Well, brief history... Im 22, skinny, and usually healthy... Approx 4 years ago I had about 3 or 4 spurts of the same symptoms over a period of 2-3 months... Then nothing until now...
Yesterday, I ate doughnuts for breakfast, a lean cuisine bowl for lunch, and ravioli for dinner... This am, I had 2 dunkin sticks (donut sticks), then a few hrs later I ate a pack of blueberry mini muffins on my way to work (this was approx 1145)... Sometime around 1, I had the same symptoms I had last time... They tested my blood for anemia and hypoglycemia back then several times and said all results were normal...

Symptoms:
Starts with tunnel vision, weakness, ringing in ears, hot flashes, cold sweats, and dizziness, and my co-worker said I looked VERY pale

After all those symptoms happened this time, I walked about 20 ft, sat in a chair with my head b/w my knees, then felt a tad better so started to head back to my work area, but felt weak, so, instead, I went into the break room and sat in the dark quiet room for about 40 mins... I managed to drink about a cup of pepsi but then felt like I would get sick so didnt drink any more...

After those approx 40mins, (and I didnt eat anything), I was fine, and continued working until 6... When it happened years ago, sometimes I could eat fruit or a sandwich, sometimes I didnt...

Right now I dont have health insurance and since it went nearly 4yrs without reoccuring, Im hoping its nothing major... Any suggestions? Does anyone here think this sounds like anemia?

Also, as someone else mentioned, my menstral cycle does last longer than my moms and sisters do... My mom was anemic while she was pregnant for me, but otherwise it is not in family history?

I appreciate any info anyone can offer..... Thanks!

Kelly

Your symptoms sound like reactive hypoglycemia. Any one of those foods you listed that you ate will send your blood sugar soaring and then it will rapidly drop over a 2 hour time causing the symptoms you were describing. If you are anemic as well, the symptoms will just feel worse.

Thanks for the reply ...

But ...

When I looked up hypoglycemia symtoms-
1) didnt include ringing in the ears - which was VERY obvious to me
2) I didnt eat/drink anything to get it back to a normal level in the past sometimes


just a thought...

Kelly

This could be some type of anemia or not. There is a really simple blood panel called a Complete Blood Count that would give some insight into if it is anemia. There is also a Fasting Blood Sugar test which would give insight into hypoglycemia. If you just cant go to the doctor I would suggest you start taking over the counter iron as menses does make some woman get iron deficiency anemia. Also if you have had any blood in your stool or vomit, or black "coffee ground vomit" or black stools (bismith or iron can cause black stools as can digested blood) then you need to see a doctor right away. I would cut out all the junk foods that have any sugar in them completely. Also the carbs you do get should be things like whole grains, brown rice, 100% whole wheat bread etc. If your symptoms dont go away then I would find some way to see a doctor even if it means asking your parents for money. I had a time when I needed to go to the County for treatment and I dont suggest that unless you really cant get some insurance or money to pay for a "fee for service" doctor. Let us know how things work out as its interesting to know what happens.

Hi!

I want to reply to your post because you could have been writing about me - until I started taking 900mg of iron per day that is! Yes, all those symptoms you described could very well be iron-deficiency indeed! My hemoglobin was at 94 (normal is 120) and I was getting ALL the symptoms you describe...They are a bit frightening, aren't they? Please get a Complete Blood Count, as was mentioned, you will have your answer...

As a side note, a couple of days after starting my iron pills, all, and I mean ALL, symptoms went away COMPLETELY :bouncing: ...I have never felt this good. So I do believe that sometimes anemia can mimic hopyglycemia...

Good luck!

Amcat,
Well, I am a little reluctant to spend the money on the blood count b/c as I stated before, when I had those symptoms in the past ALL bloodwork always came back normal... I had insurance then, so was getting it tested literally every 3wks or so, values never fluctuated much and everything was always normal....

As far as how often the symptoms occur? Its not everyday for me... It hasnt happened in 4 years and I felt fine today, and felt fine 40mins after it happened yesterday as well?

I was just curious of what ppls responses were based on my symptoms... But, really, I told my fiance and parents that it happened again so if anything worse happens they are aware of it, but I have to just keep it on a back burner now... If it happens again soon, then I will prolly seek medical attn.

Kelly

Reactive hypoglycemia. I have been there, done that. My blood sugar will come back up on it's own if I lay down and rest for a while. I feel a lot better a lot faster if I drink orange juice or some kind of liguid sugar, pepsi used to be my favorite too. Don't just eat carbs, balance what you eat with protein. Also reactive hypoglycemia can be a precursor to diabeties, be careful.