Hypoglycemic reaction?

I was wondering if anyone else gets a hypoglycemic type of a reaction as a symptom? What's weird is that I don't need sugar, but protein, so I guess it's not really hypoglycemia, but I get the same urgency, and the same symptoms -nervousness, sweating, intense hunger, trembling, weakness, and palpitations.

I keep having to deal with this for no apparent reason other than a possibly a symptom of one of my TBI's. I am having some big issues with it right now - it's as if my body just can't get enough protein! i eat a high protein breakfast, a high protein lunch and dinner as well, but I am still having issues! Ugh!

Any one else have these issues? If so, have you found any info out on this kind of a reaction/symptom?

Thanks for your responses!!

Yeppers!! Doing the same here - carrying nuts with me at all times - and I can't even include myself as one of the nuts this time! giggle!

I usually eat oatmeal (5 gr) with 1/2 cup of goat milk (approx. 4.35 gr) in the morning, plus a cup of my homemade green smoothie which also has plenty of goat milk and yogurt, not to mention things like spinach and other yummy greens that have protein in them as well, but when lunch time gets close, there is no "once i finish this". I have to get lunch quickly as soon as I feel like I can eat again!

At lunch, honestly I still love peanut butter! So it's usually a peanut butter sandwich - again high in protein, but I don't use jellies or jams or anything like that with it - so there's no crashing due to the sugar.

Then a 'sensible' dinner for a Lymie. Protein, lots of veggies and an occasional starch. I have to eat when it's "time for dinner" or I face that disturbing downward spiral again. This is nuts! Now I have no appetite, but must live by what meal it's time to eat and snacks! Ugh!

Now I'm snacking on cottage cheese and nuts - I can't give up my dairy as it's the only form of calcium that my body will accept.

Doesn't this seem like over-kill? Is this related to Lyme or another TBI?

I did find one scientific article that says this: " which to be optimally conducive to borrelial growth had to be free of bile, high in protein content" - they were talking about growing Bb in the lab, but this is the only one that I can get access to without spending a bunch of money buying access to studies that I don't really need.

So what I take away from that little blurb is that in order for Bb to grow it needs lots of protein - so am I feeding the Lyme when I eat a lot of protein?

I feel like this post is disjointed, so I apologize for that, I'm really wishing that the back of my head would just go ahead and fall off! At least then some of the pressure in my head would go down!

I really feel like I'm chasing my tail here, that's why I was looking for others' opinions! Thanks!!

Well, maybe rather than thinking that you are feeding the bacteria, maybe it's more that when they are on the increase, they are eating up your protein.
Starving isn't really an option, so just figure you are luring them out with nice tasty protein and fattening them up before the kill!

I know, totally unscientific but these little scenerios help me get through the day

May not be just low blood sugar, but also a change in adrenal hormones contributing to the symptoms (esp. the weak/shaky, heart palpitations, etc.).

I know for a fact that Lyme messes with hormones - all hormones, not just the reproductive ones!

Proteins are the building-blocks of neurotransmitters and also immune system cells (white blood cells). We also need the protein to repair the damage caused by the spirochetes (& coinfections). I don't think eating protein foods "feeds" the spirochetes as much as eating sugar does.

Might also try taking digestive enzymes (papaya, bromelain, etc.) with meals to see if that improves absorption and thus cuts down on the cravings.

Thanks so much Razzle!! Once again, you have come to my rescue!! LOL!

So Razzle's post sent me on a search, as I hadn't even considered the metabolic hormones (adrenal,thyroid, and estrogen). I found this really neat graph for comparing the symptoms of adrenal and thyroid issues!!!

Here is the link for the full graph:www.drrind.com/therapies/metabolic-symptoms-matrix - hopefully this link will work!!!

I wanted to copy a small portion of the graph and paste it here, but the graph has so much detail that it just won't fit! This is something that I believe that all of us needs to be aware of, so I'm going to also post this info in a new thread.

Hopefully this will help many of us that can't quite figure out what is going on and then they can get the metabolic support if they need it!

Hi Lymegoaway!
Welcome to our forum!! I am so sorry that you have a need to be here, but I' glad you found us!

If you haven't already, it would be beneficial for you to start with reading through the thread at the top of the forum titled,"New to Lyme?...Start here!!", as it is packed full of relevant information, symptom lists and informative links that have been put together by our members here! Most of those who have read through it have said that it was very helpful!! We also have a pretty good search function on this forum to help you narrow down your search for information from past posts. We must be our own health advocates now and the best thing to arm yourself with is knowledge!

Are you seeing a LLMD(Lyme Literate Medical Doctor) that follows the ILADS treatment protocols? If not you will want to change over to one so that you can get complete healing - we have some links that we can share if you need to find one.

As to your question about hypoglycemic symptoms during a flare, that's what I was dealing with I believe. I never did change my adrenal or thyroid meds, but I do still need a rather high protein diet. I did get woke up a few times with those feelings, but not very often.

I used to do the thing with the salt on the hand... only I would do a little more than a light sprinkle! I felt bad about it, but craved it soooo badly!! I finally insisted that my gp test for blood sodium levels and lo and behold!! My blood sodium levels were so low, my doc actually told me I had to start increasing my salt intake!!! We think it was caused by my Hansimoto's Thyroiditis. I still increase my salt whenever I feel those really strong craving come back, but it usually only lasts a few days now.

I used the graph that Razzle linked to just a couple of weeks ago again, onl to find out that my adrenal and thyroid are kind of out of whack again - not surprising though - I have had some pretty amazing healing going on in the last 6 months!! I was a pretty sick puppy for many years, so to me it's no wonder things like that get unstable from time to time as I heal!