Question:
Anyone post-op have to have a glucose test done?

My surgeon suspects that I am producing too much insulin. My symtoms are shaking and dizziness and usually have to eat something to feel better. If you had a glucose test done, how did you feel? Did you get sick and nauseaed. This test will be pure sugar and I am not looking forward to it. Any help will be appreciated.    — Lorraine R. (posted on September 14, 1999)

September 14, 1999
I'm pre-op, but I asked my doctor about this because I want to have another baby after surgery. (My Obstetrician gives the glucose test at least once during pregnancy.) My surgeon said that the regular glucose test should not be given after gastric bypass because it will cause dumping, but he said there are other ways of testing your glucose tolerance that can be used instead. He didn't specify what those "other" ways are. I hope this helps. Lynn
   — Lynn K.

December 12, 1999
A glucose tolerance test is typically done to test for low insulin or insulin resistance not increased insulin. I would not recommend this test be done on anyone who has had a gastricbypass since it will most likely be abnormal due to "dumping". If you did not have sypmtoms prior to your surgery you may in fact have the "dunping syndrome", I would recommend avoiding any sweets, watch the sugar content in dressings, ketchup, etc. and increase your daily protein intake (40-50 grams per day) you might also have to switch from 3 meals a day (you should not skip meals)to 6 small meals or at least a small between meals high protein snack. If you still have these attacks, see about a serum insulin level. There are rather rare causes of hyperinsulinemia or to much insulin. Good Luck
   — ERIC T.

May 7, 2003
I was tested Post-Op and the results were fine. The drink itself, however, was pretty painful! It was a carbonated sugar concoction (I had not had carbonated drinks for about a year and a half) and I had to drink it in 15 minutes or the test would be invalid. It tasted okay (like a sweet orange drink but I did not like it). The nurse kept coming in there and telling me. Well, I got it down just in time, but then I immediately had the worst dumping episode of my life. Immediately, my heart was racing, I felt nauseus, and then the upset stomach, right in the doctor's office.. talk about embarrassing! I do not usually dump severly.. as a matter of fact, I can drink/eat almost anything sweet as long as I don't overdo.. even then, its just an uncomfortable light-headedness.. nothing intolerable.. but that stuf.. yuck!! sorry if I am scaring you, but I wish someone had prepared me, and that I had known the thing was carbonated, so I could have asked my doctor to get a non-carbonated brand ahead of time (there were none available that morning). No matter what.. it will be over within the hour, and your blood sugar is very important.. so worth the discomfort.
   — Yowhuzup Y.

March 19, 2005
While I was pregnant I had a glucose tolerance test done. I voiced my concerns about the amount of drink compared to the pouch size and about the carbonation. My doctor came up with a great idea. I ate the equivalent amount of glucose in the form of jellybeans -- it came out to about 60 Jelly Bellys (based on the sugar content that I needed to injest according to the doctor) which was a small fistful size and was easy for me to ingest in the 10 minute period they give you.
   — Bonnie C.