Question about diet for reactive hypoglycemia - does it get better?

Hello to the BB that are healed but still around giving support on the forum and to anyone that is hypoglycemic while going thru recovery,

 

I was wondering if you had trouble with hypoglycemia or reactive hypoglycemia while going thru  benzo recovery?  I am eating the hypoglycemic high protein, low carb diet.  I eat very clean - no processed foods - except I have added in one slice a day of low carb bread the last few days. I have cut out caffeine, sugar for months now.

 

Every day it is starting over with the low drop after sleeping, so I eat as soon as I wake. I eat two eggs, 1/4 avocado and 1 slice toast. That usually causes some revving so I have been walking or today ran the sweeper to deal with insulin. Then 2 hrs after eating do a snack - again low carb high protein. In 2 - 3 hrs will have lunch, then snack, dinner, then snack and part of avocado right before bed.

 

I'm wondering if this is typical of benzo recovery?  For those that have recovered did you go thru this and does it get better as our systems heal more?  Are you still eating this way after you feel you have healed?

 

I was wondering of talking to a dietitian but don't know if a dietitian could even help thru this. That is why I went to a nutritionist months ago, and got messed up on supplements because I was looking at this separate from benzo recovery.  Now off those supplements and trying to get this figured out. 

 

Plus I thought if I am having this low sugar issue and other BB are having it, then maybe we can help others on how to eat correct right from their beginning taper, or w/d so they don't get hit hard with the hypoglycemia.  I use to not have it as bad, but as I go along I have gotten it worse.

 

I really don't have any other w/d sxs - my sxs are all what is listed on the hypoglycemia sx list. So I thought I was over w/d, but now I see they are intertwined.  Those sxs go away when I get the correct amount of protein, carbs and fats in my system. It is a constant balancing, especially difficult in the morning and lifts as the day goes along.

 

I'm wondering if us benzo people react more than a typical hypoglycemia person does? 

 

So please from anyone who has been there with reactive hypo or hypoglycemia and are healed from benzos, how are you now with the sugar issues?

 

Plus anyone that is going thru this also like me, please add what you are doing to your diet, how you are feeling. How long have you been eating this way and if your hypoglycemia is improving?

 

healing to all of us,

Sally   

Wish my post hadn't gotten moved to General Health because if you look at all the posts in this section most go unanswered or even very low being read.

 

I know personally I never come to this board. I was surprised at how many others here were on diet glucose problems.  The thing is = all that I see are in my boat, and we need people that are healed to chime in - and most likely they aren't in these boards.

 

Reaching out for help can be frustrating.

 

I know I am eating properly - today I was just really wanting to know if this hypoglycemia will get better as healing to my body from benzo recovery happens.  This isn't true hypoglycemia I don't believe - so was wanting to know about benzo hypoglycemia if that can be what this is - like benzo belly - just a condition we have until we heal?

 

healing to all,

Sally 

bump

I had a similar issue..... how do you know you have reactive hypoglycemia if you don't mind me asking...have you had your blood sugar checked?  Do you have a blood sugar monitor at home? Mine was a combination of slightly low blood pressure and sugar but mostly it turned out to be gastritis  , which is very common in w/d. It can mimic the hunger pangs and faint feelings about 60-90 minutes after eating..especially if you are eating a lot of fat ie avacabo, eggs , which can exacerbate the situation.

 

Alternative doctors and some medical doctors like to throw around the word reactive hypoglycemia with no proof. If you are really hypoglycemic than being on a hypoglycemic diet should make you feel better not the same or worse. I did not feel better until I started on a gastritis diet and really started to fixed my tummy...then the feeling faint, hunger pangs etc started to go away. 

 

Of course this is my story, it may not apply to you..but  in my opinion if you don't do better on a diet for hypoglycemia than I would look for alternate reasons.

 

I Had this bad when I stopped lunesta. Now it is coming back some. Not hunger but feeling woozy if not eating for a couple hrs. I got my fasting blood sugar and it was kind of high, but apparently normal.

 

What is the gastritis diet?

gastritis is basically inflammation of the stomach and IBS is inflammation of the bowels. Both are very common in Benzo w/d or any psych medication w/d. Our digestive tracts have many of the same receptors in them as our brains so when you start to change your brain chemistry your digestive tract gets inflamed and annoyed.. hence Benzo Belly.

 

However high anxiety can cause surges in adrenaline which then makes blood sugar drop. As well as increase stomach acid which makes benzo  belly worse. And the more pain we are in the more the more anxious we are and the whole things is just a crazy vicious cycle. Then through in a dose reduction and everything goes crazy again! LOL!.

 

I follow a low glycemic /gastritis diet. It is basically a healthy diet. Low fat, low acid ie: citrus fruits, pop, juice, sour foods etc... no caffeine because it increases stomach acid...so no chocolate, coffee or tea and I stay away from spicy foods. And I stick to moderate to low glycemic foods but I still enjoy my ice cream! Easy to digest whole grains, brad and pasta's, root veggies/potatoes, low acid fruits and vegetables, beans and meat, low fat dairy and no nuts or seeds. And of course my low fat ice cream! Its a pretty normal diet that's good for you and tastes good. I do stay away from tomatoes as well. But when my tummy is not in a flare I can have some chocolate etc....

 

I am now switching to a daily microtaper to stop the flare ups after cuts. so that I can get back to having a slice of pizza and a hamburger if I want ! LOL!  Alabama.xoxo

Ah ok, thanks for all the info, so it is just like a low fat emphasis then? I do most of those things already...no bloating yet just a constant gross feeling of being full, but if I don't eat I feel hypoglycemic...beyond aggravating...

I had a similar issue..... how do you know you have reactive hypoglycemia if you don't mind me asking...have you had your blood sugar checked?  Do you have a blood sugar monitor at home? Mine was a combination of slightly low blood pressure and sugar but mostly it turned out to be gastritis  , which is very common in w/d. It can mimic the hunger pangs and faint feelings about 60-90 minutes after eating..especially if you are eating a lot of fat ie avacabo, eggs , which can exacerbate the situation.

 

Alternative doctors and some medical doctors like to throw around the word reactive hypoglycemia with no proof. If you are really hypoglycemic than being on a hypoglycemic diet should make you feel better not the same or worse. I did not feel better until I started on a gastritis diet and really started to fixed my tummy...then the feeling faint, hunger pangs etc started to go away. 

 

Of course this is my story, it may not apply to you..but  in my opinion if you don't do better on a diet for hypoglycemia than I would look for alternate reasons.

 

Alabama,

 

How long did it take for you to recover from the gastritis?  Why are nuts harmful?

 

I think this is what I have since my stomach hurts most of the time.  It feels like my other symptoms correspond to how my stomach is feeling.

 

Mama2

It takes from 4-8 weeks. I am on a no salt, low fat, very basic food diet. Low acid, no fruit, no caffeine, no chocolate etc...basically all food that is very easy to digest. No garlic, onions, spices, pepper...really the ultimate in simple diet. Bread , pasta, beans, meat, mashed root veggies...nothing raw, or too fibrous like whole grains...more white rice, instant oatmeal, white pasta etc...anything easy to digest  it is super boring. But it is so helpful. I was already on a version of it for months now but never this strict. But I started to feel better immediately even when I was not that strict . It really is  so worth it to function and not be 'starving' all the time. I used to have to eat every two to three hours due to hunger pains....now that my stomach s settled I can go five or six hours now! I never feel faint or famished....imagine that after two years of being told I was 'hypoglycemic' ...... unbelievable.

 

I take an acid blocker, carafate/sulcrate and DGL(from the health food store) and probiotics. I will do it for another 4 weeks. I am not doing any cuts during this time because they are the cause of this. That is why I would feel better and then feel worse again even though I was sticking to the  diet. And when I got down to the end of my taper my stomach freaked out and that is when this last flare up was so horrible and caused me to get really strict for a few weeks.  Once I am healed my doctor and I decided I would finish my taper with a daily micro titration. And our hope is that the flare ups will stop. They always correlated with a cut.

 

fat is bad because it causes the body to create a lot of acid to digest it.....and takes a long time to digest...which in turn means more acid for a long time in an already inflamed sore stmach...just think of your tummy as an open cut with no scab...would you want to pour alcohol, acid, salt, or rough fibrous scratchy things on it? Nope.....

 

Hope this helps............bama.xoxo

Alabama,

 

Are you seeing a gastroenterologist?  Is peanut butter out?  This is so interesting.  I plan on changing my diet.  Just wondering if I need the help of a gastroenterologist.  I do have some of the carafate.

 

This sounds so much like what I'm experiencing, having to eat every two to three hours with hunger pains.  I was thinking it was hypoglycemia, but when I check my blood sugar it is always normal.  I will do whatever it takes to stop this constant hunger.

 

Wishing you well with the rest of your taper.  Sounds like you are fortunate to have a good doctor on track.

 

Mama2

 

 

 

 

nope no gastroenterologist. Just my general GP and my Benzo w/d doctor. Both know that GI issues are part of withdrawal. It just took us some time to put all the puzzle pieces together. Thankfully we did!

 

Yes nuts and nut butters are a huge trigger for me. I use a small amount of avacados and olive oil. I never eat eggs or baked goods with oils.(big triggers for me)..I do eat low to no fat dairy, (especially frozen yogurt! YUMM) but for some reason plain yogurt is too acidic for my tummy.  It is really trial an error.... I read a great book by a doctor called 'dropping acid' I got the ebook online after I red the version I rented from the library because I wanted to won it cuz it has yummy recipes. . It has a detailed list of foods . There are the absolute no no's and then there are foods that can be problematic for some people but not everyone....it is trial and error. I managed my symptoms but now that I am strict I am feeling healing occur. And hopefully with stopping the cuts and the micro taper I will no longer have this awful problem anymore.

 

I was eating so continuously that I gained thirty pounds! And I was eating high fat foods because I thought I was hypoglycemic and they say to eat a lot of good fat because it makes the natural sugar/carbs in your meal be released slower and thus control your blood sugar better. And also make you feel satisfied for longer and thus eat less often...but ironically t always did the opposite , made me hungry and more faint sooner! LOL now I know why! duh! LOL. too much fat!

 

oh well sometimes it takes awhile to put it all together...there are so many symptoms that overlap. Who knew that gastritis felt like hunger pains!? and could make you feel dizzy and like passing out after a meal....it turns out gastritis can! LOL! oh weellll I am just thrilled I finally figured it out. Alabama.xo

Alabama, 

 

I'm glad you figured it out too as this sounds so much like what I need to do.  I get the dizzies too after eating.  I had been following your progress when you thought it was all about low blood pressure bringing on the dizziness and getting the proper amount of salt.

 

Yogurt burns my stomach and sometimes water does also.

 

Thanks again,

 

Mama2

I know the SALT! AHHH that made it infinitely worse. You see I have always had low blood pressure so when we were testing me in the DR's office it was low after a meal and I was dizzy. So she recommended salt,  I was pumping myself full of salty foods, salt tablets and sports drinks! Exactly not the thing to put on an open wound....lol...and I kept getting worse and worse. My doctor was so perplexed.  Then the pain and dizziness got way worse so a few months later I went back to see her and she tested my blood pressure and I was so dizzy when she did and it was perfect. So we then put two and two together and all the cards fell into place. I left with my prescriptions and within two days I was feeling better and the dizziness that has rendered me incapacitated on and off for about two years was gone and has not returned in three weeks!!!! I am just so happy. Alabama.xo

I know the SALT! AHHH that made it infinitely worse. You see I have always had low blood pressure so when we were testing me in the DR's office it was low after a meal and I was dizzy. So she recommended salt,  I was pumping myself full of salty foods, salt tablets and sports drinks! Exactly not the thing to put on an open wound....lol...and I kept getting worse and worse. My doctor was so perplexed.  Then the pain and dizziness got way worse so a few months later I went back to see her and she tested my blood pressure and I was so dizzy when she did and it was perfect. So we then put two and two together and all the cards fell into place. I left with my prescriptions and within two days I was feeling better and the dizziness that has rendered me incapacitated on and off for about two years was gone and has not returned in three weeks!!!! I am just so happy. Alabama.xo

 

Wow!  I will lay off the salt!    So happy for you too!  I hope this is my answer.

 

Are you able to tolerate any supplements?

 

Mama2

Stillbelieving,

 

Forgive me for highjacking your thread.  I hope some of this information has been useful to you.

 

Healing to you,

 

Mama2

Alabama,

 

I am trying to find the book you mentioned on Amazon. I would like to have a Kindle version. The only book I could find was about LSD. 

 

Could you provide the authors name, when you get a chance??

 

Thanks!!

 

Stillbelieving,

 

I hope you are feeling better soon and can get some answers to what is going on with your blood sugar.

 

Hugs,

 

Nana 

 

 

Denise,

 

I Googled dropping acid kindle version and found it on Amazon.

 

Mama 

Then why can't I find it?? I found the book, but it shows it as no longer available for the Kindle. 

 

Hugs,

 

Nana 

Oh, sorry, I didn't see that it is not longer available, I see that now.

 

Mama 

http://www.refluxcookbook.com/ is the webpage full of valuable information..... I think I ordered the ebook version through barnes and noble.....  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dropping-acid-jamie-koufman/1102437868?ean=9780982708316  try those links.... I  like that it is written by two medical doctors who are specialists in their field and it based on science and fact. I even saw them on the dr oz show awhile ago being interviewed. Their major issue is throat acid, however they also deal with Gerd and reflux and that includes gastritis and ulcers etc..anything that has to do with too much acid or pepsin.

I only take DGL  for my tummy and probiotics ie BIO-K. I have not tolerated supplements my entire taper. I always thought it was  because of my taper but I think some of it might now be because of my tummy instead...like iron, vit c,    fish oil (ie fat) and other ones  are known to irritate the stomach..... I took this liquid b vitamins and I thought It made me faint and have an adrenaline rush(which I get when my tummy is really sore) , but the base was concentrated fruit juices, herbs and citric acid all things that are super harsh on the stomach! so once my stomach is stable I may revisit some of these things in different forms...like maybe sublingual drops  that just avoid the stomach altogether....or taking the fish oil after a large plate of starchy bread or pasta so it absorbs the oil instead of it irritating an empty stomach... I am not so hesitant to give things another try now. Like the DGL....the first time around it did not go well but now it is pure tummy magic!

Well after a lot of trial and error I have found a good diet for myself. I have always had hypoglycemia and benzos and ad's actually made it better. Anyway, after being off valium for a while my blood sugar started dropping again. I went on the low carb diet as well. There is a catch to doing the diet right though. You have to watch your protein intake. The low carb diet is actually a high fat, low to moderate protein diet. I also have to keep my carbs below 25 grams a day. A couple of more things I did was eliminate egg whites, nuts, seeds, grains, and all dairy from my diet. Nothing from the nightshade family as well due to leaky gut and other stomach and inflammation problems. So it's easier to say what I eat instead of not eat. I only drink water. It has made a world if difference for me but it was initially very hard and I had sugar withdrawal!

Gastritis. Ouch, ugh! I dealt with that numerous times during the Xanax years. I lived on peanut butter, crackers, & ensure & spring water. I know that may be weird, but,  just couldn't handle any other foods/beverages.

 

Now, I deal with low blood sugar at 10 months out. Trying to eat a snack every two hours & it's either a tablespoon of peanut butter, cheese stick, piece(s) of sliced turkey or chicken, boiled or scrambled egg. 

I only take DGL  for my tummy and probiotics ie BIO-K. I have not tolerated supplements my entire taper. I always thought it was  because of my taper but I think some of it might now be because of my tummy instead...like iron, vit c,    fish oil (ie fat) and other ones  are known to irritate the stomach..... I took this liquid b vitamins and I thought It made me faint and have an adrenaline rush(which I get when my tummy is really sore) , but the base was concentrated fruit juices, herbs and citric acid all things that are super harsh on the stomach! so once my stomach is stable I may revisit some of these things in different forms...like maybe sublingual drops  that just avoid the stomach altogether....or taking the fish oil after a large plate of starchy bread or pasta so it absorbs the oil instead of it irritating an empty stomach... I am not so hesitant to give things another try now. Like the DGL....the first time around it did not go well but now it is pure tummy magic!

 

Alabama,

 

I have just ordered some DGL.  You said the first times around it did not go well, where you referring to the DGL?  If so what did you experience?

 

Mama2

It didn't go well...I had really bad joint pain every time I took it....however I was also on a PPI medication and did not realize that that was one of the side effects! You see I was taking the two together so I didn; put two and two together....I figured it out a few months ago.  Now I take a different antacid medication in a different drug family other than PPI's and I tolerate the DGL just fine.... Hope that helps.............Alabama.xo