Question:
Sudden episode not sure what they are, can anyone relate?

9 months out from lap RNY, lost 120 lbs, vitals are fine, sugar levels are good, blood pressure is good, blood chem is good no deficienties....I have had 4 of these weird episodes...my gastric doctor thought that maybe it was reactive hypoglycemia, but the one that happened last night could not have been... These episodes have mostly hapened in a social environment...actually at a bar or out to see a band...I get tunnel vision, pale and dizzy, sometimes lose my legs, need to sit and drink water...I do not feel anxious before but during these episodes, I just want to run away...I have never had panic attacks prior to surgery and am wondering if there is some reason to be having them now...    — lori042499 (posted on April 11, 2009)

April 11, 2009
your body goes through alot after RNY as you know and it could be some sort of panic attacks. i noticed you said you were at a bar-were you drinking alcohol? because that can most definantely cause those episodes. it does sound like it could be your sugar dropping-mine does frequently and that is kinda how i feel, just keep a close eye on it and try to pay attention to what common factors the episodes possess. like keep a food log to see what you ate/or didn't eat prior to those episodes. if it keeps on and is bothersome you may want to talk to the doctor about something to take for anxiety as needed to see if that helps. good luck and i hope this helps!
   — RNlvnCARSON

April 13, 2009
These are some of the symptoms I have with magnesium deficiency. It can be really awful for me. Once I could not drive over a bridge, and had a full blown panic attack! I had to turn around in traffic on the bridge and go home after driving an hour to go to the shore. It's not such a nice feeling to want to run away while driving a car! LOL (I joke now, but it was awful, like being burried alive) I am mildly agoraphobic as well...When my magnesium is very low (I can JUST tell), I do not even want to go outside...Other times, I need someone to go with me or I cannot leave my house for days or weeks... I cannot easily go to airports, malls or concerts, heavy crowds (like you did) without having at least a mild panic attack. My husband can tell by the look on my face if it's time to go...And he just says "We go now!" with a wink. He's used to it... I go in and out of magnesium deficiencies...There is not a very accurate blood mag test either and only recently have they even found a way to test for magnesium. But the tell tale sign is the leg, foot and thigh cramps/charlie horses. When my magnesium is very low, even my face will get locked in place in a muscle spasm...or my hands and fingers too. It makes me absolutely insane! I have so many symptoms that are caused by magnesium deficiencies! I get ADD or ADHD...My head gets foggy and I feel dull and listless. Shortness in breaths, not like being winded, but just this need to take a deep breath...heart palpitations and racing heart for no apparent reason, dizziness...I have to take magnesium several times daily (At least 800-1000 mg) Or it gets bad for me! If I forget to take it for just a day or two, the symptoms start usually with muscle spasm and the other symptoms get progressively worse over time if I don't get magnesium soon! Your episode is one of my classic VERY low magnesium episodes. I am no doctor...I am just sharing with you the reason I have the exact symptoms! And I am by no means giving you a diagnosis! Just something you might discuss getting tested since mag defs are rare (in reg, non-wls people) and docs do not usually look at magnesium unless they have a good reason...Especially your need to sip water...Magnesium is an electrolye and alchol can dehydrate you as well causing an electroylte imbalance! Sometimes it's a matter of getting water and sometimes you need magnesium and fast! I chew 2 calcium citrate wafers by Twin Labs because it's got 250 mg's mag in 2 wafers that go straight to my blood and all my symptoms disappear in seconds! I have to carry them in my purse as well, just in case! I never had these problems pre-op! Just a little anxiety now and then...but NOTHING like agoraphobia! Or bridges (only happened once really bad, before I even knew what magnesium even was... two other times mildly) I wish I knew why I have chronic mag defs...I drink liquids all day long and even cut drinking any alcohol to holidays and special events...I used to have a glass or two on weekends with dinner...and now I'm just afraid of magnesium deficiency symptoms...They are crazy insane! Hope you find out what's causing your symptoms...
   — .Anita R.

April 14, 2009
Thanks, Anita, I will have that checked...That is one item that has not been checked yet..
   — lori042499