Why do I pass out in the middle of the morning?
July 7, 2010 7:31 AM   Subscribe

I pass out in the middle of the morning. Why?

(This post may have TMI)

Several days a week, I get up, go to the gym, come home, have breakfast and go to work. Right after I get to work, at about 10 in the morning, I begin to feel crazy sleepy. I doze off worse than a cat, and I honestly have to really push myself not to lay my head on my desk. I feel drunk, almost.

This happens more less every other day. It was the same thing at university.

At first, I thought it could be the content of my breakfast, so I decided to balance it up. I usually have carbs, protein and fat. (An egg, a slice of toast and soy milk, for example, or fruit juice with tofu and some cheese). I made sure I had enough calories (200-300). This didn’t work.

Then I thought perhaps I should sleep more. I sleep about 7-8 hours a day as it is. This didn’t work either.

I have no idea what else to try.

Here is some extra info

I am trying to slowly lose weight, about a pound a week, sometimes two.
I’m going to the gym 4 days a week, but I am currently still very overweight (BMI of 29).
I read blood pressure could be a reason of this problem, and I have had some serious issues with a contraceptive I’ve been using (been riding the crimson wave for about a month and a half) sorry if it’s TMI.


What do you suggest?
posted by Tarumba to Health & Fitness (24 answers total) 7 users marked this as a favorite
 
If you have been "riding the crimson wave for about a month and a half" you may be anemic. You need to get that checked out.
posted by govtdrone at 7:37 AM on July 7, 2010 [6 favorites]


Go to your doctor.
posted by uans at 7:38 AM on July 7, 2010 [2 favorites]


Best answer: IANAD, etc.: the first thing that struck me is that if you've been bleeding for, like, 45 days, you may be a tad anemic - I can't donate blood right after my period because my hematocrit's always lousy. While I'd definitely consult a doc about the fatigue + endless period (while this DOES happen with certain forms of birth control, it ain't, y'know, DESIRABLE), it probably wouldn't hurt to start taking a daily vitamin plus an iron supplement in the interim.
posted by julthumbscrew at 7:39 AM on July 7, 2010 [1 favorite]


I have similar issues to falling asleep -- perhaps even passing out -- usually based on any kind of sugar intake. This is especially a problem if I'm not actively mentally or physically engaged in an activity.

So far, I'm curbing the issue by drinking a lot of icy water, and making frequent trips to the bathroom, or just walking outside for some fresh air.
posted by indigo4963 at 7:40 AM on July 7, 2010


It sounds somewhat like reactive hypoglycemia. It does sound like a low blood sugar problem. But rather than make guesses, I'll suggest that you talk to a doctor about this (especially since you're also dealing with exciting menstrual issues).
posted by sciencegeek at 7:41 AM on July 7, 2010


Response by poster: I know. I am using implanon (the three year implant) And I am getting it removed in December. I think i will have to go to the doctor...
posted by Tarumba at 7:41 AM on July 7, 2010


I get that way after a hard workout (passed out in the locker room showers--eww) and for me, having some almonds for a snack when I first started feeling a hint of wooziness seemed to help considerably. I think blood sugar will be another thing you should look into. You may also be running low on iron. good luck--I'm going to be curious to see what the smart folks here have to offer for advice.
posted by midwestguy at 7:43 AM on July 7, 2010


Best answer: Could be any number of things. (IANAD)

200-300 calories for breakfast isn't exactly fulfilling. Remember, your body just starved for 10+ hours. Breakfast should be a substantial and healthy meal. If there's one meal to notch up the calories, it's breakfast. Protein is especially important in the morning. Are you vegetarian? I am, and I'm eating a bowl of plain yogurt with about 1/2 cup of toasted berries Kashi cereal and a banana. Extremely filling, packed with protein and a non-sugary fruit serving.

I have problems with low blood pressure, which can mock symptoms of sleepiness. For me, it's really a solid mix of sleepy and dizzy. When I worked in retail as a teen, I'd have to stand for hours and on a number of occasions I fainted. I was diagnosed with a type of syncope, and my doctor recommended that I munch on saltines or some other salty foods. You could try that, just don't over do it on the salt.

You've been menstruating for a long time, and if you are vegetarian (or just had poor eating habits), you might be iron deficient. Do you bruise easily, too?

You really should see a doctor. Hope you get well!
posted by two lights above the sea at 7:46 AM on July 7, 2010 [1 favorite]


Best answer: Just an anecdote - when I started a new contraceptive and bled for 23 days (about half of what you've experienced) I called the Dr and was told that was completely unacceptable to tolerate and they got me fixed up ASAP. I would guess it's anemia or blood pressure related but am sure Dr would be happy to help. That sucks!
posted by pointystick at 7:52 AM on July 7, 2010


Response by poster: I bruise like a peach.
posted by Tarumba at 7:54 AM on July 7, 2010


I was drunk once - and I hadn't even drunk anything!

Turns out that was the problem - I was dehydrated. How much water do you drink?
posted by devnull at 8:01 AM on July 7, 2010


It's pretty easy to see if it is, in fact, a blood pressure issue. Pick up a home blood pressure tester; these are cheap and easy to use. I think we got ours at a pharmacy or Wal-Mart.

Check your blood pressure when you are relaxed and feeling normal--say, before breakfast. Then check your blood pressure when you're crashing. Make sure you do everything the same way; sit or stand, same body posture, if you've been sitting a while when you take it the first time make sure you've been sitting a while when you take it the second time, etc.

This is great info to help you work with your doctor to figure out what's going on. I keep a log of my blood pressure/heart rate, with notes about what time I took it and how I was feeling then.
posted by galadriel at 8:04 AM on July 7, 2010


Response by poster: I drink about two litres of water, plus fruit and veggies.


Thank you for your answers, I hadn't realized it was serious, I was hoping it was a quirk of my body.
posted by Tarumba at 8:04 AM on July 7, 2010


A pound a week of weight loss isn't slow. That's borderline too fast. You should really be aiming for 1/4 to 1/2 pound per week. I know it seems like it will take forever at that rate but really -- weight management is a long term goal.

I second: anemia, see a doctor ASAP for the bleeding, eat more protein and fats for breakfast, and stay hydrated especially when losing wight.
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:06 AM on July 7, 2010


Best answer: I'd suggest two things:

- Eat a lot of protein, and mainly protein, for breakfast. I have the same problem if I have a bowl of cereal. Switched (back) to tofu-miso soup (with tiny peas, some corn, a little spinach, and some shiitake mushrooms) a couple of days ago, and my mornings are much much better.

- Consider OTC iron supplementation. I found some slow-release iron that doesn't upset my stomach. Don't do this a lot on your own; I checked with my doctor and she said one or two tablets once a month was fine for me. You should check with a Dr. before doing this more than a few days. I'm not an expert on iron, and there is such a thing as iron toxicity, and it is serious, so do your own research.

- Iron-rich foods include dark leafy greens (kale, spinach) consumed with acid - a little vinegar or citrus dressing.

If you drink juice or eat a lot of fruit, that's even *worse* than eating cereal or bread in the morning. So, although orange juice with kale might _sound_ like a good idea, it's not, at least not first thing in the morning.

- avoid caffeine - although it will pick you up one or two mornings, after a while you become used to it -- so no net improvement -- and it can actually make you feel worse.

A short nap before work, or in your car after you arrive, might help, too - you can try it and see if 20 minutes is enough.
posted by amtho at 8:07 AM on July 7, 2010 [1 favorite]


When you go to the doctor, ask about low Vitamin D levels. When I had similar symptoms as you, my doctor said my Vitamin D levels were low (based on blood work results), and recommended I take a Vitamin D supplement.

Awhile back I had to stop giving blood for a whole year so my iron would stabilize. Again, I was having similar symptom as you - the unexplained exhaustion at weird times of the day.

Please get yourself checked out! And good luck on your weight loss program - make sure you mention it to the doctor too.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:09 AM on July 7, 2010


Best answer: In addition to the iron and D, how's your B12 and folic acid intake?

Iron is a tricky thing supplementation-wise. It can cause serious gastrointestinal upset that makes people not want to take it (personal experience talking). I highly recommend the OTC heme iron supplement Bifera (although I don't know if it's available outside of North America). It causes no GI issues and it has no restrictions as to when you take it - you can take it with or without meals, it doesn't need Vitamin C to aid absorption, and you do not have to avoid calcium, tannins, or caffeine.

I'm currently anemic and it's truly awful. I fell asleep at my desk several times last week, and at one point went to the parking garage to lay down in my car because of an upset stomach (before I switched to Bifera) and then fell asleep for three hours. After a month or so of basic iron supplementation plus a week and a half of heavy iron supplementation and a weekend of sleeping, I feel ten times better - but not nearly 100% yet. Anemia sucks, but it DOES improve.
posted by elsietheeel at 8:43 AM on July 7, 2010


Are you experiencing frequent urination and excessive thirst? You may wish to have your blood sugar checked as well.
posted by Allee Katze at 8:51 AM on July 7, 2010


Best answer: I'd go to a doctor, first off, but I'd also eat a bit more. I'd either have breakfast, hit the gym, then have a second breakfast (a protein shake or something like that, perhaps) OR I'd hit the gym, have breakfast... head to work and have a small snack after an hour and a half (sometime before you start to feel like you're going to pass out).

You may actually be doing yourself a disservice if you're not eating enough and your body is going into starvation mode and keeping you from burning more calories - but it's hard to say for sure without knowing what the rest of your diet is like, and just how much you're doing at the gym.
posted by backwards guitar at 8:53 AM on July 7, 2010


- Eat a lot of protein, and mainly protein, for breakfast. I have the same problem if I have a bowl of cereal. Switched (back) to tofu-miso soup (with tiny peas, some corn, a little spinach, and some shiitake mushrooms) a couple of days ago, and my mornings are much much better.

I -- a guy, so obviously very different from your situation in many ways -- had that exact same "conking out" problem for years, and it all but vanished when I switched to having an egg for breakfast instead of cereal. The weird thing is, I STILL get crazy dozy if I have an egg AND cereal -- it's a combination of lots of protein and VERY FEW CARBS that gives me non-sleepy mornings. If I have lots of carbs before noon, regardless of whether or not I have protein, my body goes "burn burn burn burn HEY THE EASY FUEL IS GONE LET'S NAP."

p.s. regardless of any advice here see a doctor.
posted by Shepherd at 9:20 AM on July 7, 2010


Hmm get your thyroid levels checked. I had to get my thyroid taken out due to a lump. Its a problem that can become serious that doctors should do more checking on .

IF your thyroid levels are low it could cause extreme tired ness that you wont be able to fix and could be a sign of thyroid cancer.

So when you go to your doctor Have them do a thyroid level check since they will have you get a blood test anyway .
posted by majortom1981 at 9:38 AM on July 7, 2010


This has happened to me a lot after the gym, and I often get the same overwhelming fatigue after lunch. First off, try eating before you go to the gym. You are running your tank completely empty before dumping food in it, and that's sure to make your system wonky. Eat your toast, go to the gym, and then have the egg. If you have time, lay down for 10 minutes before work. I solved the lunch problem by not eating a full lunch, but eating low carb, high protein snacks throughout the day.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:02 AM on July 7, 2010


I've had the same problem and it helped by eating a higher-protein breakfast (there's obviously other factors involved with you, but this is one thing.)

I recommend non-fat greek yogurt. One serving: 120 calories, no fat, 9g of carbs (sugar, less than a lot of normal yogurts) and *20g* of protein. That + some honey and fruit is incredibly filling.
posted by Solon and Thanks at 1:11 PM on July 7, 2010


Response by poster: Indeed I was anemic. Taking iron pills every day now, My sleepiness is GONE!

Thank you so much!
posted by Tarumba at 4:44 PM on August 10, 2010 [1 favorite]


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