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Post by stacmac on Oct 2, 2018 21:33:34 GMT
Sorry in advance for the length of this.
So a while ago I started having trouble with hypoglycemia. I saw an endocrinologist and after testing, she recommended a dietitian who suggested small, frequent meals with protein at each meal. This helps me manage it.
I have always been slim but since developing this, I am putting on weight and I find it incredibly frustrating as I can't diet well, I need to keep eating! I now find it very easy to quickly over-eat in my day.
My husband has suggested that it's age? That now I'm nearing 40 it's going to be harder to lose weight? But I don't know if there's any truth in this.
I just find that I'm lacking in stamina for anything. Physical exercise, I get wiped out way faster than I should. If I have a busy day I am stuffed the next. If I have a dance competition, the next day I will have what feels like an exercise hang over! Dizzy, ultra tired, literally feel a bit hungover.
Does anyone know of something that xould be contributing to my blood sugar and weight woes whilst possibly giving me this exhaustion? I can't explain it and I know it all sounds vague. My body's just not the same, and I feel it can't regulate everything how it used to but if I go back to the doc I think he thinks it's all in my head. I'm sure it's linked somehow.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Oct 2, 2018 21:42:15 GMT
thyroid? vitamin D or B deficiency?? immune disease?? I'm not good with these sorts of diagnoses, but hopefully a few thyroid or immune disease peas will chime in. (I do know a previous co-worker had ALL sorts of seemingly random issues and the definitive diagnosis was finally fibromyalgia.)
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DEX
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,355 
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Post by DEX on Oct 2, 2018 21:48:35 GMT
I just had my Ferritin checked because I have a low hemoglobin. Of course, I have low energy, headaches and all the other symptoms of a low hemoglobin. With my low Ferritin I also have been gaining weight. Not a lot, but I have not been feeling like eating (I mean seriously, I have no desire to eat.) yet I have gained weight.
I thought this was an interesting side effect from the low Ferritin.
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Post by hop2 on Oct 2, 2018 21:58:45 GMT
Did they actually do blood or glucose tests?
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Post by stacmac on Oct 2, 2018 21:59:44 GMT
thyroid? vitamin D or B deficiency?? immune disease?? I'm not good with these sorts of diagnoses, but hopefully a few thyroid or immune disease peas will chime in. (I do know a previous co-worker had ALL sorts of seemingly random issues and the definitive diagnosis was finally fibromyalgia.) Yeah, I actually feel a bit silly writing it all out now. There's nothing really concrete there. I always would have said "go to the doctor" but I don't even know what to say. |
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Post by stacmac on Oct 2, 2018 22:00:32 GMT
Did they actually do blood or glucose tests? Yes to both. I had a little glucose sensor in my arm for 2 weeks to monitor it dipping. |
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Post by dewryce on Oct 2, 2018 22:29:33 GMT
thyroid? vitamin D or B deficiency?? immune disease?? I'm not good with these sorts of diagnoses, but hopefully a few thyroid or immune disease peas will chime in. (I do know a previous co-worker had ALL sorts of seemingly random issues and the definitive diagnosis was finally fibromyalgia.) Yeah, I actually feel a bit silly writing it all out now. There's nothing really concrete there. I always would have said "go to the doctor" but I don't even know what to say. Tell them all of it. Keep a daily log of your symptoms, even things that seem silly to you*. Weight, blood sugar, any meds you took, how you ate that day, any exercise you did, how you feel physically, how much you slept and if you feel rested when you wake up and during the day, any pains even odd ones. Pay attention to your body, look for changes in skin, nails and hair. If your GP doesn't help, keep going until you find someone who does. If may be something simple like vitamin levels being off. But if not, know that autoimmune diseases often take a long time to diagnose. Some frequently are misdiagnosed for years. So don't let a doctor dismiss your symptoms. * For a while I had been having a hard time coming up with words. I have conversations that include phrases like "small, furry, meow" instead of cat...because I can not think of the word cat to save my life. Turns out, that's fairly common with fibromyalgia. I had an ear infection once, and I thought it was ridiculous to mention it, because how likely was it that I could feel my skull hurt, but it did so I said something to the doctor. Turns out, my ear infection had spread into the bones behind it and that is very advanced and needs immediate, stronger attention before it spreads to the brain. All this to say, you never know what will be relevant. Provide all the information you can and let the doctor make the call about what information to disregard. Good luck, I hope you find your answers soon! I will say that your stamina/fatigue issues, especially if they are a change from what you're used to, do resemble mine due to my fibromyalgia, so maybe look into that. However, I don't think hyperglycemia is a symptom and low blood sugar could definitely come into play with the symptoms you list, your body doesn't have the energy it needs. Have you worn the BG monitor since you started changing your meals to see how well it is being managed? If you aren't counting calories, you might be surprised how many can be in small, snacks and meals and that could account for the weight gain. |
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Post by hop2 on Oct 2, 2018 22:33:06 GMT
Did they actually do blood or glucose tests? Yes to both. I had a little glucose sensor in my arm for 2 weeks to monitor it dipping. but you do not have diabetes? Hypoglycemia without diabetes is a symptom of another problem. I’d keep pushing for the underlying cause Did they do a hormone panel? If your GP doesn’t solve it go to an endo or other specialist please seek the underlying cause hypoglycemia is mostly a symptom of other things |
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Post by elaine on Oct 2, 2018 23:15:19 GMT
Yes to both. I had a little glucose sensor in my arm for 2 weeks to monitor it dipping. but you do not have diabetes? Hypoglycemia without diabetes is a symptom of another problem. I’d keep pushing for the underlying cause Did they do a hormone panel? If your GP doesn’t solve it go to an endo or other specialist please seek the underlying cause hypoglycemia is mostly a symptom of other things According to the OP, she did see an endocrinologist who diagnosed the hypoglycemia. stacmac, did your endocrinologist say why he/she thought you have hypoglycemia? Whatever the underlying cause is, that could be related to all the other symptoms. I would schedule a follow-up appointment and push for a diagnosis of underlying cause. Hypoglycemia doesn’t usually just happen absent of something else. |
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Post by stacmac on Oct 3, 2018 3:54:31 GMT
She said that she can't see a cause and that she gets a few women each year with reactive hypoglycemia and that's what she thinks it is. One of my c peptide results was low, then in picked up again in a subsequent test. She did say that she has seen in a few cases, women with these symptoms go on to develop diabetes down the track but she stressed that it was very rare and she didn't want to alarm me. She just wanted me to keep it in mind that some women she has seen unable to control blood sugar go on to develop something further down the track. My blood sugar is always lower though, not high so I'm not worried about that right now. I'm just going through a phase of feeling like sh*t. I think I'll ask for the blood work repeated  thanks for the input everyone! |
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Post by pjaye on Oct 3, 2018 4:19:30 GMT
I just had my Ferritin checked because I have a low hemoglobin This was my first thought, low haemoglobin/iron/ferritin. All of those can cause you to feel fatigued. Start with asking for full blood panels FBE/iron studies/electrolytes/liver function/fasting blood sugar/thyroid After that I'd also be asking for further test on the pancreas/liver...maybe an ultrasound to start with. If your blood sugars are doing weird things then it's the pancreas that produces insulin so I'd want that looked at to see if there are any problems there. |
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Post by travelsoul on Oct 3, 2018 13:08:16 GMT
I'm 43 and have been experiencing the exact same symptoms that you are! I'm set to have a physical in a couple weeks. I do know that I am starting menopause but other than that I've been in good health. Im taking notes on what's been suggested so I can talk over with my doctor. Thanks for posting (I'm hoping that' it's as simple as getting old and a couple lifestyle adjustments will do the trick for us both)
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Post by mikklynn on Oct 3, 2018 13:51:04 GMT
Since you are not getting anywhere with your PCP, I'd see an endocrinologist.
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Post by crimsoncat05 on Oct 3, 2018 15:29:25 GMT
Since you are not getting anywhere with your PCP, I'd see an endocrinologist. she said she did see an endocrinologist; that's who suggested the dietician, but the endocrinologist didn't come up with a cause for the hypoglycemia. |
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Post by mikklynn on Oct 3, 2018 15:38:48 GMT
Since you are not getting anywhere with your PCP, I'd see an endocrinologist. she said she did see an endocrinologist; that's who suggested the dietician, but the endocrinologist didn't come up with a cause for the hypoglycemia. Ah, missed that! I was thinking the endocrinologist would check for other issues, since she is still not feeling well. |
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Post by JustCallMeMommy on Oct 3, 2018 17:36:02 GMT
Hormones, thyroid, vitamin D - all of mine are out of whack at 45! Losing weight has always been hard for me, but around 40, I found that I could no longer lose by counting calories - it is all about the carbs, which makes sense with blood sugar issues. I am seeing a hormone and weight loss specialist now. I cannot tell you the difference a little testosterone made in my energy level! Good luck figuring out what works for you!
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Post by anniefb on Oct 3, 2018 17:42:17 GMT
I would definitely push for more tests like pjaye suggested. |
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melissa
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by melissa on Oct 3, 2018 17:47:05 GMT
There's not enough information here. You need a full physical with more extensive blood work. It doesn't sound like the fatigue is being explained by the episodic low blood sugar.. and that could even be coincidence and could have been your normal all along (depending on how low it goes and how often, etc)
The hypoglycemia is a symptom of a problem. It is not a diagnosis. Functional or reactive hypoglycemia might occur when there is an overproduction of insulin. Keep doing that and you will build insulin resistance and that is how you end up with diabetes. The glucose levels alone are not enough. You need insulin levels as well. Insulinomas are tumors that produce insulin but it doesn't really sound like that. It's a pretty rare thing, but it can happen. If you had an insulin level done and it was normal, it's not that.
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thanks for the input everyone!
