Low Blood Sugar

I have Low Blood Sugar and was wondering if anyone on here had that and how it affected there surgery since you can only eat small amounts did it get worse better just wondering???

Before surgery, I think I had it...  I would get real shaky, moody and almost belligerent if I didn't eat.  It was terrible...  at 11 every single day, I had best be able to take my lunch at work or else I became Dr. Jekyll/Mr. Hyde.  

After surgery, I developed it a little, but most recently I have had it more and more.  Not just low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) but also reactive hypoglycemia.  That's where carbs, greasy foods or sugar can trigger what I call an "episode".  They make me really shaky, nervous, kinda hot feeling, weak, I can't think straight, almost puts me in a hazy daze.  I have had them so bad that I can barely open a can or jar.  Last night I had an episode, and Tim had to go into the kitchen and get me some peanut butter. Mine seems to be getting worse and more often than they used to be.  Its kind of scary.

Most recently, eating oatmeal for breakfast brought on the episode at work.  A piece of hard butterscotch candy was in my office (not mine, but a vendor had brought it for our staff) and it helped me until I was able to get a good protein meal in my system.  Someone told me that to add a scoop of protein powder would really prevent that kind of episode from happening again because the protein will help stabilize my sugar levels, etc.  

I do try to eat every few hours so that I don't have these episodes.  Yet, if/when I add more carbs to my die****ch out!  They hit me hard and fast.  Worse than dumping, in my opinion.

That is exactly what I go through and they are awful I have had them for 16 years since I was pregnant with my son and protien does help I also have IBS so am scared of the dumping to. But I guess I should be use to it with the IBS just hoping the hypoglycemia can be controlled was hoping maybe gettin some of the weight off would help but maybe not Thanks for your quick reply

sindee

I wish I had an answer for you.  I know that wls can cure diabetes and problems related, supposedly Insulin Resistance, PCOS of which I have both of those and they have not been taken away.  Now, some of the problems have decreased, but they are still there.  I am not on all the medications that I once was.  Perhaps do a little more research, go onto the RNY board, or ask your surgeon what his thoughts are and what he has seen in wls patients who had low blood sugar prior to surgery.Good luck!

HI, what is your sugar running on an average day?  Below 70-110 is normal levels. Lower or higher and you are a diabetic.  I was until I had my surgery almost 3 years ago.  I haven't taken my diabetic pills since 2 days prior to surgery.  I have had only 2 times when my sugar dropped too low, one after just having surgery maybe about 2 weeks afterwards, then recently I though my potassium was low as I am on chemo pills.  Found out it was my sugar was down to 50. You will need to continue to monitor your sugar levels after surgery.  You may not have to take shots or pills for your sugar, but you will always be a diabetic, just diet controlled. 

Hope what Mel and I have written will help you. 

Kathy 

sindee

I wanted to give you the name of a website that a few of us have found helpful:

meltingmama.net

She had rny surgery and also suffers from low blood sugar/hypoglycemia.  She has other illnesses, and anyway I was on her site today looking at low blood sugar posts...  it kinda scares me because my episodes or bouts with low blood/reactive hypoglycemia are occurring more often.  I think I am going to see my doctor about this.   Perhaps I can get some testing done and the nutritionist can give me some counsel.   

I know this sounds crazy but I don't keep up with my sugar counts I have checked it in the past and my dr dxed me with hypoglycemia (sp?)  I just know when it is gettin low because of the way I start feeling sweating, the shakes, feeling light headed  but not sure what it runs daily. I will give that site a look thanks.

This happens to me frequently also!  Melinda mentioned oatmeal.  Sorry I did not get back to you with my experiment Mel!  The protein in the oatmeal did not work for me!

It seems to hit when I ingest too many carbs also.  I get shaky, my mind becomes clouded, I start sweating.  A couple of weeks ago, I had what I thought was a dumping episode, now I wonder if it is H.G.?  Who knows?

Anyway sindee, you are not in the boat alone!  We're all paddling upstream at times!

Scott

Hey. I had Hypoglyciama before my surgery as well. I have passed out from low blood sugar attacks. But then about 6 months before my surgery, I had a test done and it turned to diabetes and was high (which is common for it to turn). But since I have had WLS, I am back to the low end of blood sugar. I think it is more common to have low blood sugar after this surgery if you have problems with your sugar before surgery. But it is much easier controlled. You won't be eating high sugar foods or drinks after surgery (which causes low blood sugar attacks). You will be drinking all day and staying hydrated and you will be eating high protein and low carb diets. All of which helps keep your sugar stable. So, it is much better and easily controlled. Yes, you so still have to eat regularly and keep getting your tests done at the Drs to monitor it but I think the surgery helps more than making it worse.

By the way, I have IBS as well and I was under the impression that the surgery was going to help with that ----- It didn't. For me personally, the surgery didn't make it better or worse. So, I empathize with you on that because I know how much I hate dealing with it.

Thanks again to everyone for calming that fear to and it is funny you mentioned drinking all day because that was one of my other fears I STAY thirsty and was worried about not being able to drink much because of "room" I have heard of people actually worked with a guy who could only drink like a cap full of liquid at a time of course he ended up having to go in and have his opening stretched so I know that is not the norm but do you have to limit your fluid intake? Sorry all the questions