Was Told Weight Loss Should be Ignored

So, my doctor said that I need to focus on my hypoglycemia problems and not about my weight.  When I diet (even pre-op), I'd get hypoglycemia issues.  The only way to control it, was to eat constantly... all day long.  I'd do ok fasting, but I'd eat something, (not junk food... a good healthy balanced meal) and then I'd play the hypoglycemia game all day long.  I posted this on the RNY board as a vent... but it explains why my doctor said to ignore dieting.  I have not been losing weight (in fact, I've been gaining) and trying to cut down on portions or frequency of meals/snacks has made things horrific lately.  I have had severely low blood sugars and they drop so low at night that it wakes me, I take my glucose reading and then give myself a dose of sugar of some kind.  My endocrinologist said this is a serious problem and dieting makes it worse so I must stop trying and address the weight later on (after we treat the hypoglycemia problem).  Sigh... well here is what I posted on the RNY board:

First off, hypoglycemia is terrifying!  I have come close to passing out several times this past week.  The feeling is horrific!  I just saw my endocrinologist who said it could be delayed dumping, but since I have had reactive hypoglycemia problems for as long as I can remember, he has to rule out all possibilities.  He said I could have an insulin producing tumor.  SCARY!  It’s unlikely (I mean, how often do tumors make insulin?).  Anyways… I’ll eat a well balanced meal, my sugars spike (to like 160 during the meal) and then within 45-60 minutes after a meal, my blood sugars plummet (say going from 160 to 75 in a period of 45 minutes).  That drop in sugar that fast makes me so sick.  Within 2 hours after a meal, my sugars still drop and if I don’t eat, they will get down to the mid 30’s.  My doctor said it is a “serious hypoglycemic" problem.  If it is delayed dumping, I don’t know what else I can do diet wise. 

For example, I had pot roast for dinner one evening.  I had about 2-3 ounces of roast, 4 baby carrots, and 2 pearl size potatoes (smaller than a golf ball total).  I used a bit of A1 sauce.  I had that for dinner around 10pm.  I got ready for bed, headed to bed around midnight and at 2am I woke up shaking.  It was violent enough that it woke me up and when I tried to ***** my finger, I could barely keep my hands steady enough to do it.  I posted about this the other day.  You guys were so sweet and gave me advice, told me that I am not alone, and gave suggestions for an emergency sugar stash.  I am so frustrated.  My sugars will drop too much even just an hour after eating a well balanced meal (complete protein, a bit of fat, and complex carbs).  I end up eating all day (and even all night) long.  When I try to cut back (not eat as often, have just 3 meals/day like the bariatric instructions say), my symptoms are worse.  Pre-op, I’d get sick when I tried to diet... and now post-op, I feel worse and faster.  My endocrinologist said that weight loss is the last thing that I should be thinking about.  Dieting lands me with horrible sugar problems. 

In a few weeks I have to get a hypoglycemic test done with his nurse.  I get an IV and they draw blood every 30 minutes to measure various things like insulin, glucagon, glucose, etc.  They also do the finger stick test every 15 minutes.  When my sugars drop below 50, the test is over which can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 4 hours.  I am so nervous.  I know that reactive hypoglycemia is not uncommon with RNY, but why is it so out of control?  I am terrified to black out (I did once years ago when I tried the South Beach Diet... even a meal with zero carbs will give my glucose problems... that is not typical of delayed dumping). 


I seriously eat every 1-2 hours or my sugars drop too much and I feel sick.  I feel sick in general since surgery, but the sugar problems make it so much worse.  I have not been losing weight so I tried to restrict food (how often I eat, how much I eat, and whatnot).  That is why my hypoglycemia symptoms got significantly worse recently. 


Man this is frustrating!  I just needed to vent… and since there are others out there with this… how do you manage your symptoms?  It wakes me at night and I end up needing sugar a few times every night (I’m talking glucose in the 30’s and 40’s that wake me up by shaking).  Why?  He said if it is delayed dumping (which he said he is not quite sure that is the whole picture… maybe I have some of that going on, but since I’ve had hypoglycemia since I can remember, he thinks other things are happening too)… but he said if it is delayed dumping we can try a medication (3 came to his mind but they all have bad side effects and my nausea would likely worsen). 

Sigh… I am so frustrated with things right now.  Thanks for letting me vent and for offering support/advice!

Hi,

Sometimes I wish the word diet did not exist.  Eating healthy is a much more positive word.  I was on the low blood suger program quite awhile ago and suger was not part of the program I was on.  It was a balance of proteins and good carbs.  I ate little bits at least six times a day.  Right now, I think balance of mind, spirit and food intake is the key.  There is alot of great support out there that can be tapped into.  One good place to start is http://eMindful.com  Hang in there!  We are here for you.

First order of business is ALWAYS  "Follow your dr's direction"

A while back I tried to do some research and forgot all i learned. I have similar problems and find that I can only have about 7 g of carb at a time if I don't want to have a rapid spike and fall. Sugarfree yogurt seems to help keep me even 2-3 spoonfuls will do, so a little container can sometimes last me all day.

Try googling reactive glycemia and gastric bypass.... think there were med suggestions and things as drastic as liver surgery????? I can't exactly remember that part. Hang in there.