XP: Reactive Hypoglycemia - How to change eating?

Penny, Linda,
  I too have RH and am a horrible dumper.  I have been on acarbose before every meal and have had to do the octreotide shots also.  The shots just made me feel worse, then they sent me to see a NUT who told me that I don't eat ENOUGH complex carbs.?????
  I'm better now, I eat meats mostly, hard boiled eggs, cheese  and lots of almonds. NO bread, no pasta, no chips, no crackers except Blue Diamond Nut thins.  I always carry cheese sticks with me.
   When I have a RH attack, only protein will help with almonds.
    I have had some slight regain because of eating so often, but I do feel better.  I agree the trick is to eat often, don't let your body get empty.
    I carry ProCrunch protein bars.  They are a little higher in fat than I like, but they only have about 10 carbs and low in sugar..like 9 grams.  Protein about 14 grams...I only use them in emergencies.  I buy them at Walmart.
    Hope this helps ...good luck...  :)

   Marcy

Marcy - thanks.  It's nice to know I'm not alone, although I'm sorry you're going through this too.  I chose not to try the Octreotide.  The side effects sounded like more of what's bothering me already, so I told the doc I'd take a pass on it.

I saw the surgeon today and managed to squeeze in an appointment with the nut.  I have to see the endocrinologist at OHSU, as he is an expert in this kind of complication.  I may eventually need to have part of my pancreas removed, but for now we're going to try and avoid that.  The Nut had some good suggestions for me.  I too carry around cheese sticks, nuts, and hard boiled eggs.  I'm a little heavier than I wanted to end up, but at 70 lbs less than I started out, I'd do it all again.

gosh Linda I'm so sorry you are still battling this. Do they know of anyone that the pancreas removal has helped?

the only person I ever saw post on OH who had it done didn't have much success with it.

Have you considered a consult with Dr K down in California? Yehuda's RH seems to be gone since his revision

I hope you find something that can work. Good for you keeping the 70 pounds off

I'm hoping to avoid surgery.  I think the pancreatectomy only helps if you do actually have insulin producing tumors, and we're not sure if I do, or if it's just that I have the pancreas of a 260 lb woman in the body of a 185 lb woman.  For now, I'll continue with the acarbose (and plenty of Gas-X), eat more frequently, and be careful of how I combine my foods to help control it.  We talked about Stomaphyx today, but my surgeon says it rarely helps people and, while he's done it before, he doesn't like to do it anymore because it's just not that effective.  Apparently, if the islet cell tumors are present, even hooking the duodenum back up is not very effective.  Sigh.  Well, we know going into surgery that it's not going to be a free ride.  Just wish if had been a bit more simple!  ;)

I have RH also. I would crash even after eating a meal of nothing but protein. My doctor advised to add a small amount of complex carbs to my meals, like a bit of beans, or whatever. Also, I have a small protein snack about every 60 to 90 minutes. This could be a piece of cheese, an egg, beef jerky, anything like that. So far it has been helping, I have only crashed once in the last two weeks, and I think the last one was too much caffiene and alcohol in Vegas lol. Good luck!