Question:
Could I have low blood sugar?

I had a very scary incident on the bus on my way to work yesterday. I passed out briefly. I've had a handful of episodes like this happen before since my surgery, but they always happened after something like working out. However, this was so sudden and rather embarassing since it happened on a public bus. Could this be from low blood sugar or hypoglycemia? Here are my symptoms: It always starts out by me getting incredibly hot. Then I start sweating profusely. Then I feel pins and needles throughout my body. The color disappears from my vision and things start to seem far away. My hearing is impaired also. I also feel like my bowels have turned to water at this point also. Then, I either lose consciousness or come very close to it. I feel very weak and light-headed for the rest of the day. I had my surgery a little over 9 months ago. I had a starting weight of 324 and I've lost about 150 pounds so far. Thanks for any info anyone can give me. I did make an appointment with my PCP, but it's not until March 3rd.    — R. P. (posted on February 19, 2003)

February 19, 2003
Call your PCP now and tell them whayts occuring, atr minimum get some bood work done so you have the results for your appointment.
   — bob-haller

February 19, 2003
You should definately call your doctor. The interesting thing is that your many of your symptons sound like dumping. Did you eat anything within an hour or so of this episode? It might be something to keep in mind when you discuss this with the doctor.
   — Amber L.

February 19, 2003
It sounds like Reactive Hypolglycemia. You need to keep some protein/carb combination foods with you at all times, like peanut butter crackers or a protein bar that has some carbs in it. You will revive fairly quickly with these. You also need to eat small meals, protein and some complex carbs, several times a day. Keep calcium and potassium levels steady. All of this is based on my experience. I'm not sure your PCP will be much help as this is a fairly rare syndrome. Do a web search on Reactive Hypoglycemia and you will find some into. One way to see if this is what it is is to have someone take a blood sugar reading right when you have one of these crashes. (A regular glucose tolerance test won't show anything because with Reactive, you get it two to five hours after eating.) When I did this I had a blood sugar reading of 42. (That's low.) Good luck. hugs, Ann rny 9/10/99 260/124
   — [Deactivated Member]

February 19, 2003
CALL YOUR DOCTOR NOW.....Tell them you passed out in a public place, make them work you in. My God you could have passed out and got mugged, or be walking and be hit by a car. I do not mean to make you afraid, but what are you thinking, if my doctor could not get me in before the 3rd for something this serious, I would go to the ER, and then change doctors. The last post was probley right it may be dumping or low blood sugars, I am diabetic and I can understand low blood sugars, but I also understand that you do not let something like this go untreated. Hope this helps.
   — cindy

February 19, 2003
This happened to me, too....about 10 months ago. It most like is Reactive Hypoglycemia..a condition that is made worse after this surgery. In my case, I had unwittingly consumed a high sugar beverage about one and half to two hours prior. With the RNY, the sugar dumps out into your lower intestines....your body floods with insulin too quickly and you become hypoglycemic. When I passed out (in Lowe's!..and thankfully with my husband and a friend nearby who kept my head from hitting the concrete floor) the EMTs found my blood sugar to be 52 and I was dehydrated so my BP was 80/0. All the symptoms you described...incredibly hot, sweating, pins and needles and things seeming far away...in addition to feeling pretty incoherent...nothing seemed to make alot of sense to me..are textbook for this. An acquaintance who is an EMT says that often they think hypoglycemics are either on drugs or mentally ill during an episode because they are so disoriented. The solution IS to keep some snack foods on hand all the time and to eat several small meals throughout the day. Peanut butter crackers, protein bars, even fruit will help to keep those blood sugar levels more stabilized. For me, if I get careless and don't eat regularly, I feel those symptoms coming on. I recognize the uncharacteristic irritability that I get as my first symptom and stop to think about when I last ate...and then I eat something. Soon, I'm feeling better. My PCP is great about drawing labs when I need them, but is not familiar enough with gastric bypass to recognize what was happening with me, but my surgeon knew immediately. Reactive Hypoglycemia in RNY patients is otherwise known as severe dumping. WARNING: It CAN be dangerous, so you have to take care of yourself and remember to eat regularly. Pay attention to things like increased activity (exercise, excitement, etc.) that may have 'consumed' more of your blood sugars than normal. Listen to your body when you're starting to feel out of sorts. You'll probably do great at this, because for me, after this one episode, I have been much better behaved on this issue. One more thing, I panicked about eating more small meals becuase I was afraid of weight gain. My DH brought it all in perspective for me when he reminded me that I had this surgery to be healthy not just to be thin. Best wishes to you! Sharon Open RNY, May 25, 2001, 296 - 156, 26W - 10
   — Sharon L.