Blood Sugar?

Okay, so yesterday was really, really bad. I'm under a lot of stress at work lately, and things are crazy. We had a settlement meeting yesterday afternoon that involved someone from our corporate offices. The meeting was scheduled for 11:30 - 3pm. The corporate guy showed at 10:30 and asked for a facility tour. So, to make a long story short, I didn't get lunch. Went from 9am to about 3:30pm with nothing but a bottle of water. I started getting REALLY fuzzy headed, my ears started ringing. In fact, I wasn't sure if I would make it back up to my desk after the meeting. I didn't even try to drive until after I had eaten something. I felt like I was in a total fog... Later, I chalked it up to blood sugar being low since I hadn't eaten all day. Today was just as stressful, but I did get lunch. Ate a spinach and steak salad for breakfast around 9, half a ham and cheese sandwhich for lunch around 11:30 and a protein bar around 2:30. I still started getting hit with that really light-headed, foggy feeling, around 2ish, and the protein bar didn't help much... I feel a little better now, but I just feel... off. So what do you think? Is this blood sugar? Something else? Any ideas?

I wouldn't be surprised if it is blood sugar. Being a "recovered" diabetic, I've dealt with lows many times due to the insulin that I took. Your description of the feeling is dead on correct. Do you have access to a glucometer? Sometimes you can even get one free with if you buy the test strips since that is what is expensive and what they count on. Be sure to eat every 3 hours or so. Make sure what you eat is a mix of fat, carbs and protein, if possible. A good food to have on hand "in cases" are those peanut butter crackers. I know that post-ops can be prone to reactive hypoglycemia where the body overreats to what you eat by giving off too big a dose of insulin. But yesterday it sounded like a plain no fuel kind of thing. Kathy

Didja hear that great big slap out there in Va? That would be me slapping my forehead in "Duh" fashion... We have an infirmary at work... with a nurse.... Duh... OF COURSE she would have test strips.... Definately will go see her tomorrow if it happens again. Also - don't remember if I mentioned it in my first post, but my ears were ringing, too... Really bad... It happened again this afternoon, but not as bad.

Hi Becky Sue, I had that happen to me about a month ago. I thought I had eaten enough, although I hadn't had enough to drink that day...only a bottle of water...(sound familiar???) Anyway, I was a support group meeting, started getting light headed, my vision started to literally get foggy, had difficulty hearing, sweaty faced, tingly arms and hands, and my fingers started to curl up. Let's just say that I just about passed out... Anyway, luckily there were other post op'ers there who knew what to do...My surgeon said to keep apple juice and some type of food in my purse just in case...he said at this stage we can easily forget to eat or drink enough. He said it sounded like low blood sugar. SO...keep something in your purse!!! Kristen

You know, Kristen, it could be dehydration, as well... I've noticed the last couple of days that my skin has been pretty dry, and chalked it up to the weather. (It was 65 Monday, snowing today... ) But, thinking back to the last couple of days, I've been so busy, I know I haven't been getting my water in like usual. Typically, I drink a protein shake in the morning and fill up my cup (25 oz) at least two more times at work. I also drink a couple cups of coffee in the morning, but at the very MINIMUM, I have my 25 oz shake in the morning, fill up sometime before lunch and then at least again before I leave, for the drive home... The last two days, I haven't even finished my shake - I take my cup home with the last 3-4 oz of Nectar in it, meaning, I'm probably only getting about 20 or so oz of water, plus more coffee than usual... Geez... You'd think this far out I'd know better... By the way, just wanted to say, I was just checking out your profile, and girl, you are doing FANTASTIC!

Hey Becky Sue, Thanks for the compliment. I'm definitely at the stage where I really need to "move to loose". My weight loss has really slowed down... My head knows what to do, I just need to settle down and do it... Anyway, keep an eye on your liquids. I still get a bit lightheaded once in a while and know that I need to up my water/liquids. One episode like that is enough for me.... Take care, Kristen

sounds like blood sugar to me. Keep a cheese stick handy, if possible.

Hey Becky Sue! Same thing happened to my sister who had G.B. 3 years ago. She has to be careful now when she is out and about that she keeps a juice or hard candy handy!

Hi Becky Sue, It happened to me one night at home. I was sick and came home, took my antibiotic and went to bed. When I woke up and 2 in the am I had a small granola bar cause I was hungry. Got the shakes, the cold sweats, ringing ears, fuzzy vision and passed out falling on my knee. This happened a couple of months ago and my knee is still a little sore!! It sure is a weird feeling isn't it? Hang in there and make sure you eat. Sue McD