Jitter feeling
 

Hey there does anyone experience getting like a shaky feeling if they haven't had something to eat for a long time. Also kind of like a very fatigue low energy feeling when I don't have something to eat. I feel like I can't go very long without something to eat so I'm wondering what is the best thing for me to eat it kind of feels like a low sugar feeling. But once I do have something to eat I feel more energized and I definitely am not shaking anymore but that shaky feeling can really get intense if I'm not able to at least drink an orange juice. I've never had that problem before the head injury.

I don't think there is any finite explanation beyond what you have already learned unless you have a glucose tolerance test. I doubt it has anything directly related to your concussion. There is a saying, Correlation does not mean causation.

Sometimes, low blood sugar can trigger an adrenaline response as a signal for the body to release more blood sugar. This would cause the jitters.

If you have periods where you do not have access to food, try to keep some hard candies available. I've even had to eat a sugar cube back when I would have these experiences in college.

Food makes a big difference in my alertness and energy, water also. I have been this way as far back as I can remember, long before my accident.

Bud

Thanks for the replies. One of my doctors told me once that your brain once concussed process is glucose differently. I wasn't sure if that was true or not I will ask my neurologist when I see her next.

I have never read anything that says the concussed brain processes glucose differently. I have seen that for some people, they are more sensitive to food energy levels. The brain only gets energy from glucose or ketones when glucose is not available. If the orange juice solves the jitters, it shows that your brain is processing glucose.

There may be a quickness for the concussed brain to start an adrenaline reaction. Many experience a heightened adrenaline reaction after a concussion. It is the adrenaline that causes the jitters. I can get the jitters from stress as stress can cause the adrenaline reaction.

Either way, it is not good for you to stress your brain by not eating unless you are doing a planned fast and are in a safe period, no driving, no operating machinery, no making important decisions.

I've had a similar experience to you. I've found that eating often prevents this. It certainly isn't fun to have and can make my head feel really bad.

I believe it's hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It always got better from eating.

Oh never planned just something I notice if I haven't eaten for like 4 or more hours

I wish I could check my sugar level when I feel like that. Just weird that I didn't have this before.

Four hours should not be enough to trigger low blood sugar for most healthy people. You should be able to make it to close to 7 hours before a blood sugar drop. But, if your previous meal was not adequate to replenish energy levels, like having an inadequate breakfast then skipping lunch, then you are setting yourself up for trouble.

But, the issue may just be how your adrenaline system responds. It may be more sensitive now.

I learned that we can train our body to misbehave.

I have dealt with reactive hypoglycemia for over 40 years, likely because I conditioned my system to misbehave by eating poorly, especially skipping breakfast. Then, I would grab intense carbs at lunch. I learned I need to be disciplined to eat breakfast to stop the blood sugar roller coaster and the on and off jitters and moodiness.

When I started with paroxetine, things got bad. My blood sugar could drop to as low as 45-50. 90-100 is a normal level. My doc had agreed to me poking and checking to find out what was happening. I don't think others need to check their blood sugar levels. I was a unique case and had some severe symptoms likely tied to how my system was dealing with the paroxetine. I had to be more disciplined to eat properly. I was not bad. I just was not as good as I needed to be. I learned to have munchies ( nuts, etc) available. I'd eat 200 calories or so between meals.

I bet if you look at your whole diet, you will find ways you can improve it.

I don't have any problems at all anymore.

YES, I have a terrible trouble with this or if I do not drink a lot of water, more than i needed before.

A solution to the food trouble? BARS! :) I eat so many bars that I had to get a blender to make my own. I really have trouble eating. I don't buy them anymore, but some have all the protein, etc. I also love those shakes like Orgain. Orgain shakes and like Ensure but good for you. The bars I liked where No Cow Bar and Vega One and Bhu bar and all the ones that don't have a lot of ingredients. Larabar is good but not a lot of protein. I think No Cow Bar was the best. But Bhu was good , too, because it had whey.