Screen grab from today:
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/health-topics/Diabetes/hypoglycemia/Pages/index.aspx
Friday, January 29, 2016
Wednesday, January 27, 2016
And In Other News
So about the pain issues I was dealing with, which cropped up at the end of the summer? Where we left off in THAT narrative, in a fit of agony and frustration, I changed physiatrists, and got an Rx for PT, which I started about a week or so before Thanksgiving 2015.
I was going roughly for 2x a week from November until last week, and the physical therapist was incredible. He did myofascial release and other deep massage of the area near my herniation, which helped immensely, and I was on an exercise program to help strengthen up, related to the subacromial bursitis and the epicondylitis.
My follow-up visit with the physiatrist is next Monday, and I hope to get an Rx for PT for the herniations in the low spine. The physical therapist was INCREDIBLE.
Up until the hypoglycemia drama, I was taking 1000 mg of evening primrose oil to help with prostaglandin health and inflammation, and I do believe it helped me immensely; however, before we figured out the nature of the hypoglycemia, I pitched my supplements out of fear I was contributing to the problem. I got the green light from my endocrinologist to resume taking the supplement, so that makes me happy.
Everyone needs a hobby, and I guess one of mine is figuring out how to maintain and manage THIS CONVEYANCE, my body I've been given, to get through this thing called life. It'd be easier if it came with an owner's manual like for a car. So instead of "10,000 mile maintenance check up," it'd be helpful to know that my fourth decade on Planet Earth would be so rife with shit I'd have to navigate.
I was going roughly for 2x a week from November until last week, and the physical therapist was incredible. He did myofascial release and other deep massage of the area near my herniation, which helped immensely, and I was on an exercise program to help strengthen up, related to the subacromial bursitis and the epicondylitis.
My follow-up visit with the physiatrist is next Monday, and I hope to get an Rx for PT for the herniations in the low spine. The physical therapist was INCREDIBLE.
Up until the hypoglycemia drama, I was taking 1000 mg of evening primrose oil to help with prostaglandin health and inflammation, and I do believe it helped me immensely; however, before we figured out the nature of the hypoglycemia, I pitched my supplements out of fear I was contributing to the problem. I got the green light from my endocrinologist to resume taking the supplement, so that makes me happy.
Everyone needs a hobby, and I guess one of mine is figuring out how to maintain and manage THIS CONVEYANCE, my body I've been given, to get through this thing called life. It'd be easier if it came with an owner's manual like for a car. So instead of "10,000 mile maintenance check up," it'd be helpful to know that my fourth decade on Planet Earth would be so rife with shit I'd have to navigate.
The Latest Development: Finding a Lancet That Works For Me
There are so many things I am feeling right now: anger, discouraged, fear, anxiety etc, related to the news of the reactive hypoglycemia. If that weren't enough, I am incapable of getting an "optimal STICK" with the lancet that came with the glucometer the doctor provided me:
Oh! It's a sporty little meter, and the Delica lancet is ever-so-fine; however, even at the highest setting (5), I cannot consistently get an optimally sized blood droplet for the test strip, which then requires me to do multiple sticks (wasting lancets), and also equals more OWIE.
A friend suggested the lancet he uses, a Relion. So before I trudge on over to Wallyworld to buy it, perhaps there's a way for me to comparison shop lancets. I have no idea what makes his better, and I have absolutely zero knowledge of any variation in lancet gauge from manufacturer-to-manufacturer.
Yet another issue/event in my life that sucker-punches me, making me actively miss my dad. He would have been my Johnny-on-the-spot, letting me try out lancets and glucometers in his collection, until I landed upon the right one that works for me.
A friend suggested the lancet he uses, a Relion. So before I trudge on over to Wallyworld to buy it, perhaps there's a way for me to comparison shop lancets. I have no idea what makes his better, and I have absolutely zero knowledge of any variation in lancet gauge from manufacturer-to-manufacturer.
Yet another issue/event in my life that sucker-punches me, making me actively miss my dad. He would have been my Johnny-on-the-spot, letting me try out lancets and glucometers in his collection, until I landed upon the right one that works for me.
Sunday, January 24, 2016
New Development: Post-Prandial Hypoglycemia
Every time some new development crops up, I am reminded that there are assholes out there who think either I'm a hypochondriac or think I'm imagining this shit (and that sentence is THE ENTIRETY of head space I am allocating to that bullshit).
I'm now five years out from my RnY, and some symptoms I just thought were related to my hypertension (like lightheadedness) and I was experiencing that heart flutter thing, which we've been possibly incorrectly thinking was hormonal (I'm 47).
Up until last Monday, I had absolutely no idea anything was wrong. I went for a two hour glucose tolerance test (I'm not sure why, though my insulin has been on the low side of normal, so I thought everything's okay). My fasting glucose was 90 (normal!), and after two hours, it bottomed out at 32. However, mind you, after the test? I honestly felt fine. Had no idea anything was wrong. It was only later on when my doctor called me in a panic, did I know something was going on.
So, yesterday I had to stick myself six times (when in reality I think I should have stuck myself 12 times) as my doc wanted me to test fasting before each meal and 2 hours after; only problem is, I didn't tell him I actually eat roughly six times a day. So I'm sure all the sticks I did yesterday are probably inaccurate.
We have been doing a differential, trying to pinpoint what it is exactly that's the cause of me bottoming out with a 32 at the end of a 2 hour glucose tolerance test. So many variables. It could be a combination of things: 1. I was wearing scopolamine patches on my cruise last week; 2. I drink alcohol on an empty stomach; 3. I was taking evening primrose oil, and relora supplements. Or it could be something neither of us considered: an unfortunate side effect from my gastric bypass: post-prandial hypoglycemia.
Prior to all of this, the only indication I knew something was up was the fact I feel like crap eating something like bagels, pizza, or pasta, so for me, since the bypass, I thought it was a normal progression to get away from those foods--so that's how I manage that (I pretty much avoid them).
I guess all along I have been managing this without my knowledge by eating smaller meals, focusing on proteins, and avoiding a lot of refined high glycemic carbs. I ate a piece of rum cake yesterday, roughly 25 gm of carbs, and nearly 2 hours later, my blood glucose was 72--so, not perfect, but also not right at the danger zone either I think.
I cannot help but be discouraged, as I haven't lost everything I wanted (I lost 100, regained 25), and have worked hard just to maintain what I have, and tried so hard not to become a diabetic, and now THIS.
I'm regimented. I pack a feed bag for work, and am pretty regimented with eating six times a day, remaining compliant about the no liquids after eating restriction, as well as staying on top of all my vitamin requirements etc.
Thursday was an emergency visit with the endocrinologist, so on Friday, on a hunch I googled post-prandial hypoglycemia and I'm just really dejected and not sure how to handle the news/possibility of this as a diagnosis. When I came home from the doctor's visit, I pitched the suspected supplements in the trash--in full on revulsion, and wanting to avoid any possibility I'd accidentally take them until we figure this out. Sure, not smart money wise, but I always can buy more if it turns out to be a fluke.
I was hoping after ditching the supplements and avoiding alcohol for a bit (mind you I do 1-2 drinks a week), perhaps we can re-do the glucose tolerance test. Nearly all of my readings 2 hours after eating have been normal, as well as my numbers when I wake up in the a..m. (Normal for me: 88-91 have been the norm).
So now, I'm vexxed by all this finger pricking, and my blood isn't cooperating. And thinking of never eating again, given how everything seems so driven by the act of eating. I'm fine when I wake up, as my fasting glucose is between 88-91. It's what I put into my mouth moving forward which is posing to be a new challenge.
Feeling dejected, disappointed and wondering why I've been working so hard just to maintain, only to have a new set back.
I'm now five years out from my RnY, and some symptoms I just thought were related to my hypertension (like lightheadedness) and I was experiencing that heart flutter thing, which we've been possibly incorrectly thinking was hormonal (I'm 47).
Up until last Monday, I had absolutely no idea anything was wrong. I went for a two hour glucose tolerance test (I'm not sure why, though my insulin has been on the low side of normal, so I thought everything's okay). My fasting glucose was 90 (normal!), and after two hours, it bottomed out at 32. However, mind you, after the test? I honestly felt fine. Had no idea anything was wrong. It was only later on when my doctor called me in a panic, did I know something was going on.
So, yesterday I had to stick myself six times (when in reality I think I should have stuck myself 12 times) as my doc wanted me to test fasting before each meal and 2 hours after; only problem is, I didn't tell him I actually eat roughly six times a day. So I'm sure all the sticks I did yesterday are probably inaccurate.
We have been doing a differential, trying to pinpoint what it is exactly that's the cause of me bottoming out with a 32 at the end of a 2 hour glucose tolerance test. So many variables. It could be a combination of things: 1. I was wearing scopolamine patches on my cruise last week; 2. I drink alcohol on an empty stomach; 3. I was taking evening primrose oil, and relora supplements. Or it could be something neither of us considered: an unfortunate side effect from my gastric bypass: post-prandial hypoglycemia.
Prior to all of this, the only indication I knew something was up was the fact I feel like crap eating something like bagels, pizza, or pasta, so for me, since the bypass, I thought it was a normal progression to get away from those foods--so that's how I manage that (I pretty much avoid them).
I guess all along I have been managing this without my knowledge by eating smaller meals, focusing on proteins, and avoiding a lot of refined high glycemic carbs. I ate a piece of rum cake yesterday, roughly 25 gm of carbs, and nearly 2 hours later, my blood glucose was 72--so, not perfect, but also not right at the danger zone either I think.
I cannot help but be discouraged, as I haven't lost everything I wanted (I lost 100, regained 25), and have worked hard just to maintain what I have, and tried so hard not to become a diabetic, and now THIS.
I'm regimented. I pack a feed bag for work, and am pretty regimented with eating six times a day, remaining compliant about the no liquids after eating restriction, as well as staying on top of all my vitamin requirements etc.
Thursday was an emergency visit with the endocrinologist, so on Friday, on a hunch I googled post-prandial hypoglycemia and I'm just really dejected and not sure how to handle the news/possibility of this as a diagnosis. When I came home from the doctor's visit, I pitched the suspected supplements in the trash--in full on revulsion, and wanting to avoid any possibility I'd accidentally take them until we figure this out. Sure, not smart money wise, but I always can buy more if it turns out to be a fluke.
I was hoping after ditching the supplements and avoiding alcohol for a bit (mind you I do 1-2 drinks a week), perhaps we can re-do the glucose tolerance test. Nearly all of my readings 2 hours after eating have been normal, as well as my numbers when I wake up in the a..m. (Normal for me: 88-91 have been the norm).
So now, I'm vexxed by all this finger pricking, and my blood isn't cooperating. And thinking of never eating again, given how everything seems so driven by the act of eating. I'm fine when I wake up, as my fasting glucose is between 88-91. It's what I put into my mouth moving forward which is posing to be a new challenge.
Feeling dejected, disappointed and wondering why I've been working so hard just to maintain, only to have a new set back.
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