Don't know about you, but that is ONE big truck!

And this is about how I feel while in the middle of a dilemma with low blood sugars. Low blood sugars can be caused by "dumping syndrome". Yes, dumping. While experierencing "dumping syndrome" your body feels like a gi-normous truck plows right over you, knocks you to the ground...then backs up and runs over your again, just incase you missed it!

Dumping syndrome can be separated into two forms both early and late—depending on the occurrence of symptoms in relation to the time elapsed after a meal. Dumping syndrome is the direct result of alterations in the storage function of the stomach and/or the emptying mechanism. Both forms occur because of rapid delivery of solids and liquids into the duodenum (or small intestine).

Early dumping syndrome produces decreased blood pressure and increased blood flow to the intestines. Early dumping syndrome leads to generalized weakness. Fainting, irregular or rapid heart beats, dizziness, sweating, low blood pressure, abdominal cramps, and explosive diarrhea and flushing of the skin. Shortness of breath, vomiting may occur.

Cause of late dumping syndrome occurs when low blood sugar caused by excess insulin produced in response to sudden dumping of food and fluids into the intestine. Symptoms of late dumping syndrome include profuse sweating, anxiety, and tremors. Headache, exhaustion, faintness, particularly with changing positions, may occur.

I really felt like I had been hit by a truck. Near fainting spells, the shakes, no energy and weight gain. Worst of all, the tighter my clothes got the more out of control I felt. Most people don't understand the desperation of not being in control of your weight, unless they have been morbidly obese. Clothes that don't fit, scales going up, having to move the "big bar", you know the one on the bottom of the scales that goes up by 50 pounds, uuuhhhggg, and not being able to exercise for fear of hitting the pavement. HELP!

It's no fun to mess with your blood sugar, or experience hypoglycemia. I tried eating more calories, less calories, less carbs, more carbs, and no carbs...nothing seemed to work. It took years to discover how to deal with drops in my blood sugar levels. Recently I have resumed taking thyroid medications and have seen improvement. 

If you have symptoms of low blood sugar it is important to report it to your surgeon or endocrinologist. (Preferrably one who has experience in dealing with hypoglycemia after gastric bypass surgery.)