Reactive Hypoglycemia - my trial, error & research...

Yes. Didn't like it. Or couldn't get it right.

Thank you for the very valuable information.  I have just started having these symptoms.  When I told my surgeon's office I was told to see my regular doctor.  I asked why?  And they said oh because it has nothing to do with surgery.  HUH????? I told them it did.  And they KNEW i was right.  so they told me to come in and see them.  amazing. thanks again.

stay on them about it and if they still can't help, try seing an endocronologist if your primary can't help.   From what I've heard the only testing available for hypoglycemia is a glucose test (which is liquid and sugar).  Sounds a little dangerous to me (crashing and dumping at the same time) so I'll pass on it! lol

day full of more trial and error, unfortunately on Thanksgiving no less..   journaling, I found that taking a quick nap yesterday (throwing my 3 hour eating pattern off) made me crash.   When I woke up I had 1/2 a bagel (kind of like a multi grain, 11gr fiber and tons of protein) with sf strawberry jam and 2 peanut butter balls.  Obviously that wasnt enough protein after missing a meal because 1.5 hours later, crash and burn.....  blood sugar 51, had 4 peanut butter balls to stop the crash, less than 20 minutes later my blood sugar went up to 87, but I was still feeling the shakes a little.  continued feeling shakes and my speech and motor skills were a little slow.  I didnt feel comfortable driving home, the last thing I needed was to get pulled over for OUI and explain why I decided to drive knowing I was RGH and semi-crashing (hell during my cop days I probably wouldn't have believed the "crash" story either lol).  Got home, went to bed around 3a, woke up around 10 (meaning no morning protein shake and late for breakfast).  I had a protein bar, but it was too late... Crash started, had peanut butter with a banana cookie (made with banana, egg white, stevia and oatmeal) and it stopped. Thanksgiving began with family at a relatives house, I continously grazed all day to avoid a crash.  Grazing isn't the best option but I knew if I didn't I would crash and didn't want to go through that with everyone around.  tomorrow is a new day.. going to set my alarm for 6:30 to have my shake like i do every day and every 3 hours til I wake up to see how the day goes, hopefully crash less! If you're going through this and still haven't figured out your pattern, you should really journal to see if its your foods, the time pattern or both thats making you crash.  Its important to find the root of the problem and stop it from happening, crashing is dangerous. heres a paragraph about the hypoglycemia effecting the brain from www.intelihealth.com Hypoglycemia is an abnormally low level of blood sugar (blood glucose). Because the brain depends on blood sugar as its primary source of energy, hypoglycemia interferes with the brain's ability to function properly. This can cause dizziness, headache, blurred vision, difficulty concentrating and other neurological symptoms. Hypoglycemia also triggers the release of body hormomes, such as epinephrine and norepinephrine. Your brain relies on these hormones to raise blood sugar levels. The release of these hormones causes additional symptoms of tremor, sweating, rapid heartbeat, anxiety and hunger.

I really enjoyed reading all the research you put into this .. I had RNY 9-15-03 then in Feb of 05 I had a seizure and was kept in the hospital and told it was reactive hypoglycemia .. then I had 2 more seizures in Mar and another one in Dec .. I was told I was epileptic .. but it all stemmed from how the first one happened .. but never given a "diet" per se .. I was fine until June 1 of this year and July 3 of this year I again had two seizures .. I seen my PCP last week and they did the glucose testing on me .. I was told my blood sugar dropped pretty low within 2 to 3 hours of the test .. it was  4 hour test .. then they called me back after the second part of the test results came in .. the insulin levels .. was told I wasn't diabetic .. was told that was a possibility .. not sure how ya go from possibly being hypoglycemic to diabetic .. but now I am waiting to hear on a referral to see an endocrinologist about all of this .. it is scary and even more so when no one else understands it and ya think that ya are crazy! smile .. so thanks for what info you have posted .. Rhonda

wow that is serious!  Stay on those doctors until they find the problem.  do you still see your wls dr?  maybe they would be able to help find the problem?  good luck, keep us posted :)

 I have been experiencing this for three years.  My blood sugars would get as low as 36. I have almost lost conscienceness. I get severe shakes and lose a sense of myself. I sometimes feel dazed or everything that is happening around me is a dream. It is very hard to explain. I fallen a couple of times.  I was diagnosed almost a year ago with Nesdioblastosis. I had pancreatic sampling done. An outpatient procedure.  My endo explained that this can be a complication from gastric bypass.  There are not a lot of treatment options because the disease is still not fully understood.  Partial removal of the pancreas has been an option, but I do not want that drastic surgery.  I have the disease in the head and tail of my pancreas.  Partial removal may not be an option.  Full removal may have to result.  No way!!  I have done some research online and there isn't much.  I have to carry a glucose monitor on me at all times. 

sorry to hear this has happened to you, but thanks for telling your story.  Its important for people to know the severity and try to get it under control as early as possible since hypoglycemia takes a toll on your organs and brain! 

I've recently heard about nesdioblastosis and was curious of the testing.  was it surgical?  carrying a glucose monitor sounds like a great idea.  they're so compact now a days and usually come with a case.

keep us posted on your progress, good luck! 

It was an out-patient procedure.  They went into my neck and groin area with a thin catherdar and injected something in my pancreas, not sure what and the disease showed in the head and tail of my pancreas.  I am not sure if this procedure is used in all cases.  Before they would do this testing, I had to test my gluclose levels for three months.  I then brought in my results to my endo.  He had a suspicion that this was what I was dealing with, but wanted to be sure before conducting the out-patient procedure. It wasn't bad.  The only part that bothered me was the anethesia.  I do not react well to it and get sick.  I live in a rural area and I had to travel to another state for this. They are now conducting a study with post-op gastric bypass patients who have Nesdioblastosis. Some have had the pancreatic removal surgery, some opt to not have it.  They are following up with all patients so they get some idea of what happens to the patients in the long run.  I and my doctor opted to wait it out.  I feel that surgery is very drastic.  I am never suppose to drive by myself for long durations, in case I have an episode.  It happens anytime and anywhere.  I wish that I was warned of this possible complication before hand.  I am not sure it would have changed my mind, but knowing whould have been great.  I never heard of this until I visited my endo.  I wasn't even scheduled to see him for this.  I was there for the secondary hyperparathyroidism that I developed from the surgery.  My husband was concerned with what I was experiencing and voiced it to him.