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cynthiamarie -> RE: Blood Sugar? (11/1/2006 1:00:31 PM)
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I felt exhausted every day no matter how much I slept and had naps, until the last trimester.
The cravings I had were the only things that would help during months with intense nausea. Mine didn't go away at 4 months, but at least lessened in intensity; I've had girlfriends who didn't have any nausea at all (the bitches, lol) and some who had it only for a very short time.
I developed a strange problem though. My blood pressure would drop below 70. Normal for me is in the 80's, and when it dipped I was light headed and would almost black out. I'd have to sip orange juice and lie down for an hour or two, the prenatal clinic made me do this, as taking 3 busses for a few hours to get there made this happen like clockwork. I couldn't eat or drink anything on the busses, and there wasn't the time nor opportunity to drink or eat between them, as they were so close together.
I was sent for thyroid tests, a scan of my brain, etc., but nobody made the connection about my flaking out when my blood pressure went too low *for me*, and treated it like it was just low blood sugar, until I was taking a girlfriend to a doctor at our shelter and I flaked out in his office.
I had given up salting my food years ago, drank water instead of soda and other drinks, and had given up junk food. Trying to be healthy, lol. He recognized the cause of my problem right off, and told me to start salting my food, drink Gatoraide or juice or milk or even soda pop instead of water, and it worked for me. Whenever I'd try to go back to water and saltless eating, I'd feel like I was dissociating, then later, blotches would appear before my eyes and my body would buckle. I think I'd get mild nausea and a migraine too, but I can't remember for certain anymore. This still happens to me if I'm on a long car trip and have the air conditioner or heater on, am very tired, or am sipping tea all night while I drive. Orange juice or some cranberry grape helped when I substitued those.
All the things you listed were carbs, even the meal. Are you having problems handling protein? I can't handle protein whenever I'm having chemos, just the smell of oils or animal proteins cooking will make me ill. I handle cold cheese just fine though, as well as yogurt. Go with what you can handle, eat very slowly, and if it comes up...eat or drink (maybe you can handle some meal replacement shakes like Slim Fast or Ensure to supplement what you're eating) some more after a little while even if you don't feel like it. Eventually some will stay down.
Looking back now, I wish I had let the doc give me an anti-nausea drug that's safe for pregnant women, called Compazine. Sorry to hear about your insurance limbo. Is there any chance of you being able to go to a free or low cost clinic to have the basics checked out?
When I flaked out big time complete with visual distortions, my blood pressure was at 68 -62. It was the second number listed and I can't remember if it was the diastolic or systolic (not even sure about the spelling, lol). From 70-76 I'd feel very out of it, like things were in slow motion and/or happening to someone else; this was my warning to drink something and have something with some salt before I got worse. At one time, I ate broccoli, carrots, and celery dipped in some ranch dressing and that hit the spot, making me feel normal.
Celery is supposed to help a bit with nausea, and so is ginger. Eating what I had a craving for helped too, and was safe because I didn't experience any pica.
I have overactive insulin. Having small ammounts of sugars is okay, but if I have some pasta with garlic bread, 16 oz of any sugared drink, candy or cake or cookies, there's a rebound effect and half an hour later I'm ready for a deep sleep. If you get tired or sleepy after drinking oj or milk or soda, maybe having a smaller amount (6 oz or so) frequently thoughout the day will help.
Take notes of what you ate and when and how you're feeling throughout the day, and see what works best for you and what makes you feel worse...and Crazy Glue the doctor's butt to the chair to make him listen when you describe the problems you're having, if you have to. [:D]
BTW, congratulations on the baby, RiotGirl. [:)] Have you started looking at baby stuff yet? I saw a pregnancy calendar at the Dollar General. Didn't have those way back when, when I was preggies.
I envy you...hearing the baby's heartbeat for the first time, watching the kid rolling around via ultrasound and using the womb for a punching bag, that startled look of surprise the first time a baby tastes icecream...Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny...and the Tooth Fairy. *grins*
My kid was a major pain during pregnancy, doing all kinds of things to my body and brain that I didn't like...it's strange that I'd look back fondly on those times as the good old days.
Best wishes [:)]
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