing up as higher blood glucose levels.

If you suspect insulin resistance / metabolic syndrome, get some good books and read up and they should tell you more than the standard generic information.

Hi Artur, welcome to kickAS

I am also HLA B27+, diagnosed with AS/Psoriatic arthritis, and Psoriasis and have many diet issues.

I agree with Cemc, if you go for testing for Celiac, remain on gluten until after the testing. As I had pretty much been gluten free for many years prior, the testing did not go well. I did a gluten challenge - it was suppose to be for six weeks. The first week into the test, I landed in the hospital 3 times. I went back to being gluten free, and the biopsy didn't show celiac, which was to be expected. The doctor said the challenge alone was enough to diagnose me with Celiac.

I also follow a fructose free diet which is an extension to the Celiac, diet but eliminating all fructose/fructans and sugars from my diet. With Fructose intolerance/malabsorption issues -

"Symptoms are usually characterized by:

Lethargy (lack of energy)
Vomiting
Diarrhea
Abdominal pain
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar)
Poor growth
Seizures, possibly leading to coma (after ingesting large amounts of sugar)"

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Fructose.Metabolic/ - always taking on new members.

My Endocrinologist is looking into possible Growth Hormone deficiency - likely from childhold and a head injury then.

Hope you get answers soon.

Hugs
Gerri & Makaylah (service dog)

I am also a "pain control" only patient. I have taken lots of Morphine both sustained relief and immediate relief. I have never had the gas problem. It is constipating and you have to stay on top of that. I have been on the long acting and have the immediate release for break-through pain. I am not taking that as of now. I am taking Norco 10/325.

As for the long term use of Prednisone, I have been there and done that also. I am now paying the price. My intestines are very thin and the drs. are concerned about that situation. It can be very serious. I don't heal. It took me about 2 years to heal from heart surgery. I just had decompression and fusing and we are watching closely to see if I am going to heal.

There are so many serious side effects from Prednisone use I would seriously advise against using it for pain control and use it only when necessary. I had to have a lot for Systemic Lupus organ problems. Now because of that, I have to have a lot of it when I have to have surgery and I have had 10 surgeries. Your body doesn't always make what is needed for stressful situations after long-term use.

I hope you get relief and can enjoy your family. I love the way I feel with a Medrol dose pack!!