Anybody Have Low Blood Sugar Episodes?

I have had 2 "episodes" in the last 2 months where I think it must have been low blood sugar because eating something helped immediately.  Both times I was outside running around in the plant and I thought I was going to black out.  It is frightening because I have no warning except for this weird sensation and vision issues.  By the time I got to my office to get a protein bar my hands were shaking real bad.  Eating stopped the shakes right away and within 30 minutes I was fine.

I don't have a machine to check my blood sugar so I am just guessing.  I plan on mentioning it to my PCP when I go in for my 2-year blood work in July.

I keep a protein bar with me in my purse now at all times.

Yep.  Google reactive hypoglycemia and gastric bypass.  Many of us have it.  I never leave home without a protein bar, some cheese & peanut butter crackers, or something similar in my purse.  I've been as low as 36.

Yes that's exactly what happened to you Sarah, I feel the same way when it happens.  Luckily it isn't often but it happens fast with no warning.  I try to keep peanut butter crackers with me everywhere, it helps level mine out pretty quickly.

Sarah,

Were you diabetic before surgery or is this just something that happened after rny?  Just curious to know if it is something even people without diabetes will deal with post-surgery.  thanks!

No, not diabetc and never had blood sugar problems before RNY surgery. 

The only health issues I had were sleep apnea, high cholesterol (285) and my blood pressure was increasing to the point of needing medication.  I was on a CPAP for the apnea and never went on medication for the other 2 and now don't need it.  My cholesterol is in the 170's and blood presure back to where it was before I got fat - on the low side.  I quit using my CPAP not long after surgery and rarely snore now.  I sounded like a buzzsaw when I snored before I got the CPAP.

Thanks for the reply, good to know it is something to watch out for in the future. 

I'm blessed not to have diabetes but my mom has very advanced diabetes and is now on an insulin pump and deals with serious low blood sugar just about everyday.  It can be very scary.  Good that you now have a plan to carry something with you!

I'm so excited to hear about your sleep apnea going away.  I have Sleep Apnea and I'm really ready to chunk that machine soon and hopefully will be able to do that!

And yes, it is one of the possible long-term side effects I read about before I had surgery so this didn't come as a complete surprise and I knew I needed to eat something fast.

Like Dana, it hasn't happened very often to me and both times I was working outside and it was late mid-morning so I missed my usual 9-10 am snack.  I'll just have to remember to grab a few whole grain crackers or something before I head out from now on.

This isn't diabetes - it is the opposite - where you have low blood sugar instead of high blood sugar.  I work with a guy who has to eat every 2-3 hours or he gets shaky and on the verge of blacking out but he is like that every day instead of rarely like me, but I suppose it could always become more frequent.  I hope not but if it does I know what I need to do.

I get them more frequently the further out I get.  I've even been awakened in the middle of the night, and my head is so foggy that I can barely make it to the kitchen to get something to eat or drink.  Once it was so bad, the closest place was Braum's so my husband bought me a soft serve ice cream cone and I swear I don't even remember eating it.  It made me mad cuz that's the only time I've had it since surgery and I didn't get to enjoy it.  I bet I sat there for 30 minutes before I was able to drive.  It's so scary when it happens.  I was not a diabetic before surgery either.  It seems to start at about 2 years out for most of us.

Oh, Great!  Something to look forward to!

sorry! 

at least you will know what to do........