Re: Re: PLEASE HELP...Questions about hypoglycemia, liver problems, and revision of DS

[Guest guest]

Me being hypoglycemic, I cannot do the glucose pills because it is sugar that I

shouldn't have. Do I ever eat sugar? I am bad on occassions and do but I dont

over do it. Now if I have not eaten at all, that is a big issue and I have

passed out several times. I keep protein with me and that usually consists of

string cheese or nuts. That is not always enough- even with the surgery I can

eat a lot so I really have to eat meals to keep me on track. If it gets bad

enough, even after eating, I am not completely me again. It just means I have to

make sure I eat. I have never had any issues with my liver but I am not

diabetic. I always thought diabetes affected the liver. I could be wrong but

luckily my labs are fine except for the blood sugar thing. At times, it is fine

during labs and sometimes low- and I dont fast before labs. I just cannot forget

to eat and sometimes I do if I am out doing alot of errands or whatever.

 

Vicki

 **** and Vicki Plough ****

Subject: Re: PLEASE HELP...Questions about hypoglycemia,

liver problems, and revision of DS

To: DS_Friends_Keshishian

Date: Sunday, December 7, 2008, 11:34 PM

You're not being rude at all Vicky! I appreciate your question.

First of all, I feel I should tell you (well, everyone) that I was

posting for a good friend who doesn't have access to the internet and

is uncomfortable with releasing her name. I am very concerned for my

friend since she is so upset about what's happening to her. Her

stress level is through the roof.

She has never been diagnosed with hypoglycemia before. Based on her

symptoms (dizziness, excessive sweating, confusion, fatique, and

passing out among just a few things) she was diagnosed with it. She

actually became so disoriented that she bumped into some things

before she actually passed out. She had some tests done but they are

not back yet. She was told that if her liver has been affected by her

glucose problem then the malabsorption part of her surgery has to be

revised.

I don't know (and neither does she yet) how it's all connected. I do

know that if a person takes in more glucose than the body needs then

the body stores that extra glucose in the liver. What I really don't

understand is if a big part of DS surgery is malabsorption, than how

is all this glucose getting stored in the liver? Shouldn't it be

mostly shooting through her system? Hopefully, her doctor will be

able to thoroughly explain this to her.

If she is told that she does have to have a revision, than it will

most likely have to happen very soon. This doesn't really give her

time to learn more about this, absorb all the information, and make

a decision. I'm trying to find out as much information as I can

about all of this to help her. The stress of not understanding what

is happening to her is making her situtation even worse.

How do you control your hypoglycemia? Is it just through watching

what you eat or medication, both? Right now, she checks her glucose

levels and if it's too low she eats something. Sometimes she takes a

glucose pill.

I really want to help ease her mind somewhat even if it's only

helping her to understand more about what's happening to her. I knew

that this was the best place to go for help. I'm a WLS patient

myself (I had a gastric bypass by Dr. Vierra in Monterey, CA) and

have been to this group before for info about WLS in general before I

had my surgery. In fact, before she had her DS surgery, I told her

about some things that I learned here.

Any information you have would be helpful. Also, when I learn more

about the connection between blood sugar and the liver, I will let

you know.

Thanks again for posting Vicki,

>

> From: suzedj2 <suzedj2@... >

> Subject: [DS_Friends_ Keshishian] PLEASE HELP...Questions about

hypoglycemia, liver problems, and revision of DS

> To: DS_Friends_Keshishi anyahoogroups (DOT) com

> Date: Sunday, December 7, 2008, 8:14 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I'm 8 months post-op and have just found out that I'm hypoglycemic.

> I've done everything, ate everything and took every supplement I

was

> supposed to (I've lost over 110 lbs). Now, I may have to have a

> partial revision if my labs come back saying there is a problem

with my

> liver.

>

> Have any of you had this happen to you or do you know anyone that

had

> this happen to? What kind of complications were there (if any)? How

> long was the recovery? Does insurance cover this kind of thing (I

have

> Medi-Cal)?

>

> I have to do something because I just don't feel well and I don't

want

> to live like this. However, I'm really nervous about having another

> surgery.

>

> Thank you so much for any help you can give me,

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Jo, you always amaze me. It's a " right pure honour " to know you.

[Guest guest]

Oh God you had to mention tumors? Have you forgotten I am in this group?? LMAO

Vicki

 **** and Vicki Plough ****

Subject: Re: PLEASE HELP...Questions about hypoglycemia,

liver problems, and revision of DS

To: DS_Friends_Keshishian

Date: Monday, December 8, 2008, 10:56 AM

Hi

First thing I want you to do is tell your friend to take a deep

breath and not to panic. She hasn't been diagnosed with some Weird

Disease. It is a common thing. I know MORE non-wls patients with

Hypoglycemia than those who have had wls.

Also...I would bet that her liver enzymes test will come back with

problems at 8 months post-op and 110 lbs lost. LOSING WEIGHT IS HARD

ON THE LIVER. That is why we aren't supposed to drink alcohol during

the weight loss phase. We don't want to ADD stress to our liver.

Dr. K has warned us numerous times that many PCP's will panic when

they see our Liver lab test and want to do an unnecessary liver

biopsy or start yelling " reverse the surgery! " .

I'm not saying that she doesn't or won't need a revision. I'm

saying, she should run the lab result by her wls-surgeon. Plus if

there is a need to slow down weight loss she could possibly just need

to take some enzymes so she absorbs more. Thus giving her body time

to adjust and after the normal 18 month weighloss period she will

start to absorb more naturally.

She should adjust her diet to accommodate the hypoglycemia and see if

this helps her feel better.

To relieve " reactive " hypoglycemia, some health professionals

recommend:

*eating small meals and snacks about every 3 hours

*being physically active

*eating a variety of foods, including meat, poultry, fish, or nonmeat

*sources of protein; starchy foods such as whole-grain bread, rice,

and potatoes; fruits; vegetables; and dairy products

*eating foods high in fiber

*avoiding or limiting foods high in sugar, especially on an empty

stomach.

What you want is to avoid SPIKES and LOWS in your blood-sugar. So

eating small meals often that contain high fiber, complex carbs and

proteins will help to accomplish this. Eating a candy bar will cause

a spike...a low will follow a spike, get it? However if your friend

finds herself in a situation where her blood sugar is crashing a

quick sugar source, like candy or juice may prevent a total crash.

Just follow the sugar with something high fiber or protein as soon as

she is feeling a bit better. Keeping things handy like nuts to snack

on between meals can prevent a crash.

It is important to be under medical care and to diagnose the cause of

the hypoglycemia. After all, you do want to rule out possibilities

like tumors. But don't panic and assume that wls is the blame and

that a reversal is the only solution. There are non-surgical

possibilities.

I hope your friend is feeling better soon. It really is scary when

your world starts to spin out of control and you feel like crap.

Hugs

Jo

[Guest guest]

aww- you thought of me??

 **** and Vicki Plough ****

Subject: Re: PLEASE HELP...Questions about hypoglycemia,

liver problems, and revision of DS

To: DS_Friends_Keshishian

Date: Monday, December 8, 2008, 5:45 PM

> Oh God you had to mention tumors? Have you forgotten I am in this

group?? LMAO

> Vicki

ROTFLMAO.... actually Vicki I debated on putting that part in because of

you! I'm giving you a " get out of Cancer " FREE card for life. Hows

that. Now go and enjoy lifes glory with one less thing to worry about.

Hugs

Jo