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Weird "Attacks"
I have 3 weird "attack" things in the past 6 months, (always at night) and I'm concerned as to what they are. Here's what happens.
I go to bed and try to fall asleep.
If I succeed, I'll start having weird dreams, like I have a REALLY high fever, except I don't have one.
If I don't fall asleep, I notice that I can't concentrate and my thoughts will start racing uncontrollably. (I try to remember the words for a common children's song and I can't get through the first line.)
I will start feeling uncomfortable and slightly sick to my stomach.
I'll start to shake severely, usually starting with my legs.
If I was asleep, I wake up.
I'll start feeling very sick, and will shake so badly that I'll be stretching my body out and then curling into a fetal position. I walk to the bathroom, feeling weak. I'll have severe diarrhea on and off for about an hour. I've never thrown up, but I always feel like I will. I am usually curled up on the bathroom floor in pajamas with lots of extra clothes on... being cold makes it worse.
Eventually things start to calm down, and I go back to my room and sit on the bed. Gradually I'm able to lie down, and after about 4 hours, I can fall asleep.
Here's the REALLY weird thing. When this happens, I get 3 hours of sleep. But I always feel GREAT in the morning!
I've done some checking, and everytime this happened, it happened at different times in my menstrual cycle, after I had eaten food that is completely normal for me. The only time something unusual had happened was for the second "attack", where I had spent a really high-impact day as a volunteer sailor.
I'm 17, normal menstrual cycle, not sexually active, not on the pill, no known food allergies, and not on any medication.
Any people who can compare notes with me?
I go to bed and try to fall asleep.
If I succeed, I'll start having weird dreams, like I have a REALLY high fever, except I don't have one.
If I don't fall asleep, I notice that I can't concentrate and my thoughts will start racing uncontrollably. (I try to remember the words for a common children's song and I can't get through the first line.)
I will start feeling uncomfortable and slightly sick to my stomach.
I'll start to shake severely, usually starting with my legs.
If I was asleep, I wake up.
I'll start feeling very sick, and will shake so badly that I'll be stretching my body out and then curling into a fetal position. I walk to the bathroom, feeling weak. I'll have severe diarrhea on and off for about an hour. I've never thrown up, but I always feel like I will. I am usually curled up on the bathroom floor in pajamas with lots of extra clothes on... being cold makes it worse.
Eventually things start to calm down, and I go back to my room and sit on the bed. Gradually I'm able to lie down, and after about 4 hours, I can fall asleep.
Here's the REALLY weird thing. When this happens, I get 3 hours of sleep. But I always feel GREAT in the morning!
I've done some checking, and everytime this happened, it happened at different times in my menstrual cycle, after I had eaten food that is completely normal for me. The only time something unusual had happened was for the second "attack", where I had spent a really high-impact day as a volunteer sailor.
I'm 17, normal menstrual cycle, not sexually active, not on the pill, no known food allergies, and not on any medication.
Any people who can compare notes with me?
I'm supposed to go soon for pulmonary tests and stuff, I'll ask my doctor for a blood test too. My last blood test was about 4 years ago, which is a pretty long time ago.
Do you have any treatments (insulin pump or something), or do you just have to watch what you're eating?
Oh, and thank you !
Do you have any treatments (insulin pump or something), or do you just have to watch what you're eating?
Oh, and thank you !
Wow, sounds like you are having a pretty rough time. :(
You know, just because your doctor isn't concerned that you have hypoglycemia doesn't mean that you don't have it. With me, my parents tossed off my concerns at first. Mom thought I was being paranoid. It turns out that my top two theories were exactly what I had. If I had ignored it, I could have ended up really sick.
I think that the fact that you were anorexic could contribute to you having some sort of blood sugar or insulin problem. I had irregular eating habits; I'd go for hours without food and then eat a lot. My insulin had to work too hard all at once, and then do nothing for hours. That's part of how you can get diabetes... you don't have to be obese to get it. It's just that obese people have more bad eating habits.
I'd try and get an appointment with your doctor (tell your parents your concerned) and ask him about hypoglycemia. If he doesn't know, I'd tell him about being anorexic in the past. There isn't any harm in doing a few blood tests, and it may do some good. You may not have blood sugar problems, but you can't know unless you get tested.
Good luck in getting this figured out!
You know, just because your doctor isn't concerned that you have hypoglycemia doesn't mean that you don't have it. With me, my parents tossed off my concerns at first. Mom thought I was being paranoid. It turns out that my top two theories were exactly what I had. If I had ignored it, I could have ended up really sick.
I think that the fact that you were anorexic could contribute to you having some sort of blood sugar or insulin problem. I had irregular eating habits; I'd go for hours without food and then eat a lot. My insulin had to work too hard all at once, and then do nothing for hours. That's part of how you can get diabetes... you don't have to be obese to get it. It's just that obese people have more bad eating habits.
I'd try and get an appointment with your doctor (tell your parents your concerned) and ask him about hypoglycemia. If he doesn't know, I'd tell him about being anorexic in the past. There isn't any harm in doing a few blood tests, and it may do some good. You may not have blood sugar problems, but you can't know unless you get tested.
Good luck in getting this figured out!
That's good you found out what it was :) !
I have had problems with eating for a while too. Pretty much the same thing as you, but it happens alot more frequently. Only thing is, that my doctors totally over look hypoglycemia and such because I am so small, they say it can't be that. The worst for me is any kind of juice (can't drink it at all), and sugary stuff. I usually feel sick about 3/4 of the day, especially when I sleep. I pretty much can't sleep at night because of it. Weird thing is that 3 years ago, I was anorexic for a year, so I could go a long time without food. Now, if I don't eat for like 2 hours or so, I start feeling weird, sick to my stomach, very dizzy, lightheaded, ..., and most of the time it's at school, so I can't leave to go to the bathroom or go get something to eat or drink.
I'm 16 years old, have asthma (on ventolin and symbicort), eczema, only known allergies are : perfumes, alcohol (cause anaphylaxis so I don't drink), and seafood. Going for further testing in 2-3 months.
I have had problems with eating for a while too. Pretty much the same thing as you, but it happens alot more frequently. Only thing is, that my doctors totally over look hypoglycemia and such because I am so small, they say it can't be that. The worst for me is any kind of juice (can't drink it at all), and sugary stuff. I usually feel sick about 3/4 of the day, especially when I sleep. I pretty much can't sleep at night because of it. Weird thing is that 3 years ago, I was anorexic for a year, so I could go a long time without food. Now, if I don't eat for like 2 hours or so, I start feeling weird, sick to my stomach, very dizzy, lightheaded, ..., and most of the time it's at school, so I can't leave to go to the bathroom or go get something to eat or drink.
I'm 16 years old, have asthma (on ventolin and symbicort), eczema, only known allergies are : perfumes, alcohol (cause anaphylaxis so I don't drink), and seafood. Going for further testing in 2-3 months.
Forgot to also say that all the other tests came back normal.. thyroid, etc.
It is a good thing I got checked, I guess, because in the process of waiting for the test results, I had another attack thing. They were suddenly getting more frequent. I've been told I'm very lucky...
It is a good thing I got checked, I guess, because in the process of waiting for the test results, I had another attack thing. They were suddenly getting more frequent. I've been told I'm very lucky...
Well, test results came back, and it has been diagnosed: hypoglycemia and diabetes warning signs. In other words, both my insulin and blood sugar were lower than they should have been.
At least I now where to go from here, even if it isn't fun. I'm supposed to be moving towards a gluten and dairy free diet. Going to be hard, but definitely better than ignoring the warnings and ending up with type 2 diabetes!
At least I now where to go from here, even if it isn't fun. I'm supposed to be moving towards a gluten and dairy free diet. Going to be hard, but definitely better than ignoring the warnings and ending up with type 2 diabetes!
Hypoglycemia is caused by/is essentially low blood sugar... so yes, I'm getting tested for that as well as pre-diabetes. :-)
As for food allergies, in the same time period that I've been having these problems, I've done a complete allergy elimination diet twice, and I didn't react at all to anything.
Gastric reflux I'm also doubtful because I'm already avoiding almost everything you mentioned. I have coffee, tea, fried food, and soda less than once each within a period of several months. As for alcohol... I'm 17 and not interested in the trouble involved with underage drinking. I don't do heavy exercise after meals, and I go bed late, so it is almost always at least two hours after I've eaten. Thanks for the tips!
Surgimenopause, thanks for the blood test info. Apparently a LOT of people my age start having problems with low blood sugar...
-Liz
As for food allergies, in the same time period that I've been having these problems, I've done a complete allergy elimination diet twice, and I didn't react at all to anything.
Gastric reflux I'm also doubtful because I'm already avoiding almost everything you mentioned. I have coffee, tea, fried food, and soda less than once each within a period of several months. As for alcohol... I'm 17 and not interested in the trouble involved with underage drinking. I don't do heavy exercise after meals, and I go bed late, so it is almost always at least two hours after I've eaten. Thanks for the tips!
Surgimenopause, thanks for the blood test info. Apparently a LOT of people my age start having problems with low blood sugar...
-Liz
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Yes, you should get tested for diabetes or even for low blood sugar. Since you mention not able to eat certain things without feeling queasy, I think there are 2 possibilities. One is that you have a food allergy to say anything—dairy products, gluten, lactose, fructose, carbohydrates etc. So not being allergic to dairy products does not mean you are not allergic to other things. Hence you must get a comprehensive food allergy/intolerance test done.
The second possibility is acidity with gastric reflux. Omeprazole is a good drug to combat this. Along with it you can try over the counter antacids. Avoid heavy meals. Avoid too much of caffeine, tea, fried food and drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic fuzzy ones. Avoid heavy exercises within 4 hours of a heavy meal. Raise the head end of the bed by pillows to 30 degrees. Go to bed at least 2 hours after food. If these tips help you then you have a gastric reflux.
Hope this helps. Do let me know if there is any thing else and keep me posted. Take care!
Yes, you should get tested for diabetes or even for low blood sugar. Since you mention not able to eat certain things without feeling queasy, I think there are 2 possibilities. One is that you have a food allergy to say anything—dairy products, gluten, lactose, fructose, carbohydrates etc. So not being allergic to dairy products does not mean you are not allergic to other things. Hence you must get a comprehensive food allergy/intolerance test done.
The second possibility is acidity with gastric reflux. Omeprazole is a good drug to combat this. Along with it you can try over the counter antacids. Avoid heavy meals. Avoid too much of caffeine, tea, fried food and drinks both alcoholic and non alcoholic fuzzy ones. Avoid heavy exercises within 4 hours of a heavy meal. Raise the head end of the bed by pillows to 30 degrees. Go to bed at least 2 hours after food. If these tips help you then you have a gastric reflux.
Hope this helps. Do let me know if there is any thing else and keep me posted. Take care!
Glad you are getting help. They probably are ordering a fasting blood sugar. I have gotten shaky before myself from low blood sugar.
I had a doctor's appointment today, and I'm getting a bunch of tests done. Because of my eating habits, we're thinking it may be hypoglycemia and/or pre-diabetes, but checking some other stuff as well.
I didn't get emotionally upset or "panicked" until the last time this happened, and I think the only reason I got upset was because it happened during the day and I wasn't at home. I didn't really know what to do, and that upset me. I wasn't upset before I started feeling sick, I was actually just starting to relax and have fun.
Will be checking my thyroid, "girl" hormone levels, a stool check for parasites, and a fasting blood test. (I'm not sure if this is actually testing blood sugar or insulin, but I think you get the basic idea.)
I didn't get emotionally upset or "panicked" until the last time this happened, and I think the only reason I got upset was because it happened during the day and I wasn't at home. I didn't really know what to do, and that upset me. I wasn't upset before I started feeling sick, I was actually just starting to relax and have fun.
Will be checking my thyroid, "girl" hormone levels, a stool check for parasites, and a fasting blood test. (I'm not sure if this is actually testing blood sugar or insulin, but I think you get the basic idea.)
A lot of the symptoms you describe sound like panic attacks. To make sure it is just your stress level and not something else bringing them on, I recommend you ask the doctor to test your catecholamines and plasma free metanephrines. Your seratonin drops when you go into your mense which can affect a person negatively. Also, you should ask the doctor to test your CBC and especially your iron and ferritin levels. If your iron level is low, this can cause tachycardia.
Had another one today... DURING THE DAY. This is not good, I've never had one during the day before.
It lasted about 45 minutes, from worst time to starting to feel normal again.
It lasted about 45 minutes, from worst time to starting to feel normal again.
Thanks for your input. This is going to be a long post... sorry.
I don't think I have anything wrong with my sleep pattern, because usually I have no problem at all going to sleep. I do know that is hard to get up in the morning and I'm usually kind of achy, but supposedly that's a teen thing. :-P I'm ok as long as I get more than 6 hours of sleep.
I also don't think thyroid problems are there. I've been in the exact same weight percentile since I was a toddler, and I don't gain or lose weight easily.
Up until last night, I was about to say that irritable bowel was out too, until I got another "attack". I've noticed that I get really thirsty when they're going on. Weird.
Do you think it might be panic attacks? Just a thought, since I'm having a really rough time right now. (Which coincidentallly, means I can't just starting running around having a bunch of tests done.)
And now... low blood sugar. Sugar does weird things to me. Doesn't get me hyper, but it does weird things.
-I can't drink undiluted juice (apple or grape, etc) because what I assume is the sugar makes me just start shivering, get a stomach ache, and basically go loopy.
-Same thing happens with yogurt, ice cream, and milk on an empty stomach. (No cereal in the morning for me.) This is weird because I've been tested and I'm not allergic to dairy.
-I "droop" if I don't eat regularly, and if I wait too long, I can't eat much at all without getting nauseous and shaky.
Any thoughts? Thanks for putting up with my rambling...
I don't think I have anything wrong with my sleep pattern, because usually I have no problem at all going to sleep. I do know that is hard to get up in the morning and I'm usually kind of achy, but supposedly that's a teen thing. :-P I'm ok as long as I get more than 6 hours of sleep.
I also don't think thyroid problems are there. I've been in the exact same weight percentile since I was a toddler, and I don't gain or lose weight easily.
Up until last night, I was about to say that irritable bowel was out too, until I got another "attack". I've noticed that I get really thirsty when they're going on. Weird.
Do you think it might be panic attacks? Just a thought, since I'm having a really rough time right now. (Which coincidentallly, means I can't just starting running around having a bunch of tests done.)
And now... low blood sugar. Sugar does weird things to me. Doesn't get me hyper, but it does weird things.
-I can't drink undiluted juice (apple or grape, etc) because what I assume is the sugar makes me just start shivering, get a stomach ache, and basically go loopy.
-Same thing happens with yogurt, ice cream, and milk on an empty stomach. (No cereal in the morning for me.) This is weird because I've been tested and I'm not allergic to dairy.
-I "droop" if I don't eat regularly, and if I wait too long, I can't eat much at all without getting nauseous and shaky.
Any thoughts? Thanks for putting up with my rambling...
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
You must have sleep studies done to know what is wrong with your sleep pattern. This is the best way to know what goes wrong while you sleep.
Low blood sugar, thyroid problems and an irritable bowel are a few possibilities that you should get investigated for.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
Thanks for writing to the forum!
You must have sleep studies done to know what is wrong with your sleep pattern. This is the best way to know what goes wrong while you sleep.
Low blood sugar, thyroid problems and an irritable bowel are a few possibilities that you should get investigated for.
Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!
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