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Rapid heart rate and dizziness could be a sign of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), specifically reactive hypoglycemia. Symptoms occur generally within 4 hours after a meal. When you ingest too much sugar, your now smaller stomach does not digest it properly so your intestines absorb and deposit too much of it into your blood stream. Your body compensates by releasing more insulin which makes your blood sugar drop.

Early on there is sometimes a concern that the pill will get passed through your system before your new tummy can break it down and absorb it. Eventually you'll be able to swallow them, but for right now you need to make sure you are getting the most benefit from them. Also notice what time of the day you seem to get acid and take your pills 2 -3 hours before that. Omeprazole is not a reactive pill so you need to take it consistently for it to be most effective.

It might be reactive hypoglycemia. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/reactive-hypoglycemia/faq-20057778

No he's not, I've been thinking about seeing one occasionally.Though I don't feel like it is necessary an finding one in my area that will take my insurance is a problem for me. I did discuss this with my doctor though and he says whenever I would like he will send out a list of those near by. I wouldnt mind seeing one mostly because I feel it would be a little more easing being diagnosed by a pysch. I do not feel I have depression (something I struggled with long ago) an which is what the new med is for though he stated it was for hypo.. but! I am hoping my symptoms are from anxiety and that it will help me with that atleast. :/

I'm not in agreement with your doc's logic about doing nothing now then repeat the tests. If you're hypo new it won't magically change to normal. And since getting the dosage right to get your level back to normal can be tricky, waiting makes no sense. I'm hypo thyroid due to a total thyroidectomy. It took a year to get my dosage correct to bring me back to normal.

After surgery some individuals experience low blood sugar (reactive hypoglycemia). This occurs to both individuals with diabetes and those who did not have diabetes prior to surgery. The easiest way to test for this is by measuring your blood sugar levels when you get tired after you eat. http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetes/expert-answers/reactive-hypoglycemia/faq-20057778

Hi everyone, it has been a couple months since I posted last and everything is going pretty good. I am now 15 months post op. I lost about 65-69 lbs total and still have about 18 lbs to lose. However, things have completely stalled out and i haven't lost anything in many months. my stress level is sky high with grad school two kids, a new job, and life in general. i have noticed over the past few months that my stomach fat is much more noticeable and although the scale hadn't changed (THEN, but haven't weighed in 1 month) things just are sitting differently. i actually FEEL very similar to how my stomach felt pre op, but i'm still wearing the same size pants, it's just very bothersome to me. my main issue right now is i just started a new night nursing job which i really love, but not being a night owl, i find myself eating small Protein, fruit, snack and drink portions (not all together) through the night to stay awake and functional. although it is a VERY busy unit, we get very quiet and sit down around 1AM and don't do much for a few hours (this time is the hardest for me). i have found i got reactive hypoglycemia a few times when i tried to go without eating and then started my morning rush. i try to NOT eat much during the days before work, knowing that i'll eat a few small meals when i'm there, but i AM getting plenty of calories each 24 hr period. further, we aren't allowed to leave the floor regularly on night shift, so going for a walk or something isn't really an option, we eat our meal and hang out in the break room area. Anybody who works nights, especially those in healthcare who only work 3 shifts a week may be able to relate. there is no 'regular' schedule anymore. however, i enjoy my team and prefer nights for my graduate school demands. but i don't know when is the best time to weigh, how to count meals anymore, etc! i am also trying to help my hubs lose some pounds as he has put on about 20 lbs in the past year. i can eat mostly everything. i only get dumping issues when i eat something REALLY packed with sugar (tried a small scoop of ice cream once-never again!) i eat around 1200 cals per day. i only exercise by walking a few times a week. Here is my plan: 1. Go back to including a Protein shake DAILY maybe as a smoothie for 'breakfast' on non-work nights and take with me as a meal supplement when i do work. 2. try to fit in a walk every 24 hour period 3. can't abate the stress much, but MAYBE trying some basic yoga or stretching regularly 4. start logging on here every day and seeking the same level of support and involvement i did pre op and immediately post op ( my area support group meets while i am working, and the nutritionist that works with my surgeon now is very specific to meeting only with people who have gained more than 20 lbs back OR are still pre op!) anybody have any other suggestions or support for me? i really need to lose these final pounds. i also need to get in to see my surgeon and wanted to in the next 8 weeks, and DO NOT want to be the same weight i was the last time he saw me!

I don't have dumping syndrome. I had one episode of reactive hypoglycemia, which is considered late dumping, and I had that before revising to bypass. I've also thrown up once but I didn't have the sweats or shaking, so I think it was more related to eating too much. I think the current way they do the surgery actually minimizes dumping, so don't count on it. But the good news is that it still makes it difficult to eat too much of the bad stuff and doesn't allow full absorption. So you still need to make good choices, but it's very possible to still enjoy bits of indulgences.

I don't mean to be a nitpicker, but I want to be sure that newbies researching get accurate information. When I was researching the sleeve in 2011 it was clear even then that there are some long term complications associated with the sleeve. #1 is reflux/GERD. in fact, it seems to peak about 3-6 years post op - I recall reading that about 30% are impacted. Most people can manage it well though... a few have to revise to bypass because it is so bad. I had to ask myself if I was willing to risk this. #2 regain. This is a risk of all WLS and the sleeve has very comparable stats to the bypass, but it is still a long term "risk" #3 Less common, but real problems like: ulcers and other "problems of the stomach". This seems fairly uncommon, but there is a person on this forum who developed a "leak" a year or more post op from an ulcer. Reactive hypoglycemia, vit B deficiencies and other very uncommon type problems can show up. I don't say any of that to scare people - just go in with your eyes open. I, like most sleevers, have no complications and am very happy with my choice, but there are long term concerns to be aware.

I understand that obesity is part of my history and will always play a part in my future. Whether I gain the weight back or not. I have been through a lot because of my choice of WLS. I had been through a lot before the WLS. This I understand everyone. This I see. It is an addiction. I am a food addict. I know that! I own up to it! No issues there. It's the word! It's the meaning of the word! I don't know a single person who thinks that word is okay except for maybe one who has the exceptional ability to push it off like it has no meaning. To me they use it like a title. Not a diagnosis. Not every heavy person is the same but they put us all in the same pot! Paint us all with the same brush! I hate it. They can't take that extra minute to write "Reactive Hypoglycemia." That would have been the purpose of my visit to the dietitian. Not a diet to lose weight. When the Dietitian is confused. That tells me that the form was not filled out properly! That's all I'm saying here.

Hmm...I don't remember where it was. I am on a prescription meds for reflux now. Things have been ok with that. What makes you read up so much on ulcers? I am a nurse, can't help it. haha! I research everything especially if it is something that I can prevent. I am very proactive instead of reactive. I have been on Zantac twice daily and also Prilosec twice daily for quite a long time. I am hoping with being on those medications, I won't develop any after bypass.

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!

What an unfortunate incident! I am sorry it happened to you and made you so upset. It sounds like it was an innocent but difficult to forgive mistake on the clinic’s part. It also sounds like it was just coincidence that it happened to you (a successful WLS patient). It is unfortunate, but true, that diagnoses stay with you for pretty much forever on your health record! At least it’s a good reminder of where you’ve been and how far you’ve come. Regarding the hypoglycemia, it is does seem possible that it is reactive hypoglycemia. One thing your doctor might test for – if you haven’t already gotten this done – is your A1C levels, which are a better indicator of blood sugar levels over time. About carbs: is it possible for you to consider eating small amounts of “healthy” carbs if that seems to be what your doctor suggests? Or do you feel that even healthy carbs like oatmeal and whole wheat Pasta would be trigger foods or too hard to keep under control? Anyway, sorry you had to deal with this mistake!

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

Yes it is called reactive Hypoglycemia. If this is true then it certainly would make me feel a little better, somewhat, maybe. I have to say though. I really really hate that word!

Whenever I go to see the surgeon's office, even though I am 27 months post-op, the word obesity appears on the forms. This threw me for a loop because I am no longer obese. It dawned on me that this is all about insurance. They have to code my visit for insurance billing purposes and since I had WLS, this is the best coding they can use. I was wondering about your hypoglycemia. There is one form that is tied to meals which is called reactive hypoglycemia. Reactive hypoglycemia (postprandial hypoglycemia) is low blood sugar that occurs after a meal — usually within four hours after eating. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) usually occurs while fasting. Signs and symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia may include hunger, weakness, shakiness, sleepiness, sweating, lightheadedness, anxiety and confusion. Someone told me that it is like a spike in blood sugar followed by a crash. If this is the type you have then you have a bit of control because you can time your meals.

I'm on day 3 of the pre-op diet and I just had a hypo ????. I'm using less insulin as directed, but obviously it is still too much. The only thing I had to hand was a nut/muesli bar. I had to eat it to stop myself passing out, but it feels like I cheated ????. What is worse though is that I am at work, an hour from home, and I am supposed to leave in an hour so I am there when my kids get home from school. But I'm not sure I will be able to drive by then ????. Tried ringing my husband, but his team went to a restaurant for lunch and he won't answer his phone. Feeling guilty I ate when I wasn't supposed to, and I don't know how to get home ????

There is no universal carb limit prescribed by surgeons after WLS that I know of. My surgeon / NUT / bariatric PA never mentioned any carb limits at all. Just Protein limits. Therefore, I never, ever focused on low-carb during all my weight losing phases. Also, I read early on posts by the very small percentage of folks who developed post-bariatric reactive hypoglycemia. It seemed to me (just a theory here, no serious research about it done that I can find) that these posts were all made by people who'd gone significantly low-carb for most of their weight-losing phases. So I decided I didn't need to lose weight super-fast anyway and would just eat plenty of healthy, unprocessed carbs. And I did. Coincidentally, I wound up matching my protein and carb levels. Early on, my Proteins / carbs were around 60, with daily cals around 800. Then in Month Five I ramped up to 1000 cals, and proteins and carbs went up to 80. Then in Month Seven I ramped up to 1200 calories, and my proteins and carbs went up to around 100. I reached my weight goal (150 pounds) 8.3 months post-op. I've lost another 6 pounds since then (in the last 3+ months), but I think I'm now stabilized. By now, my daily maintenance calories range from 1300 - 2000, and my weekly averages are over 1600 cals. I think my final maintenance calorie budget will be 1700-1750. Honestly, looking back, I think I lucked out by not going super low-carb or super low-cal during my weight losing days. I have online friends who ate a lot less during the weight-losing phases, and some of them (not all) are struggling to maintain their goal weights at 1200 cals/day. And who knows what I'll deal with in the coming years as I work to maintain this weight. So that's been my experience. Take from it what you will. And realize that our bodies don't all respond the same to food. If we were all alike, this whole weight loss / weight maintenance business would be a helluva lot less mysterious.

Well I am three days out, and am pretty excited about the new life ahead. I finally decided to go the surgeon when I was getting no where with my Primary Care Physician, I knew what I needed was for my blood work to be done on a constant basis for me to be able to control my diet. I felt like things would be in line and then get out of whack I could tell because how I felt. It all was centered around my period as well, so I could never get to a good place on eating. I was constantly feeling bloated and PMS(craving all the bad things). She finally agreed to do blood work one month two following, She was amazed at how drastically some of my numbers fluctuated, I have always had low Iron, but one month we took it and it was in the middle of the normal category for Iron and then right back down. I finally realized it might take the rest of my life to figure it out and instead of fighting it(plus taking the time off work for doctor's appointments I work 30 minutes away from my nearest doctor.) I would just use the tool available to help me get to where I need to be and enjoy life. I never considered it as I would be a failure in not being able to lose the weight on my own. Something finally flipped and once I went to surgeon I have never felt that way. The process on getting everything approved was fairly simple. Until my Thyroid test came back as Hypo??(I think) REALLY????? I had wanted this to be a problem years ago to give me hope and a reason I couldn't control my weight. SERIOUSLY......All this and now a Thyroid issue. Which was checked everytime my PC did my blood work. I went on medicine and once again it was back to normal in a month so I could go forward with a surgery date. So now here I am about to have the surgery and a new beginning.

Some of the symptoms you are describing could be due to low blood sugar. Some people suffer from low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) after surgery. This occurs in people who were diabetic or were not diabetic prior to surgery. You may be experiencing reactive hypoglycemia. Reactive hypoglycemia (postprandial hypoglycemia) is low blood sugar that occurs after a meal — usually within four hours after eating. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) usually occurs while fasting. Signs and symptoms of reactive hypoglycemia may include hunger, weakness, shakiness, sleepiness, sweating, lightheadedness, anxiety and confusion.

Thanks again. That's reassuring My surgeon tells me that the greatest benefit for me having this surgery is that I have a really big chance of not having to take insulin anymore. For me this is huge!! No more having to get up in the middle of the night or leave in the middle of meetings to bring my sugar up to normal levels. No more having to eat when you are not hungry just so I don't have a hypo. I'm told that not taking insulin will take 10 - 15kgs off so that in itself will certainly help in the weight loss journey. AAARRRGGGHHH - I think I just have to stop thinking of the negatives and focus on the positives

My date is scheduled for RNY on August 4th and as thrilled as I am I can't help but feel nervous. I keep changing my mind between the sleeve and the bypass all day long for two reasons. I'm afraid of Reactive hypoglycemia as a possible RNY side effect and not loosing enough weight with the sleeve. I know I'll be fine and that it's probably cold feet. Overall I am excited and thrilled that it's a bit over a month away.

I saw this and I couldn't stop laughing. Though, my thyroid has issues with not producing ENOUGH, so maybe there was a coup d'etat my body failed to let me in on. ETA: Oh wait, I found the one about Hypo! -- It cracks me up just as much.

About three months after surgery, I started experiencing episodes of low blood sugar, usually after eating something bad for me. I was never diabetic and I've learned to deal with this and have learned what triggers the episodes. I'm 17 months out from surgery, down 110 lbs (20lbs more than goal weight), and have had no other complications. Anyone else with this same issue? Just looking for someone to commiserate with!

I think the number had greatly improved recently. Especially since we have move to an accountable healthcare system. Pretty much means we need to prevent diseases instead of treating them with meds. Best way to prevent most common diseases, diabetes, HBP, GERD, sleep apnea, joint pain... etc. is weight loss. It's being proactive instead of reactive.