Question:
Could I have low blood sugar?
I had a very scary incident on the bus on my way to work yesterday. I passed out briefly. I've had a handful of episodes like this happen before since my surgery, but they always happened after something like working out. However, this was so sudden and rather embarassing since it happened on a public bus. Could this be from low blood sugar or hypoglycemia? Here are my symptoms: It always starts out by me getting incredibly hot. Then I start sweating profusely. Then I feel pins and needles throughout my body. The color disappears from my vision and things start to seem far away. My hearing is impaired also. I also feel like my bowels have turned to water at this point also. Then, I either lose consciousness or come very close to it. I feel very weak and light-headed for the rest of the day. I had my surgery a little over 9 months ago. I had a starting weight of 324 and I've lost about 150 pounds so far. Thanks for any info anyone can give me. I did make an appointment with my PCP, but it's not until March 3rd. — R. P. (posted on February 19, 2003)
February 19, 2003
Call your PCP now and tell them whayts occuring, atr minimum get some bood
work done so you have the results for your appointment.
— bob-haller
February 19, 2003
You should definately call your doctor. The interesting thing is that your
many of your symptons sound like dumping. Did you eat anything within an
hour or so of this episode? It might be something to keep in mind when you
discuss this with the doctor.
— Amber L.
February 19, 2003
It sounds like Reactive Hypolglycemia. You need to keep some protein/carb
combination foods with you at all times, like peanut butter crackers or a
protein bar that has some carbs in it. You will revive fairly quickly with
these. You also need to eat small meals, protein and some complex carbs,
several times a day. Keep calcium and potassium levels steady. All of this
is based on my experience. I'm not sure your PCP will be much help as this
is a fairly rare syndrome. Do a web search on Reactive Hypoglycemia and you
will find some into. One way to see if this is what it is is to have
someone take a blood sugar reading right when you have one of these
crashes. (A regular glucose tolerance test won't show anything because with
Reactive, you get it two to five hours after eating.) When I did this I had
a blood sugar reading of 42. (That's low.) Good luck. hugs, Ann rny
9/10/99 260/124
— [Deactivated Member]
February 19, 2003
CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW.....Tell them you passed out in a public place, make
them work you in. My God you could have passed out and got mugged, or be
walking and be hit by a car. I do not mean to make you afraid, but what are
you thinking, if my doctor could not get me in before the 3rd for something
this serious, I would go to the ER, and then change doctors. The last post
was probley right it may be dumping or low blood sugars, I am diabetic and
I can understand low blood sugars, but I also understand that you do not
let something like this go untreated. Hope this helps.
— cindy
February 19, 2003
This happened to me, too....about 10 months ago. It most like is Reactive
Hypoglycemia..a condition that is made worse after this surgery. In my
case, I had unwittingly consumed a high sugar beverage about one and half
to two hours prior. With the RNY, the sugar dumps out into your lower
intestines....your body floods with insulin too quickly and you become
hypoglycemic. When I passed out (in Lowe's!..and thankfully with my husband
and a friend nearby who kept my head from hitting the concrete floor) the
EMTs found my blood sugar to be 52 and I was dehydrated so my BP was 80/0.
All the symptoms you described...incredibly hot, sweating, pins and needles
and things seeming far away...in addition to feeling pretty
incoherent...nothing seemed to make alot of sense to me..are textbook for
this. An acquaintance who is an EMT says that often they think
hypoglycemics are either on drugs or mentally ill during an episode because
they are so disoriented. The solution IS to keep some snack foods on hand
all the time and to eat several small meals throughout the day. Peanut
butter crackers, protein bars, even fruit will help to keep those blood
sugar levels more stabilized. For me, if I get careless and don't eat
regularly, I feel those symptoms coming on. I recognize the
uncharacteristic irritability that I get as my first symptom and stop to
think about when I last ate...and then I eat something. Soon, I'm feeling
better. My PCP is great about drawing labs when I need them, but is not
familiar enough with gastric bypass to recognize what was happening with
me, but my surgeon knew immediately. Reactive Hypoglycemia in RNY patients
is otherwise known as severe dumping. WARNING: It CAN be dangerous, so you
have to take care of yourself and remember to eat regularly. Pay attention
to things like increased activity (exercise, excitement, etc.) that may
have 'consumed' more of your blood sugars than normal. Listen to your body
when you're starting to feel out of sorts. You'll probably do great at
this, because for me, after this one episode, I have been much better
behaved on this issue.
One more thing, I panicked about eating more small meals becuase I was
afraid of weight gain. My DH brought it all in perspective for me when he
reminded me that I had this surgery to be healthy not just to be thin. Best
wishes to you! Sharon Open RNY, May 25, 2001, 296 - 156, 26W - 10
— Sharon L.
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