Endocrine stuff

I'm having problems with hypoglycemia. Saw the endo who had me come in fasting for a cortisol and then I had to prompt a hypoglycemic reaction so they could get labs then. I ate M & Ms. I figured if I had to do it, I would at least enjoy myself. At 1 3/4 hours after the M&Ms, my sugar was bottoming out, 58 by my meter. Ten minutes later they finally took me back after I told them, draw the blood now, or I'm going to pass out! I guess maybe I wasn't to far off from that cuz they got my sugar at 38! Then asked me how I felt when it was that low! Well, gee, let me think ---- My insulin level as a little high. So now I have to be on an 18 hour fast and show up there at 12 hours for labs then sit there for another 6 to have labs drawn periodically. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? In the meantime, I had my bone density done and I'm still losing bone, even being on Fosamax. My rheumatologist can't quite figure out what's going on since it doesn't apprear that I'm turning bone over at an excessive rate. So now I have to revisit the parathyroid issues again. I've had an elevated PTH for a number of years. At least, I already have an appointment with the endo. Here, it takes about 3 months to get in. A person could die! This body just doesn't do anything simple. I have an elevated PTH but a normal calcium. Vit D didn't make any difference. I'm a puzzle, I guess.

Elevated PTH and normal calcium can either mean you aren't absorbing enough calcium and the parathyroid glands are stealing from your bones to normalize your calcium level (which they are good at) or that you have a parathyroid adenoma. I had elevated PTH and normal calcium prior to WLS. It was felt I had an adenoma but doctors often just like to "watch it". They wait til you are spilling calcium out your urine and losing bone before looking for the adenoma. Long story short, I got WLS. Went to a few endos and eventually we found the adenoma at the cost of osteopenia of course. Got the gland and adenoma removed and my levels are back to normal thus far. Now I have to worry like a normal WLS post-op about calcium and bones. BTW, how much calcium are you taking in a day? What dose and how often? I know some folks that have to take 3500-4000 mg a day (in 500 mg doses) in order to absorb enough to keep their levels in good shape. That is a very high dose but perhaps you are malabsorbing calcium more than most. How are your vitamin D levels? Doctors are now recommending that we keep it over 50. (Normal goes into the low 20s.) Good luck with the hypoglycemia testing. Sorry you are having to deal with so very many things. Be well, Kathy

Hi Lyn ... I thought I had responded to your post before, but perhaps not (sorry, my brain fog clouds my thinking these days). I too am dealing with hypoglycemia as a few others here have as well. I had an episode in August where I had a grand mal seizure and my blood sugar level was tested at 23. A few weeks later I did a glucose tolerance test, and after an hour my blood sugar was at 36, and an hour later was still low. I had my first bone density test done this year as well, and I don't recall my exact reading, but osteopenia was the result. And yes, my labs done last January did show my parathyroid levels high, and calcium levels normal. I have seen an endo, and have been told to eat frequently, and eat high fat, high protein, low carb ... and that the fats slow absorption. I've also been checking my blood sugar levels, although he didn't seem like it was necessary, because he said that I probably already know when I'm hypo. SO ... he said he'll order labs next time I come in (Jan 22), so I guess that's where we're at. Please keep us posted, this is a great place to collaborate and who knows? Maybe we'll end up finding some answers. Take care, Karyn