Question:
Why am I constantly sleepy?

It seems like every two hours I am so sleepy that I have to lie down down and take a nap. I drove out of town the other day and it was a nightmare trying to stay awake each way. I thought I would have to pull over and take a nap. Is this normal? And what can I do about it? I teach and am home right now for the summer, but I will be going to workshops starting next week and I'll have to stay awake all day. What do I do then.    — Nanci K. (posted on June 3, 2000)

June 3, 2000
Nanci, how long has it been since your surgery? That could have a lot to do with it. You need time to heal. I am just over a month post op and one thing that has helped a lot is b-12. I got it at GNC, one little tablet you put under your tounge....what a help! I hope you feel better soon!
   — TWAPPED

June 3, 2000
Nanci, I read in your surgery comments that you had your surgery just a week after mine in March. Just a few suggestions - First of all, you said that you get tired (real sleepy) about every two hours. How does that coincide with your meals? It could be that your blood sugar is taking a nose dive about that time and you might need a small snack to help pick it back up. Maybe a small glass of milk or a piece of cheese and fruit or cracker might help too. You don't need "alot" (yeah, like we could have "alot" anyway) but just a few bites could help. Also, you could need more B-12. A blood test can determine if your B-12 is low, but it won't hurt to start supplimenting with some over the counter B-12 or B complex vitamins even before getting the blood test. Make sure that you're taking your regular multi-vitamin every day too. Make sure you're getting enough calories each day too. Our bodies slow our metabolism way down if it begins to think we're trying to starve it and we do get VERY tired because it it trying to conserve every ounce of energy it can to prevent that starvation. If your calories are down the best thing we can do to is to increase our caloric intake and eat on a more regular basis. Our bodies ARE still healing from the surgery but we tend to forget that and sometimes we feel like we're super-women and try to do too much too soon and end up paying for it in the long-run. All of these things combined could be reason for your extreme "tiredness". Hope these suggestions help but if all else fails...CALL YOUR DOCTOR! That's what he's there for and what we've paid him for! Good luck and keep us posted. God bless. cj
   — cj T.

June 4, 2000
There are several things that could be dragging you out. What are you eating just before these sleepies hit? If you are consuming any sugar, the overwhelming sleepies are the first symptom of dumping for many. I had a friend who just grabbed a few jellybeans whenever she walked by and felt sleepy and sort of headachey every few hours. If you are trying to get your protein from milk, there's a whopping lot of sugar in milk & that might also cause this. Besides using the sublingual B12's, you might try protein supplements (made with water or s/f juices), 30g for breakfast, and 30g mid-afternoon. Also, when you get your labs, check for iron. There are several good ones available, but don't waste your money on ferrous sulfate as it is not absorbable by RNY's. When do you get labs again?
   — vitalady

August 30, 2000
Eat LOW carbohydrate (20 gms per day) and HIGH protien (60 gms per day) and you will be more mentally alert and less sleepy.
   — Linda G.