Endo saga continues

Well, I did an 18 hour fast with the last 6 hours in the endo's office, getting poked every 2 hours. My blood sugar started out at 101, dropped to 78 then back up to 85. Go figure. The nurse said that the liver will start chugging out glucose during a fast sometimes. My labs from the previous visit where I prompted a hypoglycemic reaction showed I had elevated insulin, proinsulin, and c-peptide. At one point, he was talking about a 72 hour fast. That's sounds fun, doesn't it? NOT! Anyway, after drawing 8 tubes of blood, eating 2 protein bars, I was on my way. Now I wait to see what the tests show. He's pretty sure that he's going to end up sending me to Mayo. He also addressed the elevated PTH and continued bone loss even on Fosamax. So he drew a whole bunch of labs for that too. It boggles his mind that I don't have an increase calcium. But I keep saying that if I'm malabsorbing, maybe I won't have an elevated calcium. Then I find out that 500mg of calcium citrate isn't really 500 mg! You need 1500 mg of elemental calcium a day. 500 mg of calcium citrate or carbonate equals only 200mg of elemental calcium. Who knew? And why didn't someone say something before, like him when we went thru this PTH stuff 2 years ago? So I really need to take in 4000 mg of cal citrate to get my 1500 mg of elemental. I'm gonna be sucking on calcium tablets. UGH. Well, maybe if I take enough in, my calcium will be high then they can figure out what's wrong. I am turning over a new leaf. I have gained wt. Like 10 pounds. Bad Lyn The wellness center I go to is having a promotion so I signed up. You have to go 15 times a month. It's for 3 months. Just in time for my son's wedding, and seeing my ex for the first time in about 12 years. So these 10 pounds I've gained are history and so are the remaing 5 to finally get to goal! I can do this! I really have to be much smarter about eating and cut out the junk and carbs. I do have to be careful tho about getting hypoglycemic. It's a bit tricky. But I can do this!!!!! This week I've been to the center 4 times, 3 water aerobics and once on the treadmill. I have bad feet so the treadmill isn't always the best for me. I need to build up some stamina and do the bikes or ellipitcal. I WILL DO THIS!!!!! Lyn

Hi Lyn, I have read about hypoglycemia after RNY ( I had RNY) especially among those who were insulin resistent. It also occurs among those who were never diabetic! The Mayo clinic has done a small study on this and found that treatment is usually a removal of the pancreas or a part of it, to reduce insulin production. I am worried about this happening, and hope it doesn't. Please keep us updated on how you are doing with this. About the calcium, how did you discover the facts about elemental calcium? I have no idea about this subject so I am ready to learn.

My endo told me on Friday. Too bad he didn't tell me that 2 years ago when I saw him the first time for elevated PTH. But then, neither did the endo at Mayo. Maybe it's something that they have just figured out. I am insulin resistant also. The endo here saw the same paper you are referring to. It was written by a Dr. Service at Mayo. So that's probably who the doc here will send me to once he proves it isn't just reactive hypoglycemia.

thanks for the update Lyn ... this is really strange, and the similarities we share is weird too. I've been checking my blood sugar for the past couple weeks, and it is just all over the place. It went down to 46 about an hour after I had a mostly protein dinner, sometimes it goes up, sometimes it stays around 70 after eating ... I haven't nailed down a pattern as to how it goes either. I think its great that your doc seems to have it together ... I think I've mentioned before that my docs don't seem concerened about the high PTH, or "osteopenia" showing up on my bone density test ... I kind of feel if they're not concerned, maybe I shouldn't be? Congrats to you on joining your wellness center. I'm starting the Discovery Health National Body Challenge this weekend (you get 2 free months at Bally's) and it seems like a pretty interesting program ... hopefully it will get me in gear. Please keep posting your progress (or road blocks) ... all this you're going through is hauntingly familiar! Talk to you soon ... and yes, you will look awesome at your son's wedding! Best to ya. Karyn