Slow start in the morning

[Carl]

This is something that has been relatively constant with me for a long time. When I awake, usually, I feel weak, fatigued, and kind of foggy, and this lasts for quite a long time (until around 11-12noon). It feels every day like I'm starting again from scratch. I contrast this with how I feel around 8-10PM, where I feel energised, strong, and super-interested in learning, and the difference is huge.

Just a little background on things I've covered so far: I eat a keto diet (since August), moderate protein, very high fat. The two supplements I take are fish oil in the morning and magnesium citrate powder before bed. I use heavy curtains and towels to block out all the light, use f.lux or equivalent on all my electronic devices, stretch, breathe, and meditate before sleep. Still, it just feels like I'm not all there in the morning. I'm doing my best to keep up with all the new health stuff on my busy schedule, and have my first ever blood donation appointment next week.

It may have something to do with smoking too much, as in the morning I don't seem to be able to handle a whole lot. It makes me feel more fatigued, whereas when I smoke at night I can almost chain them without negative effects.

I know this all has to do with the cycles of hormones and other things in this big bag of chemicals, however my medical knowledge isn't the most comprehensive. I have thus far not looked much into adrenal fatigue, as I figured "hey, I'm 21 years old, a lot of this stuff doesn't apply to me", but this is all clearly more complex than I thought, and I will start looking into it when I have some time later today. I just thought I'd post this asking if anyone has experienced the same issues, and if anybody has any pointers?

 

[mcb]

...I know this all has to do with the cycles of hormones and other things in this big bag of chemicals, however my medical knowledge isn't the most comprehensive. I have thus far not looked much into adrenal fatigue, as I figured "hey, I'm 21 years old, a lot of this stuff doesn't apply to me", but this is all clearly more complex than I thought, and I will start looking into it when I have some time later today. I just thought I'd post this asking if anyone has experienced the same issues, and if anybody has any pointers?

Your epigenetic markers are a lot older than 21 years. You directly inherit them from your grandparents as well as your parents. There have been enough generations now eating industrial crap instead of food that there is a good chance that you were already screwed, health-wise, when you were born. Your best bet is to clean up everything you possibly can about your diet and your environment, as quickly as you can.

 

[hotfrog]

simple suggestion. Tape your mouth closed at night before you go to sleep. Use "micro pore" first aid tape. You are hyperventilating with your mouth open during the night, especially in REM sleep before you wake up. This will drastically cut down on that and make you feel MUCH better immediately. And you can never suffocate with tape on your mouth -- you can ALWAYS nose breath.

If it feels claustrophobic to do this, try practicing during the day or evening when you are sitting around. Get to the point where you can relax with tape over your mouth.

It's magic for this problem.

 

[Oxajil]

It may have something to do with smoking too much, as in the morning I don't seem to be able to handle a whole lot. It makes me feel more fatigued, whereas when I smoke at night I can almost chain them without negative effects.

Here is my experience which may help (fwiw I'm around your age): I usually wake up at 7 AM and I feel pretty tired then too, but since I can't fall asleep I go for a smoke which makes me more tired (indicating that I could use some more sleep). Then I go back to bed and sleep another hour or two hours, i.e. the tobacco helps me fall asleep. After that I feel more energized when I wake up.
For the past months I've mostly been using butter as my fat, and I know that contributed a lot to my fatigue and foggyness (I seem to be very casein sensitive...), freshly rendered lard however makes me feel energized. So maybe having some meat cooked in lard could help you feel energized? That is, if you use any butter at all. Have you also tried drinking a cup of bone broth in the morning?

 

[Carl]

First of all, thank you for the replies :).

Your epigenetic markers are a lot older than 21 years. You directly inherit them from your grandparents as well as your parents. There have been enough generations now eating industrial crap instead of food that there is a good chance that you were already screwed, health-wise, when you were born. Your best bet is to clean up everything you possibly can about your diet and your environment, as quickly as you can.

There are some things that still could be taken care of. I've not got onto the FIR sauna thing, still drink straight tap water, and still live in a house with WiFi and carry a cell phone. The house is full of typical students that I don't get along with (I failed at external considering around the beginning of our tenancy and our 'relationship' is beyond the point of repair), so it is quite stressful at times, but I'm moving out soon thankfully. My diet is really good, but I suspect that it still needs work, which I'll mention below.

simple suggestion. Tape your mouth closed at night before you go to sleep. Use "micro pore" first aid tape. You are hyperventilating with your mouth open during the night, especially in REM sleep before you wake up. This will drastically cut down on that and make you feel MUCH better immediately. And you can never suffocate with tape on your mouth -- you can ALWAYS nose breath.

If it feels claustrophobic to do this, try practicing during the day or evening when you are sitting around. Get to the point where you can relax with tape over your mouth.

It's magic for this problem.

This is very intriguing, I'll look into it :)

Here is my experience which may help (fwiw I'm around your age): I usually wake up at 7 AM and I feel pretty tired then too, but since I can't fall asleep I go for a smoke which makes me more tired (indicating that I could use some more sleep). Then I go back to bed and sleep another hour or two hours, i.e. the tobacco helps me fall asleep. After that I feel more energized when I wake up.
For the past months I've mostly been using butter as my fat, and I know that contributed a lot to my fatigue and foggyness (I seem to be very casein sensitive...), freshly rendered lard however makes me feel energized. So maybe having some meat cooked in lard could help you feel energized? That is, if you use any butter at all. Have you also tried drinking a cup of bone broth in the morning?

I sometimes do the 'few hours more sleep' thing, but I have this big thing about wasting time and almost feel guilty when I sleep too long. Sometimes the body just needs it, though, I guess.

I think you've hit on somewhere that I really haven't wanted to venture thus far. I have never tested eggs and butter, and they are absolute staples for me. Butter especially, I lather it on everything, along with eating butter chocolate. Just gonna have to bite the bullet perform an elimination on them, one at a time. I also get the energising feeling from lard, and I really should eat more of it to be honest.
I often drink bone broth, yes, though the past week or so I've ran out of broth/bones and haven't had a free day to arrange a new delivery, so maybe this is contributing to it. Had some broth at a friends house before, I sure have missed the feeling it gives me!

Another thing may be caffeine (strangely this didn't cross my mind earlier). Despite the occasional coffee, my caffeine use is rather low. Still, the black tea in the morning has a noticeable stimulant effect, so I definitely must eliminate that for a few days. Cheers for the feedback, it appears I've not been thinking with a hammer regarding my health lately, and it's time to really take a microscope to the things that affect my body.

 

[mcb]

First of all, thank you for the replies :).

Your epigenetic markers are a lot older than 21 years. You directly inherit them from your grandparents as well as your parents. There have been enough generations now eating industrial crap instead of food that there is a good chance that you were already screwed, health-wise, when you were born. Your best bet is to clean up everything you possibly can about your diet and your environment, as quickly as you can.

There are some things that still could be taken care of. I've not got onto the FIR sauna thing, still drink straight tap water, and still live in a house with WiFi and carry a cell phone. The house is full of typical students that I don't get along with (I failed at external considering around the beginning of our tenancy and our 'relationship' is beyond the point of repair), so it is quite stressful at times, but I'm moving out soon thankfully. My diet is really good, but I suspect that it still needs work, which I'll mention below.

Yes, and you most likely have time to work out the details, but don't feel like you have all the time in the world. Once we become aware of something, the universe seems somehow to expect us to act now rather than later. I should have mentioned that another factor working against younger people is the widespread indiscriminate use of pharmaceuticals during pregnancy, particularly in the 50's and 60's. What was done back then can produce major consequences two generations later -- the "skip a generation" effect. This is still being studied, and you might actually hear more about it once it has been studied to death. The marketing back then said that the drugs wouldn't cross the placental barrier. They lied.

You can reduce your EMF exposure very significantly by taking care where you put your cell phone when you are at home (and being aware if a roommate has their cell phone right through the wall from you!), and by making sure you are not right next to the Wi-Fi access point and aren't exposed to your own devices any more than necessary. I keep my cell phone on the other side of the house now, with Wi-Fi only (cellular transceiver turned off), and call forwarding to my "wired" (VOIP) line, but it took me quite a number of months to work that out.

I can't get rid of Wi-Fi either, because of my housemate (it's her house!), but I installed a "smart" access point that (supposedly) doesn't just indiscriminately blast out the signal in all directions at full power, and it's on the other side of the house too, with the phone. Do the best you can.

Drinking and bathing water can be very problematic. The PTB have got a lot of us there. Fluoridation is unavoidable for a lot of us, and short of moving to someplace that doesn't have it (and isn't getting it), the options are not so great. You can put in a whole-house filtration system that maybe removes fluoride while adding aluminum, if you have your own place and can afford the thousands that it costs. You can drink fluoride-free water if you can find it (and if the supplier isn't lying). I heard of one person that buys it in bulk and uses it to bathe, which is also quite expensive. If you are sensitive to it then there may not be any other choice, but how do you even tell that it is fluoride sensitivity and not something else?

But with any luck you are not living the worst-case scenario, and what you are able to do now will be enough for now. Just make sure you do what you can!

...

 

[Ennio]

Yes, and you most likely have time to work out the details, but don't feel like you have all the time in the world. Once we become aware of something, the universe seems somehow to expect us to act now rather than later.

I think it is important to get out of the habit of sleeping only a few hours on some nights. Good sleep on a consistent basis is crucial. So some self-discipline there about getting to sleep on time could help.

On the ketogenic brain experiment thread what you recently wrote makes it sound like you sometimes skip meals because you feel so good at later times of the day (presumably doing things that are stimulating). I could be wrong about my interpretation of what you wrote, but if you are skipping meals, having very active brain-intensive days, and missing sleep on top of it, let it be no surprise that you are waking up mornings feeling more tired than you think you should.

Your habits will catch up to you.

 

[mcb]

I realized after I wrote the above that I don't need the radios on in my cell phone at all while it's in the house. I can turn Wi-Fi off and use the sync cable. It's not going to radically influence my health, I don't think, but I do think there is an additive effect, if you keep doing what you can, and you may even find that other things align with you as well.

 

[Aliana]

I think it is important to get out of the habit of sleeping only a few hours on some nights. Good sleep on a consistent basis is crucial. So some self-discipline there about getting to sleep on time could help.

On the ketogenic brain experiment thread what you recently wrote makes it sound like you sometimes skip meals because you feel so good at later times of the day (presumably doing things that are stimulating). I could be wrong about my interpretation of what you wrote, but if you are skipping meals, having very active brain-intensive days, and missing sleep on top of it, let it be no surprise that you are waking up mornings feeling more tired than you think you should.

Your habits will catch up to you.

From what you have written, Adrenal fatigue sounds like it might be an issue. I have struggled with that since I was in high school - perhaps even earlier, so being young does not really rule it out. One thing I have learned is the need for consistent sleep - and it takes will power because the body often does not want to go to sleep early because with adrenal fatigue your cortisol is higher in the evenings than it should be (making you alert) and lower in the mornings when you need to wake up.

When you are ready, it might help to get a saliva test for adrenal fatigue if you are able. It might help to know if that is the cause - because it exacerbates so many other health issues. Also, if that is part of the problem, it is recommended to sleep until at least 9AM whenever you can, so don't feel bad about sleeping in occasionally

Not sure if you have read the thread on adrenal fatigue here: http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,488.0.html or James Wilson's book but I highly recommend it! (_http://www.amazon.com/Adrenal-Fatigue-Century-Stress-Syndrome/dp/1890572152)

 

[Carl]

Yes, and you most likely have time to work out the details, but don't feel like you have all the time in the world. Once we become aware of something, the universe seems somehow to expect us to act now rather than later.

I think it is important to get out of the habit of sleeping only a few hours on some nights. Good sleep on a consistent basis is crucial. So some self-discipline there about getting to sleep on time could help.

On the ketogenic brain experiment thread what you recently wrote makes it sound like you sometimes skip meals because you feel so good at later times of the day (presumably doing things that are stimulating). I could be wrong about my interpretation of what you wrote, but if you are skipping meals, having very active brain-intensive days, and missing sleep on top of it, let it be no surprise that you are waking up mornings feeling more tired than you think you should.

Your habits will catch up to you.

Hi Ennio, sorry if I was unclear, I get 7-8 hours of sleep every night very consistently. There may be a connection between this and missing meals though, though it's not something I do too often.


Thank you Megan, your posts have been a much needed wake up call for me. Speaking of which, I awake to an alarm clock nearly every day. Maybe this is interrupting a sleep cycle and causing the morning fatigue? Something else to try out

From what you have written, Adrenal fatigue sounds like it might be an issue. I have struggled with that since I was in high school - perhaps even earlier, so being young does not really rule it out. One thing I have learned is the need for consistent sleep - and it takes will power because the body often does not want to go to sleep early because with adrenal fatigue your cortisol is higher in the evenings than it should be (making you alert) and lower in the mornings when you need to wake up.

When you are ready, it might help to get a saliva test for adrenal fatigue if you are able. It might help to know if that is the cause - because it exacerbates so many other health issues. Also, if that is part of the problem, it is recommended to sleep until at least 9AM whenever you can, so don't feel bad about sleeping in occasionally

Not sure if you have read the thread on adrenal fatigue here: http://cassiopaea.org/forum/index.php/topic,488.0.html or James Wilson's book but I highly recommend it! (_http://www.amazon.com/Adrenal-Fatigue-Century-Stress-Syndrome/dp/1890572152)

As I mentioned above, consistency and length of sleep is not an issue. It seems more like the hormones, that are meant to be providing my natural energy throughout the day, are out of sync. In the morning I'm more likely to feel anxious, listless, and just want to lie down more. I am slowly making my way through that thread, and intend to finish it when I get home from work later. Thank you for your input.

 

[mcb]

...Thank you Megan, your posts have been a much needed wake up call for me. Speaking of which, I awake to an alarm clock nearly every day. Maybe this is interrupting a sleep cycle and causing the morning fatigue? Something else to try out
...

You are welcome. There is always something else to try. I have a battery-powered alarm clock that I keep on the far side of the bedside table, but I almost never set the alarm, and I can't even remember the last time I did. I have trained myself to wake up, usually, around the right time (it also has a lot to do with going to bed early enough, and avoiding bright light, blue light, and activities that aren't compatible with sleep). If I oversleep, I am able to go into work a bit late; it isn't usually an issue (I am an "exempt" employee, not paid by the hour).

I changed out most of the cool white fluorescent lights in our house for warm white, and I have been replacing a lot of those with warm white LED lights (to eliminate mercury exposure if they should break), which I try to use as little as possible after dark. I made one of them a dimmable LED light (and installed a dimmer) to avoid a particular problem with bright light in the spare bedroom at night, where I keep some of my things. I could definitely feel a problem with the cool white lamps, although brightness is important too, not just color. All in all, it has been a lot of trouble and expense, but I do it gradually and it does seem to pay off.

Different circumstances, of course, will call for different measures.

 

[Gawan]

This is something that has been relatively constant with me for a long time. When I awake, usually, I feel weak, fatigued, and kind of foggy, and this lasts for quite a long time (until around 11-12noon). It feels every day like I'm starting again from scratch. I contrast this with how I feel around 8-10PM, where I feel energised, strong, and super-interested in learning, and the difference is huge.

Same here since several months. Some days it is worse and some other days are going fine, which is nonetheless rare and till know I don't have a solution. Have you checked the Hemochromatosis and Autoimmune Conditions topic? And the topic was already mentioned, eventually do you have a chance to get hydrocortisone?

 

[Carl]

...Thank you Megan, your posts have been a much needed wake up call for me. Speaking of which, I awake to an alarm clock nearly every day. Maybe this is interrupting a sleep cycle and causing the morning fatigue? Something else to try out
...

You are welcome. There is always something else to try. I have a battery-powered alarm clock that I keep on the far side of the bedside table, but I almost never set the alarm, and I can't even remember the last time I did. I have trained myself to wake up, usually, around the right time (it also has a lot to do with going to bed early enough, and avoiding bright light, blue light, and activities that aren't compatible with sleep). If I oversleep, I am able to go into work a bit late; it isn't usually an issue (I am an "exempt" employee, not paid by the hour).

I changed out most of the cool white fluorescent lights in our house for warm white, and I have been replacing a lot of those with warm white LED lights (to eliminate mercury exposure if they should break), which I try to use as little as possible after dark. I made one of them a dimmable LED light (and installed a dimmer) to avoid a particular problem with bright light in the spare bedroom at night, where I keep some of my things. I could definitely feel a problem with the cool white lamps, although brightness is important too, not just color. All in all, it has been a lot of trouble and expense, but I do it gradually and it does seem to pay off.

Different circumstances, of course, will call for different measures.

I will go back to waking up naturally as of tomorrow, as I often seem to feel better that way. The only problem is, when I block out my curtains, the sunlight doesn't get through in the morning to wake me up .

This is something that has been relatively constant with me for a long time. When I awake, usually, I feel weak, fatigued, and kind of foggy, and this lasts for quite a long time (until around 11-12noon). It feels every day like I'm starting again from scratch. I contrast this with how I feel around 8-10PM, where I feel energised, strong, and super-interested in learning, and the difference is huge.

Same here since several months. Some days it is worse and some other days are going fine, which is nonetheless rare and till know I don't have a solution. Have you checked the Hemochromatosis and Autoimmune Conditions topic? And the topic was already mentioned, eventually do you have a chance to get hydrocortisone?

Yeah it's become more of a big deal for me these past few weeks. Today was my first day without caffeine in a long time, and boy did I feel awful, so I'm hoping I've stumbled upon the solution here.
I'm vaguely keeping up with the Hemochromatosis info yes, but I need to set aside a good few hours to sit and read through the thread properly. Hydrocortisone is something I've been considering, though it's only really available cheaply on prescription in the UK (Or I can spend £30 on them online, which have lactose and lovely maltodextrin). I doubt my doctor would just prescribe it just because I tell him that I may or may not have adrenal fatigue, and it seems to be considered dangerous still.
I will see how it goes in the next week or so after eliminating caffeine, and will reintroduce butter at the end of the week to test. There's really not much else I can think of right now, other than my 1 mercury filling, which is too expensive to replace at the moment.

 

[Minas Tirith]

stretch, breathe, and meditate before sleep.

Does this mean you are doing the EE program? If not, I would strongly recommend it, esp. with your reactions to smoking as well.
I restarted smoking and had stopped the EE program before (yes, I know ), but after taking it up again, dizziness and everything else completely disappeared.

Regarding your morning issues, EE makes me def. feel fresher, esp. when done the night before.

Good luck!