What is this feeling?? Please Help

[mjaclyn]

Hi everyone,
It seems like every time I eat something sweet - even fruit or natural juices, I feel very jittery and shaky. I feel like I can't concentrate and that I might faint. I used to get a little shaky after I ate a TON of sugar or if I didn't eat for hours at a time. It seems like I have gotten much more sensitive to sugar since I had my DD a few months ago. I didn't have any problems during my pregnancy except for mild anemia for which I took iron pills. No gestational diabetes. Does anyone know what this could be? At first I thought it was low blood sugar but could that mean I'm getting diabetes? Usually if I eat some kind of protein it makes me feel better but this morning I had some strawberries & raspberries for breakfast and I still feel sick after eating protein. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[Strmchsr]

It could be a variety of things and guessing doesn't accomplish anything. I would go to a doctor ASAP. Yes, it sounds like possibly beginning diabetes as my DS experienced similar symptoms of high blood sugar before he was diagnosed, but it could be a variety of other things, too, many of them not serious. There's so many different things that could cause these feelings that only getting a doctor to check you out will solve the issue. Please keep us updated.

[Pipalotta]

Do you feel thirsty alot as well? From what you wrote I would say diabetes but I am not a doctor of course so the best answer is to go to the doctors and find out. Hopefully it is something minor!! Good luck!!

[maizey05]

I wonder if you might have hypoglycemia? My DH has that. See your doc soon, so you can start feeling better.

[mjaclyn]

What makes me think that it isn't diabetes is that i have no other symptoms like extreme thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, extreme hunger, etc. It's just the shaky feeling. I'm going to see if I can get into my doctor today.

[Tinkerfreak]

I wonder if you might have hypoglycemia? My DH has that. See your doc soon, so you can start feeling better.

I thinking the same thing. My friend has this and she gets that sick feeling and feels all shakey when her sugar level is too low and when she eats protein it does help a bit. When we were younger and would go out drinking she would have only a couple of drinks and still feel hung over in the morning. It was because the alcohol was causing her sugar level to spike and then bottom out.
I wonder also if you are nursing? That can also have quite an effect on your system because it takes alot out of you.
I would also say see a doctor ASAP. Especially if you are feeling dizzy at all, you don't want to pass out or fall if you have the baby.

[poeticeclipse]

I wonder if you might have hypoglycemia? My DH has that. See your doc soon, so you can start feeling better.


My mom learned that she was hypoglycemic last year after not eating or drinking anything in the morning except for 2 cups of a coffee and a large donut. She passed out about 15 min. after finishing the donut. The Doc said that her sugar bottomed out. I would go to the Doc yourself and have it checked out.

[crazypoohbear]

You really need to see your doctor and have your blood sugar checked.

[SBETigg]

What makes me think that it isn't diabetes is that i have no other symptoms like extreme thirst, frequent urination, fatigue, extreme hunger, etc. It's just the shaky feeling. I'm going to see if I can get into my doctor today.

Do get checked, but it may not be anything all that serious. I'm remembering that you're a fairly new mom, I think? Several months after I had my first, I had similar symptoms. I was anemic. Iron pills helped. I always used to skip breakfast, and after that, I always had to eat breakfast (and still do). So try not to worry that something's really wrong-- it could be something simple-- and I hope your doctor puts your mind at ease and finds out what it is.

[murphy1]

I am hypothyroid and see an endocrinologist. I have had some of the same symptoms too. I have horrible tolerance to cold as well. An endocrinologist treats things like thyroid, diabetes, glandular things. I'm not saying you have any of this, but I have told two of my friends to see an endo and they both were hypo. It is actually a common thing after you have a baby. I had the disease prior to having any of my kids and had half my thyroid taken out b/c my dr. found cancerous cells in it. I am still under their care regularly.

[AdventurelandTikiGirl]

:tikki: Definitely get checked out by your doctor. It sounds like you have reactive hypoglycemia. After you eat a simple carb, your sugar spikes, releasing a lot of insulin. A while later the excess of insulin causes your sugar to go low, causing the shakiness. I've been dealing with this for four years, and found traditional medicine to be of no help. I follow a strict diet--no simple carbs--no sugar, white flour, pasta, white rice, potatoes, etc. It sounds drastic and takes a while to get used to, but it's the only way I can feel ok. Hopefully, it's just due to your hormones, and it will clear itself up. I hear that some hypo women can eat all the sugar they want when pregnant, so who knows. :ccat:

Another post entirely would be how we eat at Disney with dietary restrictions. Disney is tops at accommodating special diets, although I do miss Dole Whip and the pastries of Norway.:mickey:

[kakn7294]

Go get checked out - your doctor should do some tests based on what you describe to find out if it is indeed reactive hypoglycemia, diabetes, anemia, a thyroid problem, a stomach problem, or something else entirely. My guess is the hypoglycemia, especially since you said that you feel better if you eat protein. It's possibly hormone related and may correct itself in time or with birth control pills if you are not nursing - they keep your hormone levels much more even. Once you have a diagnosis, you may want to meet with a nutritionist to help you work out a diet that will keep you feeling better. Good luck and keep us updated!

[mjaclyn]

I have an appointment tomorrow to see my doctor and hopefully he can help. I used to only get a little shaky if I didn't eat at all for hours and hours. Now it seems like every time I eat something sugary (even naturally sweet like fruit) I get shaky, jittery and feel faint. I actually did have anemia during pregnancy and took iron pills - so that may still be the problem. After I had the baby my OBGYN had me stop taking the iron pills but didn't test me again for anemia. I'm still breastfeeding so I think maybe I'm still anemic.

Another incredibly strange thing is that I'm losing a lot more weight than I should be. I was back to my pre-pregnancy weight only three weeks after the baby and now I'm about 10lbs under what I was before I had her. I hope that isn't related - my OBGYN told me it was because I'm burning a lot of calories by nursing - that combined with stress, lack of sleep and a small apetite was the cause. I hope he was right.

One more question - I had LOADS of blood tests while I was pregnant and that was less than a year ago. If I was a diabetic wouldn't they have diagnosed me before now? Also, I tested negative for gestational diabetes - could I have developed diabetes between last August and now?

Anyway, thanks for all the advice. I'll keep you posted.

[kakn7294]

One more question - I had LOADS of blood tests while I was pregnant and that was less than a year ago. If I was a diabetic wouldn't they have diagnosed me before now? Also, I tested negative for gestational diabetes - could I have developed diabetes between last August and now?
Yes, actually it could have developed in that amount of time. So could thyroid problems or anemia or any number of other conditions. Whatever is going with you could even be a combination of things! Hopefully tomorrow will bring you some answers.

[MsMin]

I know my doc tested me about 6 months after I had my second baby. I too lost a lot of weight while b/feeding the baby. I was anemic, and still get anemic at times. My dr. didn't give me iron afterwards either and I had hemorrhaged and lost a lot of blood but maybe it passes into the milk? Don't be afraid it ask. I say :ditto: with the advice given above. I'm glad you are going to the dr. and I would be asking the same questions if I were you. :pixie: Hope they find a simple solution fast!

[SBETigg]

Rapid weight loss while nursing is not uncommon. Do make sure you're staying hydrated. It's so easy to get dehydrated while nursing, too. Best wishes for feeling better.

[mjaclyn]

I just went to the doctor and I'm feeling SO nervous about all of this. I have to take a 5 hour glucose test to find out what's going on with my blood sugar. He said it sounds like hypoglycemia but could be a bunch of other things. I have to call the lab tomorrow and schedule the 5 hour test.

In addition to that - I told my doc about the CT scan I recently had because of my lower abdominal pain. Since I'm only 26 he didn't believe that the results said I had mild diverticulitis. He actually had the hospital fax the results over to him while I was there and he was very surprised about it. He said he's never seen diverticulitis in someone so young. He then proceeded to tell me about all the complications and surgery that I'll have to have if this DOES turn out to be diverticulitis. The whole visit just completely freaked me out. I am SO scared now to go to the GI doctor on Monday about the CT scan results. I'm sure they're going to make me have a colonoscopy - and then what? Surgery? I'm just so afraid right now - a friend of ours (only 37yrs old) just died of an infection from hip replacement surgery. I just had my baby - I want to enjoy her and enjoy being a mother. I don't want to die from complications from surgery! I'm only 26 and I'm SO scared that I'll have some blood sugar disease on top of diverticulitis. I just want to be a normal, healthy person. I've never taken drugs, I don't smoke, barely drink and try to eat healthy. I don't know why this is happening to me. :(

[crazypoohbear]

Oh you poor thing, I can tell you are scared out of your wits right now.:hug:
Try not to think in worst case. That doctor doesn't have all the facts now and is only giving you "what ifs and possibly's" I know that having the new baby makes things much more magnified. But reality is the doctor doesn't know anything right now and most of the time they request tests to rule things out.
I pray that it is something very simple and you find out soon because not knowing is the worst feeling in the world.
Right now you should just go snuggle up with your baby and count your blessings and try to think about something else.
Sending you much pixie dust:pixie: :pixie: :pixie: :pixie: :pixie:

[kakn7294]

First, take a deep breath and try to calm down. I understand that you are scared from what you heard today, but you received some harsh information. Diverticulitis can have many complications and sometimes requires surgery but usually in the more severe cases. Many times it can be controlled by diet and/or medications and surgery is not necessary. I know plenty of people who have it, including my own father, and most never had surgery - in fact, the only one I can think of who did was my uncle and he tolerated it quite well. Definately see the GI specialist and follow his/her recommendations - I doubt you will need surgery for a mild case. The 5 hr glucose tolerance test is simply a blood test in which you have a fasting blood sugar level drawn and then drink a very sweet "cola" type drink (there are different drinks and sometimes even foods depending on the lab). You will then have blood drawn at 1 hr intervals for 5 hrs to determine how your body reacts to the sugar introduced through the drink. Take a book or something to keep yourself busy during your wait. You might also want to find someone to watch the baby for you so you don't have to take her with you.