Hypoglycemia Forum - a Few Questions.
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Crystalline Green

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a Few Questions.
Posted: 01-17-07 08:04am

First of all, a ton of thanks to stan for being so supportive and informative to all of us in need. Smile

i believe I suffer from hypoglycemia due to adrenal fatigue. The past year was very tough due to my mother's schizophrenia reaching a boiling point because of the fact that she was off of her medicine. The constant stress drained my adrenal & thyroid glands, thus resulting in many bad symptoms, the major one being hypoglycemia. Everything is okay now, except me. I'm struggling with my health and mental state alot now.

I figured it out about a month ago, I was really paying notice to what made me feel good, and what made me feel bad. I noticed that when I would go on a fruit diet for a day, I felt amazing. But when I was eating regular food, I felt completely out of my mind depressed and brain fogged. One of my main symptoms was the strange ability of being unable to speak. It was very peculiar.. So I typed in "speech problems", and up came hypoglycemia. That's when I knew. So I started the diet and I automatically felt improvement within days. It's gotten better and better as time has went on.

A few questions though!

1. As many people experience, waking up is horrible. I feel so disoriented from my surroundings and I feel crazy nearly every morning. I read that you don't recommend taking glucose tablets to raise the blood sugar, which is what i've been doing when I wake up in the morning to get going. So what do you recommend to get my blood sugar up in the quickest time possible? Even throughout the day whenever I feel a low, I take a glucose tablet with my meal and usually feel better for about 30 minutes, then feel bad again. I want a constant steadiness of glucose!

2. My crashes have been pretty frequent. I've never been a full day without having atleast 2. So before coming on here, my diet basically consisted of apples, eggs, meat, and nuts. However, I read that apples aren't good to eat if you have severe hypoglycemia, which I do have. So maybe that's my symptoms have been pretty consistently frequent. So my question is, what food combinations do I eat to keep everything situated? I'm allergic to grains. So I really don't know where to get a good amount of complex carbohydrates from.

I am willing to do anything to get into the latter stages of recovery. I've experienced really, really positive times lately that I haven't felt in years within the past few weeks, and I want to be able to feel consistently like that. It makes me so angry that I am so intelligent, talented, energetic, and funny.. Yet, this disorder is keeping me from having a social life, friends, a job, etc.!
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Stan

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Posted: 01-17-07 10:43am

First off, although I don't like to say stuff like this, your mother's 'schizophrenia' may not be much of a mental illness at all. I'd bet blood sugar is at least part of her problem. Now for your questions.

1. Unfortunately, there is no real way to get the glucose up that i've discovered yet that can get you feeling how you want in the morning. Normally, I wake up feeling fine and then about an hour after eating my first meal feel a little off with varying symptoms depending on the day. Glucose tablets must absolutely be avoided all the time. Eventually, you will start getting crashes so bad you'll be lucky if you can move or even think straight at all. There was a post in this forum somewhere where a woman who was relying on them eventually got dealt a hard blow from it. See if you can find it and read it thoroughly. In the morning I always eating a whole avocado for the carbs because it supposedly lessens insulin response, as well as one full apple slice (amongst some nuts and such). Usually, 15 minutes before it hits an hour mark after I started to eat, I have another small handful of nuts and this seems to keep the sugar fairly stable for the morning. This brings us to questions two.

2. First off, do you have any links to anything about the apples? I myself eat them and have had no problems. However, I also only eat a half a slice per meal aside from my first meal. Every meal should consist mainly of protein, then fat, then carbohydrates and then finally a bit of sugar through a small amount of fruit, as long as it's not one I say to avoid. I've found that eating the same amount, which is a bit different for the first and final meals of the day, seems to have the best result of all because your body assumes the same amount coming at any given point during the day. I rotate my vegetables, and this is where you get your main carbohydrates from. I've found that italian cut green beans and brussels sprouts seem to be ideal for this, as well as green leaf lettuce (not iceburg!!!!) or romaine. Mushrooms fried up with peppers is also a nice treat. Depending on how severe your case is you may be able to handle the worst vegetable of all, potatoes, but don't do it more than once if you notice a reaction. You also can get a nice amount of carbs from nuts, keeping away from cashews.

The one thing I can say is that, unfortunately, depending on severity, it can take up to over a year to notice really good changes in your health. I'm still going along smoothly, but I have my run of two to three bad days here and there where I feel unmotivated and out of sorts, but able to function. My case was incredibly severe and verging on schizophrenia at one point, but i'm doing great now, exercising and weight lifting and feeling healthier than I ever have, for the most part, on top of going to graduate school! You can make it, but it takes work, and you can't expect to feel all the way better immediately. It does happen to some people, but don't be discouraged if this isn't you. Typically, it only seems to be a reality for those who gets drops around 3-5 hours after eating. I get mine every hour, so that was out of the question for me.
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wdiguy

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Joined: 22 Jul 2006
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Posted: 01-17-07 16:09pm

Hey crystalline, I get the speaking problems too. I feel like I slurr sometimes and just cannot pronounce words correctly. My mind feels like theres a block from me being able to think clearly and stay focused. Hard to explain. But I have these days where I feel 100%, but it only last for a couple hours. To me its the worst symptoms when you cant be your normal self, I too was the energtic, funny, caring guy. I feel like I lost it and I dont what my interest are or anything. I dont feel relaxed and know wha I want. I too have thyroid problems and hypo. I am wondering if my thyroid is playing a part. Im on synthroid now but was told armour is way better. Im gonna see if my doc will switch me.
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wdiguy

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Posted: 01-17-07 16:14pm

Stan you did you ever have problems with speaking or pronouncing words? Im talking im like this everyday all day. Dont have that clear mind. I have a neurologist schedule me to do an mri on my brain just to make sure no tumors or what not. Its sad to say but I would be happy if they found a tumor, thats how bad the symptom affects me.
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Stan

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Posted: 01-17-07 17:26pm

I actually did have speaking problems. Words wouldn't feel 'real' and i'd have trouble talking, but mostly I would start to mix russian into my english and it wouldn't make any sense at all.
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Crystalline Green

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Joined: 17 Jan 2007
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Posted: 01-18-07 03:33am

I use to be able to talk and think as clear as day. Everything came out perfectly. My speech was like a rocket. My vocabulary was amazing, the way I spoke was genius, everything was so creative and intelligent. And now, all I can say is "no", "yes", "okay", and cry.

So your speech symptoms cleared up? This is the most frustrating symptom of all, since I am a very social, talkative person.
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Crystalline Green

New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 10

Posted: 01-18-07 03:53am

Also, my hypoglycemia has improved greatly also due to all the adrenal & thyroid supporting supplements i've been taking. I read in a few places that hypoglycemia is basically adrenal fatigue.. And once you strengthen the adrenal glands and get them running efficiently again, that hypoglycemia goes away with it. Even before I started the hypoglycemia diet, I was taking adrenal and thyroid supplements for around 3 months... And my hypoglycemia attacks were improving during that time, even when I wasn't on the diet.. So the 2 combined will surely speed up recovery to i'd say... About another 6 months.

I'd recommend people here try looking into getting some glandular extracts & some other natural herbs like ashwagandha, kelp, & licorice to help support your adrenal & thyroid, which will then eventually resolve your hypoglycemia.

Smile
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wdiguy

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Posted: 01-18-07 09:07am

I notice people always say they have these attacks. I dont think I have had an attack, I just feel like crap constantly and certain things I eat makes me feel worse. Thats what makes me wonder if im having hypo or not.
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Stan

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Posted: 01-18-07 09:19am

The best thing you can do is get tested for everything under the sun. Don't let them dustbin you with cfs or something though. Licorice lowers blood sugar.
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wdiguy

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Posted: 01-18-07 14:23pm

Yeah I have a bunch of test being done, some neurological stuff and I got my thyroid doctor again next week. So you think theres a possibility me not being hypo since I dont have attacks?
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Stan

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Posted: 01-18-07 21:09pm

Well, perhaps. There are plenty of cases like this where it just sucks for awhile and then gets slowly better. You don't necessarily need to have 'attacks.' but, the main thing is to make sure it's nothing else, so it doesn't hurt to get tested.
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Crystalline Green

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Joined: 17 Jan 2007
Posts: 10

Posted: 01-19-07 08:36am

Wow! I sure am glad I came to this site. After eliminating various foods from my diet and stopping the glucose tablets, I have never felt better! Today, I went all day without having a crash. I felt myself starting to get abit "fuzzed" at times, but it automatically went away once I ate! Maybe my hypoglycemia isn't as bad as I once thought, and the glucose tablets were just sending me through a roller coaster ride.

Thanks alot! This is gonna be a great new beginning. Smile
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wdiguy

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Posted: 01-19-07 09:29am

Yeah im just gonna keep on getting tested for everything untill I figure this out. Thanks man
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wdiguy

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Joined: 22 Jul 2006
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Posted: 01-19-07 09:45am

The only thing that confuses me is that certain things I eat make me feel bad. My symptoms are weird, there up and down and the only thing really constant is tiredness which is relieved a little bit at sometimes. But me just not having any feelings to express is always there too. Its like im depressed but im not sad inside. I just have an empty I dont care feeling. And if I really like think hard and make my mind clear I can get my feelings back but I have to stay focused or I go back into not thinking clear again. Its a mystery for me. Im wondering if im not on the right dose for my thyroid.
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Stan

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Posted: 01-19-07 11:40am

Hopefully that crap isn't screwing you up. Just to remind me, post here again what you are currently eating. You're the one that had problems eating vegetables, right? Green, I want to say one thing so listen good. It's awesome you're feeling better, but if it happens that suddenly, one day, you feel like crap, please keep in mind this is part of the adjustment. It sometimes happens to people, but othertimes it doesn't. Just want you to be aware that if you start to feel bad again it's just an adjustment phase, like a withdrawal from those glucose tablets. Don't be discouraged if it happens, it's natural and it means you're getting better. If it doesn't happen, awesome!
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wdiguy

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Posted: 01-19-07 15:06pm

Yeah im the non vegetable eating guy. I can eat broccoli and romaine lettuce but thats about it. Let me give you a break down of what happens to me and how I feel. I notice that when I eat foods with alot of sugar or high in carbs I will get energy but 30 min later my breathing becomes heavy, I can feel my heart pounding, and I feel tired. My thinking is never clear at all, if I dont eat for a while the tiredness starts to go away but then im just weak and my thinking is still not clear. I dont have a depressed feeling inside at all, I dont feel like im unhappy with myself or my life. I just cant get that happy feeling like I once did, mental alertness is gone, I cant express myself etc. Its signs of what depression does but im able to function and do things and not feel sad. I just dont have a clear head to think which I feel blocks my interest and memory. When I wake up in the morning I am achey and its tough to get up. My speech throughout the day is bad with prnouncing words but its better if I eat something. But that only last for a little bit. Maybe 30 min. My whole thought process is messed up. My anxiety is 100% gone. Probably cause I cant think clear to cause worry. If I eat bad foods and go off what I consider a diet my digestive problems and nervousness, anxiety will start come back. But the diet that I was on was only for 1 month and 3 weeks with no bad foods or alchohol. Then again I was eating whole grains and stuff so who knows if that played apart. Its obvious that food plays a part in how I feel but who knows if I have other things going on. Just a mess.
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Stan

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Posted: 01-19-07 15:43pm

So you are eating whole grains then? Where are most of your carbohydrates coming from now and approximately how much are you eating? You may simply have a very, very severe case like I do.
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wdiguy

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Posted: 01-19-07 16:59pm

Right now im not even on it. Cause im freakin lost and Dr.S dont help. But what I was eating was ......

Morning: oatmeal or eggs and fruit

every 2-3 hours I would eat a mixture of meat/ rice/ fruit/nuts/brocolli like.......Chicken, whole grain rice, nuts, salad, brocolli, steak, walnuts, apples, rasberries, oranges.
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Stan

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Posted: 01-20-07 00:01am

Are you sure that rice was whole grain? I mean 100% whole grain. If it just says whole grain but not 100% it isn't. It wasn't white was it? I'm sure not, but just checking. You may just have an uber sensitive system unfortunately, like me. I can't handle, get this, 1 tablespoon of buckwheat. That's caca, that's nothing. Everything else sounds okay though. However, are you eating large amounts of the fruit or small amounts?
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wdiguy

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Posted: 01-20-07 01:41am

Im eating small amounts of the fruit sometimes, if I feel weak or mentally cant think I eat a whole apple to hopefully feel better, even tho it doesnt work. The whole grain rice is the uncle bens ready rice that comes in a orange bag. All it says is whole grain on the front.
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