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perhaps you could have a glucose drink? or a lozenge? it could be a touch of hypo insulinism.

I am a bypasser... had my bypass in 2015, turned 50 last year... having issues with GERD and reactive hypoglycaemia.. I live in Albury NSW Australia.

Nicie your post reminds me of one not too long ago where the OP said that she was 80% sure about having the surgery and wondering how she could get to 100%. Bypass or sleeve are major surgeries. All surgeries have risks and bariatric surgeries are no exception. There simply are no guarantees. 100% implies absolute certainty. I believe that any goal you set has to meet two criteria - it must be realistic and it must be sustainable. Any goal that does not meet those two criteria should be abandoned in favor of one that does. Absolute certainty is neither realistic nor sustainable. When I was trying to make the surgery decision and subsequently the choice of which surgery to have, my goal became to do as much research as possible, learn everything I could about the potential benefits - and risks - of each option. That goal was both realistic and sustainable. The result of that effort was that I concluded that the odds were overwhelmingly in my favor of having a successful, literally life-changing outcome. And that is exactly what happened. Bariatric surgery is the most effective treatment known to medical science for the treatment of obesity and more than 30 comorbidities associated with obesity. By a huge margin. Once I had all of the facts, the decision was relatively easy. That is not to say that I wasn't frightened. There were times right up to the moment they wheeled me into the OR when it scared the bejesus out of me. But courage is not about never being frightened (unrealistic and unsustainable). Courage is about doing what you believe to be the right thing for you and your family, in spite of your fears. Today I'm a little over two and a half years post-op. Hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea and 130 pounds - gone. I hit 155 lbs about fourteen months post-op and my weight has been between 151 and 156 every since. This morning I was 152.4. I've had two complications. About six months post-op I developed an ulcer at the anastomosis that was confirmed with an endoscopy. My surgeon increased my Rx for Prevacid from one capsule a day to two. No other changes. No other treatment. Three months later a second endoscopy confirmed the ulcer was completely healed. The second complication - I'm one of about 15% of patients that experience reactive hypoglycemia aka "late stage" dumping. Definitely not comfortable but easily avoided by avoiding too much sugar or carbs. And when I make a bad choice and my blood sugar drops, I simply eat something with a little sugar, or simple carbs or just chew a glucose tablet. Without fail, the symptoms completely disappear in about 20 minutes. All in all, a very small price to pay for a life that, not that long ago, I thought would never be possible. Would I do it again? Without a moments hesitation. Am I the exception? You don't have to look any further than this forum to read countless stories similar to mine. When you have questions, there are tons of great folks here who are more than happy to offer the benefit of their experiences. Good luck in making your decision! Thank you for your response. I am so appreciate that you took the time to give me such a thorough narrative. Congratulations on your success with this challenging journey to better health. I hope to also be a success in this journey. What you wrote has made an impact on how I will move forward with this issue. You are so right in pointing out that this surgery is the most effective treatment for obesity. I think I was just kidding myself that I could lose 100 lbs without medical intervention and that was a big reason for my indecisiveness. It was also very helpful to hear that I am not alone in my fear of the unknown when you wrote about how scared you were up until surgery. I am going to write down your quote about "Courage is about doing what you believe to be the right thing for you and your family, in spite of your fears." Thanks again for your insight.

I'm the crazy one who actually gives people radioactive iodine for a living . Its not as bad as it sounds. A lot of times the "anti" thyroid medicines don't cut it and eventually the thyroid will work so hard it actually goes hypo, sometimes inactive. So, by giving the radioactive iodine, we just speed up the process and it typically makes people feel a whole lot better, sooner. I'm a thyroid patient myself. YES, the stereotypical hyperthyroid patients are skinny, but we see many many people with the opposite. One iodine treatment isn't going to impact fertility. Especially for hyperthyroid. Our cancer patients get 15-20 times the amount and there still isn't much of a risk. There's ALWAYS a slight risk with any kind of medical procedure. Its just radiation sounds so terrible, people are usually afraid of it. Most people don't think twice about traveling on an airplane, going to the mountains, spending a day out in the sun, etc. You get more radiation doing some of those things than what you would get with a treatment. I'm thinking the doctor wants it under control before surgery because the thyroid controls so many things. Its probably best this way, even though it puts your surgery off, which stinks!!!

My experience was the other way around.. I had lap band surgery 5 years ago.. then I came down with a very nasty auto-immune disease. I had no idea of the connection until I read the following.. which I pasted into my wordpad from a lap band website.... it was only a few days ago, and I cannot seem to find the source in my favorites.. I'll keep looking.. Lizzie Silastic reaction It is possible that the material of the Band could create some type of body immune reaction that stimulates a separate disease process such as arthritis or Systemic Lupus Erythematosis (SLE). However the Band is made of a silicone elastomer which is completely non-reactive to the body tissues, as far as it has been possible to determine. The same type of material has been in use in a number of implanted medical devices over time, and no problems with tissue reaction have been demonstrated. Here again, the early data is reassuring but no true long-term information exists.

"Bottom line there is not a "easy" solution no matter what you do" I'm truly hoping that you didn't mean to suggest that those who get banded assume they've found an "easy" solution to their weight problem. The people here who've had success have worked their weight off. I have hypothyroidism. I have been taking medication for it since, oh, the early '90s. My level gets checked twice a year, and it's been stable for as long as I can remember. I've successfully lost over 100 pounds, so hypos can succeed at weight loss. (The only problem was me gaining the weight back by overeating high calorie foods and stopping my exercise program.) You are making a really strong statement to us about our personal health choices, but you also state "I'll take what I can get" when it comes to your own doctor and treatment. You "know more than any nutritionist", but have you consulted more than the one that disappointed you? I appreciate your concern for my well-being, but my own experiences and the faith I have in my own decisions will guide me.

I am nervous if I will know if I am dumping or not. I have bad reactive hypoglycemia and that and dumping have the same symptoms but different cures. I feel better if I eat something when I have a hypoglycemia fit, but dumping, you need to rest and not eat right?

I have a low thyroid and a goiter from being undiagnosed for so long. My doctor cannot get a proper level.She keeps bumping the meds up, then it gets hyper,then back down only to become hypo again.For sure it's frustrating but i cannot see why this would cancel you as a candidate? Good luck!!

Sleepiness after eating is one of the signs of reactive hypoglycemia in bariatric surgery patients. Reactive hypoglycemia (postprandial hypoglycemia) refers to low blood sugar that occurs after a meal — usually within four hours after eating. This is different from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) that occurs while fasting. Signs and symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia may include hunger, weakness, shakiness, sleepiness, sweating, lightheadedness and anxiety. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/reactive-hypoglycemia/faq-20057778

Well, I'm glad we all can help answer questions. Ik that the hypo controls it, but now I c that ghelin can affect the hypo as well. Thx

All us HYpos. Need to support each other..Im so worried it wont work...im doing everything tight I was sleeved 4/24. Lets all be each others support team...we are slow looser from what I read but truth is I was not looseing before sleeve I was gaining.13 lds last year 15 each year prior..so looseing steady even if its only 2 a week. Ill take iy...any one haveing issues with hiccups or gas in shoulder....also are u crushing your thyroid or taking hole.

1 pound peeled and deveined medium shrimp 1 cup fresh lime juice 10 plum tomatoes, diced 1 large yellow onion, diced 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced, or to taste Place shrimp in a glass bowl and cover with lime juice to marinate (or 'cook') for about 10 minutes, or until they turn pink and opaque. Meanwhile, place the plum tomatoes, onion and jalapeno (and avocados and celery, if using) in a large, non-reactive (stainless steel, glass or plastic) bowl. Remove shrimp from lime juice, reserving juice. Dice shrimp and add to the bowl of vegetables. Pour in the remaining lime juice marinade. Add cilantro and salt and pepper to taste. Toss gently to mix. I love this on seseme tortilla chips 2 avocados, diced (optional) 2 ribs celery, diced (optional) chopped fresh cilantro to taste salt and pepper to taste

I wanted to comment on your statement of, " not so fat" smh people tell me that all the time and say o you shouldn't do the surgery just exercise. Which pisses me off I do exercise but having hypo thyroids is so hard so hard to lose weight. I need a tool that can help me stick my toe in the door then I'll bum rush my way in lol . Here's me now just getting my appointments in order hoping for a may date...

@@Killian I am 8 weeks post op, and I am steadily losing weight. Lost 12kg (26.4 Ibs) so far. When is your surgery, and what type of surgery are you having? Sleeve or Bypass? I am finding that the more weight I lose, my Thyroxine (Synthroid) levels get too high, and I am swinging back to Hyper thyroid again .... I am glad to learn that you also skip Sunday dose. I will start this Sunday, and see what happens. I had RAI in August last year (2015), and went Hypo in December last year, 2015 On Thyroxine since January 2016, so this is a new learning curve for me. I have to have 6 weekly blood tests post surgery, seeing my Endo every 3 months, unless I get issues ..... I take my Thyroxine early in the morning, when I first wake up, on empty stomach, then go back to sleep. This way I can have my coffee and Breakfast when I get up. Calcium, I take it in the evening. With weight loss, the Synthroid levels can be affected, and doses need to be monitored and adjusted, if needed. Good luck with your surgery Cheers, Margo

Good point Alex. I will ask about testing for my A1C levels. She did suggest healthy carbs. Both that you mentioned, I am having trouble digesting them. I will look at more legumes as she got excited that I enjoy them. So far this week I have had two attacks. But was able to catch them before they got really bad! I know it is Reactive Hypoglycemia. I was diagnosed with that. But for some reason as I am an emotional person and affected by things around me. It seems to trigger the attacks more then say others who are less sensitive to their surroundings. This is who I am. My nature! I cannot change this part of me. If I/they can't figure out a way to help me then it will be one more pill I have to take daily. Still it does not change the fact that I would do it all over again. To be where I am today!

Actually, I am living with worse conditions since surgery then before. I not only take more drugs but I have reactive Hypoglycemia because of it. Other then a bad back I was a healthy over weight person. The chronic co-morbid conditions happened after the surgery. K

Dizzy spells could be reactive hypoglycemia ...if you eat heavy on the carbs. As the previous poster mentioned start exploring new foods. This is the time to be devoting a whole new way of eating. You may be grieving and comparing foods to old processed, high fat, and or sugar choices and bottom line newer and healthier foods aren't initially glamorous at first. Use spices etc...and over time you will see a difference. Even though I am newly postoperative I lost 130 pounds and kept it off until a injury. I learned to savor foods I never thought I would like. Also check out this blog..she has wonderful ideas..... The World According To Eggface.

@It's all new Did you eat very low-carb during your weight-loss phase (first year)? A pattern I think I'm seeing is that those who a year or two after losing weight begin to suffer from post-bariatric reactive hypoglycemia are those who ate very low-carb for a long time. This doesn't happen to a lot of VSG patents (less than 10% -- maybe closer to 3% say some studies). But for those to whom it happens I understand it can really cramp your lifestyle. What do you know about this kind of hypoglycemia and its cause(s)?

I am more than 14 months post-op. I do not dump, which happens to approx. 30% of gastric bypass (RNY or MGB) patients typically after consuming sugar. Nor do I experience Reactive Hypoglycemia (RH), which may show up 1+ years after gastric bypass; it is low blood sugar occurring 1-3 hours following a meal. Eating too fast or not chewing food properly and then getting the foamies and/or needing to vomit is not the same thing as dumping (aka rapid gastric emptying). Make sure you’re eating small, moist portions of protein and to eat slowly, and then these incidents should abate. Good luck.

Yes I regret it and I wished I have never done it, I lost weight , I am thin but I'm not healthy. 3 years post op gbp and I'm battling what I suspect reactive hypoglycemia and dumping and vitamin issues. I am a wreck, I would advice nobody to get the surgery.

CHART 1 Correlation of nutrient deficiency and its cutaneous repercussions NUTRIENT Biotin Alopecia, glossitis, keratosis pilaris, periorificial dermatitis, seborrheic dermatitis and erythroderma Copper Depigmented and thinning hair, alopecia, delayed wound healing Iron Pallor, koilonychia, glossitis, alopecia Selenium Delayed wound healing, psoriasis, skin cancer Vitamin A or Retinol Xeroderma, acne, brittle hair, and keratotic follicular papules most commonly in the anterolateral surface of thighs and arms, which may spread to the extensor areas of the upper and lower limbs, shoulders, abdomen, dorsal region, buttocks and neck; phrynoderma Vitamin B2 or Riboflavin Mucositis, lip and angular cheilitis, glossitis, xerosis, seborrheic dermatitis, scrotal and vulvar eczema, erythroderma and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Vitamin B3 or Niacin Pellagra, photosensitive dermatitis in symmetric areas, cheilitis, glossitis. Vitamin B5 or Pantothenic acid Purpura, leukotrichia, seborrheic dermatitis, angular stomatitis and glossitis. Burning feet syndrome. Vitamin B6 or Pyridoxine Seborrheic dermatitis, glossitis, oral mucosa ulceration, lip and angular cheilitis, photosensitive pellagra-like lesions Vitamin B9 or Folic acid and B12 or Cobalamin Lip or angular cheilitis, Hunter's glossitis; diffuse, symmetric hair and mucocutaneous hypo-and hyperpigmentation Vitamin C or Ascorbic acid Poor wound healing, keratosis pilaris, perifollicular petechiae, ecchymosis, purpura, brittle hair, scurvy (gingivitis, bleeding gums, keratosis pilaris), Sjogren-like syndrome Vitamin D Atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, skin infections, acne, autoimmune cutaneous diseases and skin cancer. Vitamin E Atopic dermatitis, acne. Vitamin K Purpura, petechiae, ecchymosis, hematoma Zinc Acrodermatitis enteropathica (alopecia, acral and periorificial symmetric, erosive and eczematous rash), dry, brittle and thinning hair, delayed wound healing, paronychia, stomatitis, psoriasiform dermatitis, blepharitis, angular cheilitis, vitiligo-like lesions Protein Aged appearance, erythematous or hypopigmented lesions most evident in flexure areas; hyperchromic lesions with smooth, fissured or erosive surface; brittle, slow growing nails, onychomadesis; follicular hyperkeratosis, pale extremities accompanied by edema; dry, brittle, dull, and thin hair, with brownish-red color before becoming grayish-white, flag signal with alternating dark and light stripes in the hair; angular cheilitis, xerophthalmia, stomatitis, vulvovaginitis

Dumping is diarrhea and that was not mentioned. Several other posts have these exact symptoms and more like reactive hypoglycemia where too much or little sugar in the system and insulin is released.

There's plenty of people around in Australia who have been banded for 10 years. However it was made very clear to me by my surgeon that there is no longer term data, they simply do not know whether the band will last us our lifetimes. Silicon supposedly does not degrade and is non reactive in the body but who knows.

Sorry I hadn't noticed this post sooner. Let me start by saying, I am a very lazy person, hence the reason I got fat. My time in the gym has been ZERO. I do walk a lot with my wife. I babysit a 3 years old 5-6 days a week 12 hour days. I love skateboarding again. But as far as exercise, workouts? Nope, not my cup of tea. 95% of my weight loss has come through the kitchen. I am blessed in as much, I am now reactive hypoglycemic. I cant cheat with sweets without paying a dear price. I have gone unconscious 3 times since surgery from low blood glucose below 50. Also my appetite has been a struggle. I have to force myself to eat. Trust me I could lose more if I wanted to. I am 6'3" and 163 lbs is already skinny enough. I was a very skinny young man, and I think post op my body went back to its natural state. I was about 145 lbs into my early mid 30's. So yeah I was quite skinny. Diet wise, I was probably stricter with myself than I needed to be. I eat eggs, cheeses, meats of all types, green vegetables. Very little fruit, sugars aren't my friend. I use TESPO liquid vitamins. I'm not a good example. I enjoy the occasional chili dog. I eat the occasional chip. My portions are obviously a fraction of what they were in the past. There are much wiser, better examples of peoples disciplines and diets on here than mine. Again, I am not typical in that I have to force myself to eat. I actually seek out fattier foods now just to maintain weight. Not necessarily junk food, but not the leans foods most of us have to eat. It has taken me many months to stop losing. My doctors were starting to get worried. for my health based on how rapidly I lost and my inability to maintain. I am doing much better now though.