Slow MYsql database only on the FIRST query

[MrSchmidt]

I operate a small niche search engine with about 22,200 pages indexed. When I go to do a query, it sometimes takes 30-40+ seconds to return the results. Then if I do another query, it returns results in 1-2 seconds and the same for every query after that. But if I let it go 15 minutes without any activity, it'll go to lagging on the next query.

My webhost says it's not on their end, but if I try to login to my cPanel when the query is lagging, the login lags also and then the second I get logged in, the query returns results. Any suggestions? Anything I can suggest to my webhost?
Thanks
ED
Mysql rookie!!!

 

[ericbrunson]

It sounds like your mysqld process is getting paged out to disk. Or if there's nothing else running on the computer APM or something may be allowing your disk to spin down.