Not IR but got all symptoms...help!!

Flux13 · 04-19-2003, 10:29 PM

Dear all. I'm very confused n' feel like a fraud! My doc took a fasting glucose test and said i'm not insulin resitant (i'm normal weight too) yet I have all the symtoms of violent food cravings, disorientation, weak muscles, tiredness, loss of eye focus, light-headedness etc etc if I don't eat something every two hours. I get like a hypo where I get an anxious panic, lighthead, disorientated etc. My heart rate rushes and I get shallow breathing etc. How can I not have a problem with my metabolics when it seems so clear to me that I have? Also my doc has put me on metformin and last time I went I had it increased as I was still having trouble with the food cravings....why would it help me with the food cravings if I'm not insulin resistant? (It does seem to help) It's so hard explaining to people (or even feeling valid) why I have to eat so healthily and exercise a lot when I can't even say that if I don't i'm likely to keel over due to IR! I will keel over or just start forgetting friends names or something but not have an excuse as to why it would happen! It's causing me stress. Does anyone have the same experience or knowledge about this? Would be greatly appreciated. Finding this site has been a God-send.
Claire x

only a aunt · 04-19-2003, 10:39 PM

I am sorry to hear about what you are going through. I am IR and on metformin and I have never had any of the symptoms that you are experiencing. Maybe you have something else wrong. I would talk to your dr. or another dr. if you do not get any results. It sounds like something is wrong, but I don't think it has to do with the met or with being IR. Sorry I could not help much. Please take care, and get to a dr. that will help.
Also welcome to soul cysters.

squidge63 · 04-19-2003, 11:06 PM

It sounds to me like you suffer from Hypoglycaemia... some people tend to have this rather than diabetes. the symptoms you get are the same one that i get when my blood sugars drop (ie: a hypo)..

If you go to the following link it explains about non-diabetic hypoglycaemia:

http://www.diabetesuk.co.uk/infocentre/inform/nondm.htm

Another site is one from a sufferer of non-diabetic hypoglycaemia:

http://www.translationplace.ca/hg/index.html

Hope these help.....

Squidge

SheriKCMO · 04-20-2003, 01:45 AM

Claire,
It is also true that insulin resistant people have hypoglycemic episodes. Yours seem very close together. As for test results, many of us tested borderline or "normal" but responded well to the metformin we were able to get. I think it's quite likely you are hypoglycemic, and the treatments for that might actually have an overall benefit for your health. Make your doctor do the work to figure it out, though. It sounds like he/she hasn't thought about it enough. If that doc isn't right for you, shop around.
Feel good,
Sheri

Japan · 04-20-2003, 02:05 AM

Claire,

I just want to add my own experience to what's already been said.

I had the same symptoms as you for years and just could not explain them. Just thought it was my nature to get really crabby when I don't get to eat... Thought I was fatigued from being up for my baby all night long... etc

My insulin test came back 'normal' too. That's at least what my not very knowledgeable doc wanted me to believe. The actual value was 14, admittedly not very high. Their lab considered 18 and above IR. Well, every lab has different definitions for 'normal', that's an important thing to keep in mind when dealing with this. I read this article http://www.inciid.org/faq/pcos.html, and it said everything above 10 could be considered IR. I took this info to my next doc and got the Met, which has helped me greatly.

My point is, don't give up when you don't satisfactory answers. Get copies of all test results and do your own research.

I can also relate to the problem of feeling like you have to validate yourself and your problems all the time. I hope you will find out exactly what is wrong soon so that you will have a reason to give to people (though most, in my experience, still don't understand...). At least you will feel better and feel validated for your own sake.

Good luck and keep your chin up.

Annieg · 04-20-2003, 08:22 PM

I sometimes think we know ourselves what's wrong better than any doctor - I have struggled all along to get help. For years my PCOS went undiagnosed as blood tests were "normal" - had to ask for BCPs myself (have since diagnosed friend, accurately!) Also had to go to complementary practitioner for help with strange allergies and IBS, as was told nothing could be done. Hate having to justify why I can't eat certain things - and usually just eat whatever when in company to avoid having to explain anything.(doctor friends are the worst!)

Don't mean to sound bitter - I found a good doctor in the end and am starting to get more support. But just trust your own feelings as much as anything else, and don't give up trying to get the support and treatment that you deserve. xx

Statlady · 04-21-2003, 01:00 PM

I understand completely what you mean!! I had "normal" blood insulin and glucose tests, too, but I *feel* like I have IR. Now, when I say "normal," I mean truly normal--glucose 85 and insulin 6.7. From what I understand, this is in no way even borderline . . . . So, I don't know what's going on either. I go to the doctor today and I suspect she'll put me on glucophage (because of my elevated testosterone and annovulation). If I learn anything from her, I'll let you know!

Statlady · 04-22-2003, 03:20 PM

I just wanted to let you know what my doctor said when I went yesterday. She said that if you have PCOS, then there IS a problem with your insulin--it just doesn't always show up on lab tests. This is why she usually prescribes Glucophage to all her PCOS patients. My own personal theory is that I *do* have too much insulin and that the level on the lab results (6.7) is either too high for me personally, or it just happened to be low when they drew the blood, but it does spike throughout the day. Another idea I have is that my insulin level is fine, but my body just isn't using it the way it should. Of course, nearly everything I know I learned from this site, so take my "personal thoeries" for what they're worth.

hilfgirl33 · 04-22-2003, 06:36 PM

Dear Flux:

I had most of your symptoms and could not figure out was wrong with me. Me RE said that it was probably Insulin Resistance and I was tested. My test results came back beautifully (around the 7 range I believe). I was still having these sympotms of dizziness, hypoglycemia feeling, fast heart rate, weakness, disorientation, etc, vision probs. To make a long story short, I was finally diagnosed with POTS syndrome and orthostatic hypotension which has a lot to do with your body compensating for low blood pressure when standing and therefore causing your heart to race. This creates a chemical nightmare in your body, though, because when your body goes into distress, you start pumping all these bad fight or flight chemicals. Most people on the POTS boards complain of hypoglycemia although most test negative for it. It was one of my biggest complaints before being diagnosed. I believe they are linked somehow, one endo told me when you have a blood sugar spike by eating sugary food, your body starts pumping adrenaline.

Anyway, I think there are tons of things that could have the same symptoms as this, but maybe checking out one of the POTS websites could help out if IR is definitely not your problem. There are several good ones: www.POTSPLACE.com, www.NDRF.org, and there was also an excellent article on POTS by Christopher Calder but I don't know the website.

Good luck. I know how frustrating it is to not feel well and have everyone tell you you're fine. I found POTS on the internet and brought it up to my doctor who had me tested and I was positive!!! If not, I might just think I was crazy.