very concerned about my hypoglycemia

(((((((((ginny))))))))) Deep breath sis . . . and then another (a good friend here suggested that! Tie a knot in that rope . . . and hang on. GREAT!!!! the doctor is ordering lots of tests so they can narrow down the enemy!! and the fact that it is the endo is super. They can do an H1C (several names for that one) that can see how you've averaged over the last three months, so that should be helpful too. You HAVE had a difficult year . . . *sigh* I'll wait for an update from your tests and your endo's opinon. . . hang in there ginny!!! I'm glad you don't have to wait for help. Keep us posted, ok?? Blessings!

Ginny,
Did they ever test your blood insulin to see how high it is? This will give them some idea of whether your pancreas is over active and producing too much insulin or if there is another problem. You probably know the normal range is 80-120 and I feel hypoglycemic at 80, I have hyperinsulinemia, I produce too much insulin and used to be hypoglycemic, but then my cells became more immune to insulin so now I go high and low blood sugar. I'm also having severe digestive problems and my rheumie told me that it is due to my pancreas being attacked by my immune system. It does get better with prednisone.

There are benign tumors you can get, not just on your pancreas but in other areas of your body and these tumors produce insulin. If you have too much insulin, then you will metabolize sugars too fast. Also, they should check you for fatty liver through an abdominal ultrasound, they can check the pancreas at the same time to make sure there isn't any major abnormal things there and surrounding organs. It is possible you have a metabolic disorder that causes your liver to store all sugars as fats inside the liver. Fatty liver does not mean you are fat. I was 103 or so when I first had fatty liver and was also hypoglycemic. That's why I say they should check your insulin to see how much you are producing. If you have fatty liver, eating, especially carbohydrates, can make it worse and the diet is very different from what they would normally give you so you really might want to talk to them about it. Your liver plays as much a role in sugar metabolism as your pancreas does. I'm glad you are getting your thyroid and all checked. I think there might be meds that even effect your blood sugar too.

I take glucophage for my fatty liver and it has stabilized my blood sugar at 100, no matter what I eat pretty much, though I do try to stick to the diabetic diet. I used to dive low and go high and it was awful because either way I felt like crap and couldn't tell whether I was low or high without testing so if I couldn't test, I'd eat the wrong thing and make it worse. I hope that they get you straightened out soon. It is an awful feeling. Maybe they could put you on an anxiety medicine while they are figuring this out, like klonopin or xanax or something. They did that for me when I had to go off my thyroid meds, but I take one anyway, but I got it increased during that time.

I try to eat carbs in the morning to bring my sugar up and oatmeal is good because the fiber lowers the effect of the carbs some and is good for my ailing gi and sticks with me so there is less of an up and down. I don't know what they recommend for you, but I imagine they want you to eat foods that bring your sugar up and keep it up for a long time. Those are the foods I have to avoid.

You pancreas produces enzymes that help you digest food, so usually if you have problems, you will not be digesting your food, and, my doc told me, your stools will float. If they float in the bowl, its a sign your pancreas is not producing enough enzymes. I've been searching the stores for pancreatic enzymes and cant find them, because I'm supposed to take them.

I hope you make through your wedding shoot ok. I have some funny stories about photography, I used to work for a photographer taking green card pictures. I have some funny stories. He was a real trip.

Here are some links you might find helpful:
Glycogen storage disease (I have this and I'm an adult, this just talks about children but you might find it helpful)
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec23/ch282/ch282b.html
Fatty liver talking about role of sugar and liver:
http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec10/ch136/ch136b.html
Fatty liver and carb metabolism, how widespread it is:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070921130735.htm
Chronic Fatigue and hypoglycemia, good discussion of hypoglycemia, different causes and role of liver:
http://www.immunesupport.com/library/showarticle.cfm/ID/8170

Hope this helps and that they get the right tests run. There are so many people here ending up with liver problems. The meds we take aren't so easy on the liver either. I wish more docs were up on this condition and were willing to do the abdominal ultrasounds as they are a good way to screen for pancreas and liver and gallbladder problems in a general non-invasive way before running more specific tests. Well I hope you feel better and that your sugar goes up and stabilizes and you get some relief. I hope the tests uncover the key to solving this problem for you. Best wishes.

ginny, you've had such a tough year and I'm sorry that you are fighting another battle. Everything you have been through and are going through would be enough to wear anyone down. At least your doc is on the ball and trying to figure out why this is happening. It sounds like you are crossing one of Bab's very long bridges, but you will get to the other side and we'll be here to help you get there. Take care and let us know what you find out. ((((Hugs))))

Awww thanks you guys for all the support.  (((hugs to you all)))).

 

Marji, you have some excellent suggestions and advice.  I can tell you're a pro at this!  I think my pancreas is making enough enzymes.  My poop sinks like concrete blocks. Hehehe... My liver is functioning normal, so is my thyroid, and all my electrolytes. Everything is normal, which is why this is so frustrating.  I just want to cry. My prednisone should be raising my levels, but I sure don't feel it.  I'm on 8.5mg of it. 

 

I did have a horrible internal rash this past June from that medication allergy I had.  The rash was in my stomach, bowel, liver. It messed me up realy good.  I think I'm still recovering from that in a lot of ways.  My digestion hasn't been the same since that happened.  I'm scheduled for a small bowel follow through this month.  but it's a fasting test and by the time the test is done I will have not been able to eat anything for over 12 hours. I just can't do that test.  I can barely go 3 hours without feeling like I'm going to pass out.  But it's important to find out what is going on in my gut and bowels.  See if it's related to this low blood sugar feeling.  I don't know what to do. I feel stranded.

 

My endo wants me to eat more protein with all my meals.  So that is something I'm doing.  Lynnwood, you are so right.  I'm limited as to what I can eat that has protein in it.  All I can eat is meat, chicken, almonds, soy.  I'm allergic to eggs and dairy/cheese.  Breakfasts these days consist of high fiber cereal and little meat balls.... GREAT. 

 

I'm so close to being back to my "normal" self, and when I see the light at the end of this horrible tunnel, I can almost reach it and then it's snatched away from me again.  I'm totally worn out from all this guys.  Emotionally, physically.  I'm really having a hard time.  Thank you for your support and hugs and prayers.  I sure need them!

 

Ginny

 

Hi Ginny--
Glad you are keeping on top of all that stuff and your poop sinks. That's great! I hope you get feeling better soon and they figure out why this is happening. There sure aren't very many reasons for this to be going on, so you may want to seek a second opinion if they aren't getting to the bottom of this. Some of the metabolic problems are things to check out, you can have a metabolic problem with just about anything it seems. If you are allergic to eggs, you must have problems with sulfa drugs too. Well. I hope you feel better and that they figure this out soon and know that I'm thinking of you and praying for you.