Hypoglycemia

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So I've had a history of passing out when I haven't eaten in a while or have done drugs/drinking. I have very low blood pressure.

Today on the train to work, after barely eating dinner last night and skipping breakfast, I was suddenly overcome with the spins and went into a terrible cold sweat while reading and listening to headphones. Thankfully, I had the presence of mind to ask a dude to take his seat and it mostly subsided. I got some VitaminWater and I think I am going to skip out of work soon to get a quick meal.

Does anyone else deal with this? I think I am going to make a policy of carrying water and a energy bar with me.

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 12:52 (twenty years ago)

Surely the answer would be to have regular meals???!!!

― Panther Pink (Pinkpanther), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 12:55 (twenty years ago)

i've had this more severely (for me) in the past, although not quite as bad as you describe. There was passing out, for sure.
It's going to take some examination of your diet. Avoiding a lot of "empty" foods . . .and focusing on a healthier intake. Drink a LOT of water all the time. Protein has helped me enormously.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 12:55 (twenty years ago)

this happened to me for a while. I have low blood pressure also. It took me a long time to figure out what the problem was. It also happens if I eat too much (really any) sugar, I get all messed up. Try eating peanut butter and cheese, works for me. Ain't life grand?

― kyle (akmonday), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 12:56 (twenty years ago)

Dude, eat!

― Andrew (enneff), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 12:58 (twenty years ago)

I've fainted three times on the train to work, always after skipping breakfast. If I haven't got time to eat, I'll at least drink some orange juice before I leave home. My driving is terrible if I'm hungry too.

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 12:58 (twenty years ago)

(more terrible than usual, I mean)

― Mädchen (Madchen), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 12:59 (twenty years ago)

i think eating is key. you're just going to have to think about & act on food more often.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 12:59 (twenty years ago)

I've had this problem, although it got better as I got older. It really helps to just be aware that you need food a little more regularly than other people, the energy bar is a great idea. I never went to a doctor for it though, maybe I should have. I went to student health once when I passed out after smoking some pot, the resident or whatever she was just told me what I suspected, low blood sugar/low blood pressure.

This was far more likely to manifest itself in horrible moodswings before it got to the fainting stage for me, so once I figured that out, I fainted far less often.

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 12:59 (twenty years ago)

Jon, my ex was hypoglycemic when he was drinking nightly and eating REALLY badly -- I had to rescue him a couple of times, both at home and in public. But after a while he got tired of feeling shitty, so he drank less (not saying much, maybe 3-4 nights a week instead of 5-6), and started eating a regular breakfast of protein bar and juice on his way to work. Pretty much eradicated the problem.

He also had INCREDIBLY low blood pressure -- we used to joke about holding a mirror under his nose to prove he was still breathing.

― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:01 (twenty years ago)

I nearly did a faceplant on a lit stove once. Sometimes it gets to the point where my vision clouds. :/

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:06 (twenty years ago)

Yeah, he passed out once while leaning against my fridge in the process of GETTING JUICE. And almost again while trying to cross Vanderbilt Ave. Also, letting HGl go unchecked increases yr chances of developing diabetes later, so don't fuck around with it.

― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:11 (twenty years ago)

probably wouldn't hurt to have it checked out with a doctor if you're able to.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:11 (twenty years ago)

Eeek, I did not know that. Yea, I think I might need to see a GP for my new insurance anyway.

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:13 (twenty years ago)

Jon be careful, go to a doctor if you can, they can give you things to take if you really don't have the time/ability to regulate your meals as much as you'd like right now, as a make-shift while you figure out how to eat properly. Speaking as someone who has a history of crashing out for full days on end, unable to barely move a muscle.

The downside of going to the doctor for this though is they're gonna test you and make you do that awful thing where you have to drink a giant thing of corn syrup and then they make you sit in a room and watch you freak out and then pass out. UGH.

Seriously what everyone else is saying about trying to regulate your eating is key. I haven't really quite figured this out which is why I had an episode of days-crashing just a few weeks ago :\

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:14 (twenty years ago)

why would they use corn syrup when they can take a blood test or something?

― kelsey (kelstarry), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:15 (twenty years ago)

Ally! Stop that!

― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:16 (twenty years ago)

Because they want to see exactly how your levels react, they take tests during it, I mean I'm exaggerating saying they just stare at you til you pass out, they do test but I guess they can't just test, like, your blood when you come in, they don't know what you've done to yourself previous in the day or anything, what you've put in your body. So they clean slate you, no food the previous night (like surgery) and then make you drink something akin to corn syrup and sit around all day. It's really gross! But better than getting diabetes (which my dad and uncle have both developed now)

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:18 (twenty years ago)

that's crazy. i didn't even believe you at first b/c it sounds so old fashioned. it makes sense, though, honestly.
i have to say though, that without going to a doctor & having the full exam, simply upping my protein intake has really helped my blood sugars.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:21 (twenty years ago)

I have low blood pressure but not as bad as you, Jon. I had it again for a brief period during my pregnancy. They can give you medication for it - something they'll ALWAYS ask me - but I don't feel like it. I just go with the flow. When it's really bad, I seem to walk completely slanted. Really weird. The nurse freaked out a little bit the other month, checking again because she was convinced it couldn't be so low.

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:28 (twenty years ago)

Upping my protein intake helped me a lot too (I was a vegetarian and started eating meats again).

The upside of all this is that my cholesterol is nothing, my blood pressure is nothing, like my dad's whole sugar-intolerant family. The last doctor I was at was like, "Oh my god, what do you do, you're in fantastic shape!" And I'm like, uh, I smoke 2 packs a day, drink at least a bottle of wine per night, I've taken to eating nothing but sushi and hamburgers, I haven't worked out in a year...then he frowned at me.

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:31 (twenty years ago)

Oh, does sugar have anything to do with low blood pressure? As a kid I was sick for a LONG time - throwing up etc - and they finally found that I had practically no sugar at all. So I had to drink coke with added sugar. YUM YUM.

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:32 (twenty years ago)

My family doctor is a smoking apologist!

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:34 (twenty years ago)

Coke with added sugar!!!!

xpost my old doctor was a smoking apologist too, he'd always tell us when we'd go to see him, "Oh if you're sick, you shouldn't quit, it'll make you sicker!" and we were like, ok!

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:35 (twenty years ago)

Jeezus Ally's breath must be rank

― Sugar Coated, Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:37 (twenty years ago)

Uh, why? I think wine and cigarettes are an awesome combination but then, I smoke.

― Laurel (Laurel), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:44 (twenty years ago)

Yeah and I don't even eat hamburgers anymore! That was ages ago, I haven't been to a doctor in over a year.

Anyway, Jon, keep around power bars (they kind of taste raunchy though generally, maybe granola bars?), fruit, JUICE. And make sre you at least eat a decent dinner. This will go a long way.

― Allyzay knows a little German (allyzay), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 13:49 (twenty years ago)

jon i'm like this too... i just make sure i seriously prioritize my 3 square a day, otherwise i'm totally fucked.

― s1ocki (slutsky), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 16:24 (twenty years ago)

it's not NOIZE to tempt diabetes, jon! eat those 3 squares a day.

seriously -- if this happens a lot, maybe you should get tested for diabetes or anemia.

― Eisbär (llamasfur), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 16:26 (twenty years ago)

I had to do the blood glucose test on monday because they're afraid I've got gestational diabetes (which I think is kind of bogus and no big deal regardless), it's just like Ally said, fast the night before, go in, they take your blood, you drink the corn syrup, then they draw your blood every hour for the next three hours to check your glucose levels. Bo-ring.

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 16:32 (twenty years ago)

Would a normal physical check your glucose levels? I had one this summer.... I came out great -- blood oxygen level good for a smoker, one of my cholesterol counts was the lowest my doctor had ever seen, very low blood pressure.

My dad also has low blood pressure and faints even he has a little blood taken. He is 56 and healthy as a horse.

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 16:35 (twenty years ago)

low blood pressure itself can cause a person to faint. Not enough blood getting to the brain and all. Eat somthing salty when you feel like that and drink water.

― Wiggy (Wiggy), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 16:55 (twenty years ago)

It came on so fast this morning. One minute I was leaning on a pole listening to Here Come The Warm Jets, the next I was slumping against it trying to stop from falling on a crowded car. It is the worst feeling ever when high also because it adds helplessness and overwhelming sense of awfulness and dread.

― Jonothong Williamsmang (ex machina), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 16:57 (twenty years ago)

I actually kinda like it. Esp when I walk *slanted*. I don't mind it. Of course I have never fainted (yet), so I (foolishly?) believe I won't ever really trip over and bounce on the beats of Baby's On Fire. ;-)

― nathalie, a bum like you (stevie nixed), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 17:02 (twenty years ago)

keep an energy bar around for emergencies

try to eat every 3 hours, small meals of protein, fruits and veggies - i wouldn't recommend juice, it's just pure sugar, will go right through you. the idea is to keep your blood sugar stable, not spike it.

i tend to get low blood sugar very easily but with managing my diet i feel a lot better. the worst side effect is blurry vision, makes me feel like I'm goin blind.

― Homosexual II (Homosexual II), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 17:35 (twenty years ago)

I know you probably weren't toking up on the bus, but the one time I had a really bad episode and went to the doctor the next day was also the one time I was high. I passed out for quite some time right after having a bit of beer and passing a joint. I may have pissed myself, I forget. It was halloween, too, and I was dressed up as a zombie bride and all these dudes had to take me inside and find a bed so I could lie down and I just kept passing out, it was bad news. ANYWAY the doc said the smoking may have had a little to do with it--just the inhalation messing with normal oxygen levels--and also pot is a treatment for high blood pressure! I want to say that's the last time I fainted, though, I hadn't eaten all day and had been up for a long time and it just wasn't smart.

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 19:20 (twenty years ago)

Hey Jon I'm the same way--rediculously low blood pressure, cholesteral etc. and have been known to black out on occaision. Once when an anesthesiologist was trying to put an IV in my arm, which scared everyone.

I think it's actually more the dehydration than low blood sugar per ce (for me at least and you too from the sound of it) that goes with not eating enough and/or boozing too much that exacerbates the low blood pressure issue. So plain water is probably not the best solution. Try carrying a bottle of gatorade/vitimin water/whatever around with you all the time.

― mouse (mouse), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 19:24 (twenty years ago)

(haha I mean one time that I fainted while I was high, hoo boy)

― teeny (teeny), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 19:27 (twenty years ago)

I'm like this as well, really low blood pressure, I used to get dizzy spells pretty often and would almost black out sometimes.

I don't seem to have these any more, I try to have enough protein & vegetables, I don't skip breakfast and have very few processed foods, I cut back on the sugar and too much caffeine.. Oh, and I drink a lot of water. I used to not remember to do that, it may have helped. I'll sometimes have that inexplicable days-long problem of being dead tired, it sucks - and it seems that drinking will often make this happen, I don't have more than two or three drinks any more.

― dar1a g (daria g), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 19:54 (twenty years ago)

eating every three hours is a good suggestion. i've changed my eating habits to smaller portions sprinkled throughout the day...so eating closer to 6 meals OR eating smaller sizes of the big 3 & grazing in between.

― kelsey (kelstarry), Wednesday, 5 October 2005 20:05 (twenty years ago)

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