Need Help

Hello, I am new to this board. I haven't been on OH in a while and I really need to know if this sort of thing i have been going through might be something someone else is having. I am 1 yr and 10 months out RNY and here lately I have been getting really dizzy and shakey really bad and then passing out for just a minute or two and I have done thins many times. July 4th I was at my mothers house and I told my husband that I was really dizzy all of a sudden and then the next thing I know he said I passed out. He slapped me a few times and I came to. I had just got through eating. Tonight I was at the grocery store just me and my sister in law and I was shakeing so bad and she said to get some candy and eat it and I did and then after a few minutes it stopped. I do know since I have lost all this weight that I have now developed a low heart rate. When  am resting it stays in the 30's and when I get really active or I have jogged my heart feels like it's about to beat out of my chest and it is 76. I am going to the doctor about the dizziness and passing out to find out what's happening. Is there anyone else like this. I am nervouse about this because I have been behind the wheel of my car and this has happened and I just had pulled up in my yard when it happened. It could have been serious. If there is anyone who can help me I would reallt appreciate it. Thanks Mary

It sounds like you have reactive hypoglycemia.  Many of us have it, some worse than others.  Check out Melting Mama's site, she has written quite a bit about it in her blog.

http://meltingmama.typepad.com/wls/

Michele

Sounds like a blood sugar issue to me also......however, have a doc look at ya to be on the safe side...D

I agree with the other posters, sounds like you may be experiencing reactive hypoglycemia. 

 Although I have never fully passed out, I have had the dizziness and what I term as the "shakes".  I, too, think it might have to do with low blood sugar.  I have purchased glucose tablets at local Walmart (about $1 for 10-15 tablets) and whenever I feel shaky, I chew a tablet and give it a few minutes and it get better quite quickly.  Check with your doctor to be sure, but this might help.

Well, I'm seeing two possibilities.

I see hypoglycemia.. even a form of reactive hypoglycemia that could be caused by carb intolerance..

I also see neurocardiogenic shock or vasovagal syndrome.  This is when your body just drops all blood pressure for whatever reason and you go down.


Be prepared to have the following tests done in order to rule on one or the other:
-- A sugar test, of some sort.  The preferred medical standard is a glucose tolerance test, which sucks for WLS patients.  Basically, you have a fasting draw, drink either a 25g or 50g glucose solution (or eat a certain number of jelly beans), and have draws in increments afterwards for either an hour or 3 hours.  There are alternatives, such as a post-paradinal test or home monitoring for a week.
-- A tilt table test.  This is to diagnose the vasovagal syndrome.  Basically, you get strapped to a flat table, they raise you up and leave you there in the same position.  If you pass out within 45 minutes, you are positive for the reaction.


It is not normal to have a resting heart rate of 30.  So I'm really leaning more towards a cardiac issue rather than an endocrinatic one.

I have near black outs from anemia....which sounds different than what you are experiencing...Mine happen anytime I get my heart rate up because of the lack of oxygen in my blood...So there are several reasons this could be happening...It's a warning....


Time for a thorough set of labs!  And tell your doc all your symptoms, even if they seem minor...

Keep some kind of candy with you for now since that seems to help you...and have someone else drive you around!  Be safe!

Good luck!

Hello,
I want to thank everyone for their posts. I do have a doctors appointment set. As far as my heart rate goes, I have already been to a cardio doctor and he seems to think my heart rate is ok. Something about me carrying around all the weight I did and now not having to my heart is just not working as hard as it did before. He didn't seem really concerned with it. When I had it checked I was having Potassium problems. But I do plan to go back and do another work up to be sure again. And for the low blood sugar, well I am going to have that checked because as soon as the problem happens and I eat something sweet, I am okay in a few minutes. I am thinking that might just be the problem. But I am not a doctor and I don't plan to diagnose myself but I do think it might be it. But thanks everyone for posting and thanks for the advice and thoughts.