The Reactive Hypoglycemic

This is what I know.

 I've taken an intentional break from blogging to get my health situation checked out. The last two weeks has been full of doctors appointments and tests. Not fun at all. I didn't want to write about it until I knew exactly what was going on...hence my hiatus from writing. It's been the only thing on my mind for weeks, but I didn't want to worry you guys.

This is what I know: Part 2.

I have reactive hypoglycemia. Sounds pretty scary...but don't get bent outta shape. First thing's first, I'm not diabetic. Second, I don't have to take medicine or give myself shots. I can regulate my blood sugar with the food I eat.

But let's back up a bit so you can understand what it means to be a reactive hypoglycemic. Last week, I took a four hour blood glucose test. That translates to six individual sticks with a vial of blood each time. One initial stick to take a base reading. Then I drank a large cup of a super sugary orange drink. Then they took my blood at the 30 minute mark, the one hour mark and every hour on the hour for three more hours. (Does that make sense?)

At the hour mark, I had a freak out moment. I felt really sick and light-headed. Like my skin was crawling. And the lady couldn't find my "tiny vein" as she put it. So she proceeded to dig the needle into my skin searching for said vein. I almost threw up. It was bad.

Then there may or may not have been a crying episode where all my anxiety surfaced after said stabbing of the arm. I'm not ashamed. A girl can only take so much before the ultimate breaking point is reached.

Then I was just resigned to my fate of having to give my arms over to them every hour for the stabbing. By the sixth blood draw, my veins had had enough. And I was completely physically and emotionally spent and absolutely starving. I forgot to mention I had been fasting for 12 hours. Yikes.

This is what I know: Part 3.

During said freak out moment mention above in part 2, the nurses checked my blood sugar level and said it was normal.

But here's the thing.

When my blood sugar level is normal, it's too high. My initial level was considerably lower than normal. It jumped up to normal (or high in my case). Then plummeted down to really low again resulting in me being ridiculously tired and weak.

So there you go.

Unlike regular hypoglycemia, reactive hypoglycemia is a result of what you eat. So my diet and how frequently I eat will change significantly. And it will make me feel so much better. For that I am thankful.

So please follow along as I cut out all processed foods, refined sugars and limit my caffeine intake...And watch me learn to eat six small meals a day and the great importance of portion control. It's going to be a journey, and I can't wait to share it with you.

Not a Dancing Nancy

You know I know I'm sick, aside from the fact I posted all my symptoms yesterday?

I have no urge to sing or dance in the car. On a normal day, you will catch me at a stoplight singing at the top of my lungs and dancing as much as humanly possible when behind the wheel. It's not necessary to dance, but the singing happens everyday. Except for the past 4 days.

I tried to sing on my way to Little Rock Sunday afternoon. I needed some kind of motivation to get me through the hours I was going to spend in the library. I made a new CD full of dance songs including Usher's DJ's Got Us Falling in Love and More, Waka Flocka Flame's No Hands, Lil Wayne's Right Above It and Katy Perry's Firework.

So let's just say it's the perfect mix of uber-dance music. Plus it's added fun to pretend to be a hardcore rapper.

I think my sickness has moved more into my chest. I feel less pressure on my sinuses and head, which is a huge plus. But my sore throat has come back with vengeance. I guess we will have to see how this goes.

I have class tonight. I'm sure that will be interesting. A total of 12 people will have to endure my nose-blowing and hacking for three hours. Pleasant. Sorry guys. If I could help it, I would.

I felt so bad yesterday that I didn't even want to go see the cute I'm-not-sure-if-he's-married guy at Starbucks. I ended up going to get some peppermint tea, which I would hate on a normal day, to soothe my raw throat. We didn't even have our usual friendly banter, second sign to tell me I'm sick - not wanting to flirt with the cutie who makes my coffee.

The tea was good and soothing like it should have been. I kept thinking the peppermint would open my nose passages, but that proved unfruitful.

Went home, ate dinner and was in bed by 8:30 P.M.: Third sign I know I'm sick - going to bedfore 9. Sidenote---I have to get up at 5:30 A.M. to go to work. So 9 is pretty late for someone who needs all of 10 hours of sleep to function like a normal human being.

So I sit here at my desk writing this with a heavy head and an achy body. I fear it could be a while before I get back to being a dancing nancy. I'm sure it will be safer for all those driving, and I can only imagine how thankful my vocal chords are for this much needed break.

Until next time...

Death on a Leaf

Oh the irony in posting about feeling sick last week because now I actually am. I'm pretty sure it is more or less a head cold, but who can be for sure.

Current symptoms: achy body, runny/stuffy nose,watery eyes, sore throat and headaches

Medications: Advil for head and aches, Zyrtec for nose and eyes.

I don't really sleep well since I can't breath. And I hate having to be productive when all I want to do is crawl under the covers and watch episodes of Will and Grace.

I think I am avoiding the doctor because I don't want him to tell me I can't go to school. So I have decided to keep taking my over-the-counter meds so I can continue to go to school and make much needed trips to the library to do "research".

If I don't' start feeling better by Friday, I will go to the doctor. I just hate that my immune system has been doing to good recently, and now I feel like death. If you need me, you can find me waist-high in Kleenex with the sniffles and crying eyes.

Until next time...