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I figured out that my night sweats were being caused by reactive hypoglycemia. I have to be really careful with what I eat close to bed time.

Hi Maryjo, I'm glad to hear from you. I had lap-band in 2006, did fairly well with it, but it got too tight and I had it removed last year. I tried life without it, but unfortunately gained a good portion of my weight back, so had a mini gastric bypass in September. I have PCOS and have had gestational diabetes 3 times. I'd been on metformin (long acting 1000mg) for several years to manage symptoms and as a preventative to DMII. All was going well and I was losing weight fairly steadily. However, about a month ago I started getting low readings (3.0) and was symptomatic. I went off the metformin about 3 weeks ago, but continue to have reactive lows (fasting is fine) about 2 hours after eating. I've cut out all simple sugars and am really trying hard with the protein, but still struggling. My GP thinks the metformin is still in my system. I'm trying to figure out if this is just big sensitivity to carbs and late dumping or something more significant. My GP isn't too concerned and the surgeon is across the country. I called the nurse and dietician at the surgeon's office, but they didn't seem to know much about the phenomenon. I'm thinking I'd like to discuss this with an endocrinologist. I'm pretty worried about this. Kerri MGB Sep 28/17

Hi forum... I am 13 years out from RNY and I am back into the cycle of insulin resistance and reactive hypo ... anyone else struggling with this? It all started about 7 years ago when I became allergic to wheat and had to switch to a rice based diet cause of my allergy... my body just pushes too much insulin out when I eat carbs... and rice really make a me spike... then crash and burn. Would love to hear from others who have struggled with this due to PCOS... that is what started he whole cycle for me. MaryJo RNY on 8/2/04 290/130/215 current

I have hashimoto's disease but my thyroid levels are still showing normal. Although, I have most if not all the symptoms of hypothyroidism. I go yearly to my endo for blood work but he has not put me on any medication since it always comes back in the normal range. I figure it's a matter of time though. Is this the same thing you have and are your levels normal or hypo?

Today I am embarking on a mission to lose hopefully 14lbs in 3.5 weeks... in reality if I just lose 8lbs I will be very happy - but probably won't accomplish what I am hoping for... as I will be back where I started at 4 months ago (pre-christmas) - I have my appointment with my surgeon on 6th May and he told me that if I lost X lbs then he would put me forward for skin surgery - at the time I thought it would be well manageable... in reality though these lbs are even harder to shift than pre-surgery...That said he is happy with the weight I am at now - its just the powers that be stipulate that I need to be a certain bmi before getting the skin removed. So today its protein only - I've done this before - I can do it again.. and hopefully now that I'm off all diabetes meds it won't be so hard to control - ie, I won't keep going into hypo mode due to lack of carbs.

Have your Thyroid checked.....ask for a TSH test! Could be underlying health issues! I was banded 12-7-10 and am only down 50 pounds! I have Hypo thyroid,stage 3 Adrenal Fatigue among other issues and it is harder to lose the weight compared to someone with out thyroid issues!

Had my surgery 11/20/12 and was 315 the day of surgery. Most people don't believe me because I am 6' tall. I carried my weight well, but at the end of the day I was morbidly obese. I did get down to my lowest of 175 but that was short lived. Insert a bad relationship, holidays and a breakup and you have an increase up to 185-190. I am over it. And it is waaaay too close to 200 for my taste. That allll being said. I need help from my fellow veterans. What are you all doing to get to target and maintain? I need some guidance and I'm not afraid to try new things. I had to stop Crossfit due to an injury that is finally appearing to have healed. I would dearly love to hear as much as I can from you guys. I may not post as much but I do read what you guys share. Oh by the way, I also am experiencing reactive hypoglycemia and I'm trying to address that as well. Thanks in advance!!!!!

food Allergies Are Making You Fat 4/7/09 Study Confirms: Your Hidden Food Allergies Are Making You Fat Medical researchers from Dubai reported in the April '09 edition of the Middle East Journal of Family Medicine (The Effect of The ALCAT Test Diet Therapy for Food Sensitivity in Patient's With Obesity) that patients unable to achieve goal weight loss by calorie restriction alone were significantly aided in their attempts when they avoided foods that had been shown by a unique lab test to excite their immune response. The authors, led by Dr. M. Akmal of the Dubai Specialized Medical Centre, pointed out that hidden food allergies, or food sensitivities, are unique to each individual and can cause inflammatory diseases, and an inability to lose weight. Food sensitivities often provoke delayed and chronic symptoms, like IBS, migraine and arthritis, that are not as obvious as the dramatic and immediate onset of "true" food allergies, such as peanut anaphylaxis, but, over the long term, can be just as devastating and are more difficult to detect. In the course of the 12 week study, the 27 refractory weight loss patients underwent a single treatment: avoidance of foods that were shown to be immune reactive according to blood testing through a system known as the ALCAT test. The study participants showed an average weight loss of approximately 37 pounds plus an average drop of six points of BMI (body mass index) and an average decrease of 30% of body fat. Dr. Fred Pescatore, former Medical Director of the famed Atkins Center and a pioneer in the study of the hormonal and immune system effects of foods, reviewed the findings and said, "I'm not surprised by these results, dramatic as they may appear. I've used the ALCAT test with my difficult patients time and time again, and it always works." Other studies based on the elimination of food sensitivities had previously been reported. In a Baylor Medical College study 98% of subjects also displayed significant improved body composition and/or scale weight following an ALCAT test-based food elimination diet within four weeks. A matched control group that followed calorie restriction alone actually became fatter. "When I first began to lecture to health professionals about how avoidance of food sensitivities helped the weight loss process, people looked at me like I had two heads," says Roger Deutsch, co-author of the book, Your Hidden Food Allergies are Making You Fat. "Now we know that chronic inflammation, caused primarily by exposure to incompatible foods, is at the root of metabolic problems like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity. The immune system chemicals block insulin receptors; so, guess what happens to the sugars we eat? - they get stored as fat. Cut the inflammation, cut the fat storage." Along with avoidance of food sensitivities, Deutsch and other experts also recommend paying attention to the quality of food eaten, getting adequate rest, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle. About Cell Science Systems Cell Science Systems (CSS) is a life sciences company and the worldwide market leader in food sensitivity testing as the maker of The ALCAT Test. ALCAT identifies cellular reactions to over 300 foods and chemicals. These inflammatory reactions are linked to chronic health problems like obesity and diabetes, as well as skin, heart, joint, and digestive disorders. Located in Deerfield Beach, Florida, CSS is a FDA-inspected and registered, cGMP medical device manufacturer and operates a CLIA-certified laboratory. Source: Cell Science Systems

Check this out. I'm ready to look 21 while knowing what I do at 47 now. How about you? Paring pounds through weight-loss surgery doesn’t just make people feel younger — it may actually rewind genetic signs of aging, according to a small study of obese bariatric patients. Stanford University researchers found that the chromosome caps known as telomeres, which typically get shorter as people age, actually grew longer in certain people who had gastric bypass surgery. “If your telomeres get longer, you’re likely to reverse the effects of aging,” said Dr. John Morton, Stanford’s chief of bariatric surgery and president-elect of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, or ASMBS. The improvement wasn’t large, only about 2 percent to 3 percent in telomere length, said Morton, who is presenting the study Friday during ObesityWeek 2013, an event hosted by the ASMBS and the Obesity Society. But the benefit was greatest in those who were sickest — patients who were not only heavy, but also had problems like chronic inflammation and heart disease. And it was a surprising finding that invites more research about the genetic effects of bariatric surgery, Morton said. “This is the first study to look at surgical weight loss and telomeres,” Morton said. “We know that surgery has a big effect when it comes to weight, but this is literally at the genetic level. It was nice to see confirmation at least that it would improve.” The study didn't show that weight-loss surgery smoothes wrinkles or prevents gray hair, of course. But Morton said patients often wind up looking younger. "You do have some actual visual changes beyond weight loss," he said. The patients were mostly women with an average age of 49 and an average body mass index of 44.3, which is considered morbidly obese. Body mass index is a ratio of height and weight, with a BMI of 18 to under 25 considered normal. A person with a BMI of 44.3 might be 5-feet, 9 inches tall and weigh 300 pounds. On average, the patients in the study lost 71 percent of their excess weight through gastric bypass surgery, which makes the stomach smaller and allows food to bypass part of the small intestine. Their levels of C-reactive Protein, or CRP, a measure of inflammation, dropped more than 60 percent and their fasting insulin levels, an indicator of dangerous metabolic syndrome, declined four-fold, the study found. But, notably, in patients with high levels of LDL or “bad” cholesterol and inflammation before the operation, their telomeres lengthened, compared to patients with lower levels, Morton said. That makes sense, said Jerry Shay, a cell biologist at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, who was not involved in the study. People who are overweight often have dramatically shortened telomeres, Shay said. Those are lengths of DNA tied to Proteins at the end of chromosomes, often described like the plastic caps on the ends of shoelaces. Every time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter, eventually reducing so much that the cell stops dividing, and dies. That doesn’t mean that the person dies, Shay is quick to add. “The length of your telomeres doesn’t mean you’re going to drop dead, it just means that something’s going on. It’s a biological sensor of the stress and damage that is going on in your body.” That said, Shay says the new study’s findings shouldn’t be interpreted as if weight-loss surgery is the fountain of youth. A 2 percent or 3 percent increase in the length of telomeres is well within the typical margin of error for the tools used to measure them. It will take more robust studies and careful documentation to convince him of the effect, Shay said. “I don’t think the answer is bariatric surgery. People need to take responsibility for their own health." The Stanford researchers say further studies are needed to confirm the effects of weight-loss surgery on telomere lengths — and the direct effects of telomere length on actual health results. http://www.nbcnews.com/health/weight-loss-surgery-may-reverse-signs-aging-docs-say-2D11600482

I'm 14 years out from gastric bypass surgery (RNY) and still get nauseated when I eat meat and many other things that I won't bore you with. I still have a protein drink every single day to compensate for the loss of protein from meat products. A young woman stopped by my house the other day asking for advice. She was six months out from surgery and still experiencing nausea with most foods, especially meat. Why would your doctor think your throat had suddenly gotten too small when you have been eating all your life prior to surgery without this issue? I don't think so. My son had this surgery and he doesn't have any problems at all. Yet I have a lot of nausea, reactive hypoglycemia, trouble with low iron and a couple of other things. Each of us is different. Most doctors don't seem to know that!! Give it time. Take it slow. Very slow.

I'm the same as you (eat way less and better and think about food all the time) but I like it (? ) I enjoy finding the most nutritious food instead now. I can't do fly by seat of pants like him either, I find I put on when I eat reactively.

Hi. Just wanted to introduce myself. I am a 41 years old female residing in southern California. I have been overweight most of my life and am just starting to suffer the consequences to my health. my weight just hit an all time high of 300 lbs. This is my heaviest ever. Not to mention, I was able to pull off being overweight in my twenties and thirties due to having some semblence of fitness despite my size. This is no longer the case. It is high time for a change and I am hopefully starting the first steps of a new life journey. Can't wait to see where this ends up! I am currently enrolled in a bariatric surgery program through my health insurance and with any luck, will be able to have surgery at the end of this 6-8 month "jump through hoops" period. (fingers crossed, although I know it is not guaranteed) I originally was considering the lap band, but with research, I am beginning to lean towards the VGS and that is why I am here, to research, hear testimonies and get a feel for how it has changed lives. I am also interested in anyone who has had hypothyroidism and how this surgery has worked for them. I am severely hypo due to post RAI. I am married, no children and I am self employed. Anyway, that's me! Looking forward to making some new buddies and educating myself!

Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia What is non-diabetic hypoglycemia? Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Care Guide Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Aftercare Instructions Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Discharge Care Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Inpatient Care En Espanol Non-diabetic hypoglycemia is a condition that causes the sugar (glucose) in your blood to drop too low. This can happen in people who do not have diabetes. The 2 types of non-diabetic hypoglycemia are fasting hypoglycemia and reactive hypoglycemia. Fasting hypoglycemia often happens after the person goes without food for 8 hours or longer. Reactive hypoglycemia usually happens about 2 to 4 hours after a meal. When your blood sugar level is low, your muscles and brain cells do not function properly. What causes non-diabetic hypoglycemia? Fasting hypoglycemia: Certain medicines or herbal supplements such as fenugreek, ginseng, or cinnamon Alcohol Exercise Medical conditions such as liver disease, hypothyroidism, and tumors Eating disorders or malnutrition Stomach surgery or hemodialysis From what I have read it suggest something to eat or drink. I am going to try a cup of milk when I wake up tonight. I will let you know how that works. Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia What is non-diabetic hypoglycemia? Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Care Guide Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Aftercare Instructions Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Discharge Care Non-diabetic Hypoglycemia Inpatient Care En Espanol Non-diabetic hypoglycemia is a condition that causes the sugar (glucose) in your blood to drop too low. This can happen in people who do not have diabetes. The 2 types of non-diabetic hypoglycemia are fasting hypoglycemia and reactive hypoglycemia. Fasting hypoglycemia often happens after the person goes without food for 8 hours or longer. Reactive hypoglycemia usually happens about 2 to 4 hours after a meal. When your blood sugar level is low, your muscles and brain cells do not function properly. What causes non-diabetic hypoglycemia? Fasting hypoglycemia: Certain medicines or herbal supplements such as fenugreek, ginseng, or cinnamon Alcohol Exercise Medical conditions such as liver disease, hypothyroidism, and tumors Eating disorders or malnutrition Stomach surgery or hemodialysis From what I have read it suggest something to eat or drink. I am going to try a cup of milk when I wake up tonight. I will let you know how that works.

The three most important elements after RNY gastric bypass surgery are to meet your daily Protein, Fluid and Vitamin requirements. food is secondary because your body is converting your stored fat into the energy that drives your body. Thus you lose weight. Weight loss is achieved after surgery through volume control. You begin at 2 ounces (1/4 cup) per meal and gradually over the next year and a half increase the volume to 1 cup per meal. With this minuscule amount of food, it is next to impossible to meet your protein daily requirements by food alone, so therefore you need to rely on supplements such as Protein shakes. Back to the point of Dizziness. It might be due to several factors. For example if you were taking medication prior to surgery, they may need to be adjusted. This can especially be true for medication to control blood sugar and blood pressure. Also there is a condition called reactive hypoglycemia that some individuals encounter after weight loss surgery. Dizziness or lightheadedness is also caused by dehydration. In order to get a handle on the cause, you might want to evaluate when it occurs. For example, do you experience this first thing in the morning when you get out of bed or when you get up after sitting down. Or do you experience this a few hours after a meal? Do you experience this all the time?

the body will get sued to whgat you are doing- you must move around and switch the foods and cal intake, or you will not lose, Because of weight loss my dr just reduced my thyroid meds, I am hypo- and losing weigth is always an issue, but time for body change,,, cause I am in the plateou!

Fair enough. I agree, people do have to eat to live and people don't have to do heroin to live, but eating more food than our bodies need is a choice. That is correct. Unless we choose to live on Artificial Nutrients, or Some other way... As far as being over weight.. Not everyone is a addict, some have Medical Problems. Mine started at the age of 4 months ! I began to get "BLOWN UP". Only to learn later that I had a Fluid RETENTION problem. So they put me on Water pills about 2 yrs. ago, and I am still on them. Also found a extremely HYPO THYROID. I am just now getting on medication for that. So with the band, and the Meds, and control. This will work, and I will do this. Just wanted to add that I had a PARASTIC TWIN inside me, found out with the removal of the gallbladder, and exploratory. It was attached at the intestines, and if it would have been on the outside? We would have been conjoined twins. The problem was no one new about this, and I was for ever sick. As a result parents, and Grandparents were forever stuffing something in my mouth so I would get nutrition, and Vitamins, and be Healthy. Well, it didn't work ! the twin still got it all, and I still got sick. When the surgeon found it in my 30s, I was already stuffing all kinds of stuff in my mouth, because of a learned habit, and everything tasted so fantastic "ADDICTION" I believe. He was shocked, I thought I was pregnant with twins, then even still under Anesthesia, I thought he was crazy, until he brought me the pics with my name on them. I almost threw up. It was terrible. He told me I would be better now. Well he was right. I barely get sick, but the love for food was always there. What to do.... My oldest son was playing catch with a baseball, and he threw when I was not looking, and broke my nose. I can't taste anything, and can barely smell bleach. So the specialist said forget it ! ! ! That's nerve damage. So now my hang up on food is over. I'm just telling my story, but I don't have a thing for it anymore. I do believe in Food Addiction, but I also know that complex medical problems can cause anything to happen. So now I am waiting to see my surgeon next week, and see if my turtle moves. That is a big deal to me...

No, you don't come on too strong. You are straight forward, and I appreciate that. My first surgeon gave me his rules: Protein shakes for 2 days after a fill, then soft foods, like soft scrambled eggs and sugar free pudding and Jello. Then I can work up to fish and soft veggies. The last doc said nothing but Water for the first day (clear liquids) no milk, then the 2nd day Protein Shakes, and the 3rd day soft foods. Told me I shouldn't be able to eat much, but I can eat an entire 12 in Subway sub (toasted ham and cheese). You are right. I have to get back to basics. I do drink when I eat. I will work on that this week. No more bread, rice or Pasta, either. What about coffee? Can I still have my coffee? The dietician said I had 3 overlapping issues with sugar. She said I may be having dumping syndrome, reactive hypoglycemia, and pre-diabetic hypoglycemia. She said that each of these things can mess up my sugar, but can be controlled. Also, when I had my gallbladder out, I get the Worst case of burping! It doesn't matter what I eat, I burp.

hypo here My dr say weight loss might lessen need for my dosage, but all ok

You are so lucky you have BCBS. They seem like the best insurance. From all I read you will be fine especially with apnea which is considered serious. I have UHC and they said only "serious " co-morbidities would work which they get to determine what is serious. Basically it was diabetes, hypertension, or apnea is all they would accept under 40 and for 5 years and you had to have two of then!! I have insulin resistance taking metformin for, high cholesterol , triglycerides , and reactive airway. Not good enough after 3 appeals. Anyhow good you have BCBS and sure you will get through approved. Good luck

Hi @@audaciousmarie! Hi @@Phoenix40! So last Thursday I went for my Nutrition/Surgeon/Coordinator appointment. I'll describe each appointment below: First you are weighed in and your height is taken Nutrition: The nutritionist is a very nice lady and she will ask you about what type of diet you have been on (I started following the 1200 calorie diet after orientation). You will have to describe what you usually eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, Snacks,etc. She also talks about Vitamins and what type you will need post op (this will depend on if you get the sleeve or bypass) and what to expect as far as diet goes in the first weeks after surgery (i.e. liquids, soft foods, etc) She also informed me about the different types of Protein drinks and answered any questions I had. Surgeon: Dr. Hahn was very patient. He went over my BMI, co morbidities, medications, etc to ensure that I would be a good candidate for surgery. He said it would be my choice whether to go for sleeve or bypass as I would be great candidate for either (I don't have acid reflux). We talked about the differences between sleeve and bypass (right off the bat he discouraged from the lap band so we were in agreement about that). He reiterated that regain was possible with either surgery and so is dumping (so it really comes down to the patient being willing to put in the work to not only lose the weight but keep it off). He went into detail about possible complications withe each procedure (ulcers, reactive hypoglycemia, reflux, etc). He then set a weight loss goal for me. Normally they ask the patients to lose 10% of their body weight but Dr. Hahn only requires a 7-8%, of total body weight, loss. For me 7-8% was 19 pounds (I had already lost 9 pounds since orientation and he credited me so I needed to lose 10 pounds to get a surgery date and 5 pounds to get a psych appointment). The only other requirements Dr. Hahn set out for me, besides weight loss, is attending at least one support group, and an EKG (I already finished my bloodwork). Coordinator: She was very pleasant. She informed of what my next steps to surgery are (support group, psych appointment, etc) and that to be sure I call monthly to update them on my weight and progress. Before the psych appointment each patient must fill out a surgery quiz (located in Chapter 9 of the Bariatric binder) and send it in before the appointment. Overrall it was an interesting yet quick appointment. I was told to expect to be there for 3 hours but for me it was more like 2 hours. Sent from my SM-G925T using the BariatricPal App Thank you for posting this! Your timing was perfect! I was struggling with one of my bad habits when I saw this and it helped me get passed it. Hearing about the appointment made me excited for my next step and reminded me why I am doing this.

I've been hypo for about 14 years, but then had thyroid cancer 8 years ago. My thyroid was removed. Been clear now for 6 years, thank god...Thanks for asking... make it a great day

Hi @@judy vsg, few of us here with thyroid issues. Welcome to the club I have Graves disease, pain in the butt! However I am hoping for some stability in my thyroid once I reach goal weight. Have only been hypo for 1 month, 4 months after radioactive iodine treatment. Can't wait for my Thyroxine levels to be lowered and stay stable. How are you doing? Hope you are well.

They only gave me like 5 Protein shake options for preop and asked me to stick to those. Premier is reserved for post op for some reason. Of those preop shake options, two of them contain way too much actual sugar (I have reactive hypoglycemia) and caused me to have dumping syndrome. I have broth once a day at most because the shakes are pretty filling, and I don't so any sf Popsicles or Jello because I hate artificial sweetener and there's enough of that in the shakes as well. I haven't looked into the sodium in the shakes, though. I was thinking that once my Atkins supply runs out in two days, I'll make my own for the last 5 days and just use the muscle milk powder I already have. I can put lemon in my water. I'll try that. Maybe I just have an oversensitive system lol. Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App Have you done yours? What did you use? Sent from my iPhone using the BariatricPal App

Congrats! I also got reactive hypoglycemia that Bothers me too with the sleeve.

3 meals per day and 2 or 3 planned healthy snacks so you are not going too long without food. Also avoid high carb and sugary foods as these cause reactive hypoglycaemia. If you do get a drop you need to manage it the same way as when you are diabetic. Something to bring your levels up quickly and yes that might be juice followed by something healthy to keep it stable. A small quantity of juice followed by something like a banana or whole meal crackers with protein should help.