Hi I had an unpleasant episode yesterday while in the supermarket. I was feeling hunger pangs, then started feeling nauseous and whoozy. I got extremely hot and started sweating profusely. It felt like all the strength had gone from my muscles and I just had to prop myself up on the shelves at the end of the ailse. Fortunately a staff member got me some help so after a sit down, a cup of water and a hot, sweet tea I felt wellbenough to pay for my shopping and drive home. This has happened a few times but usually I manage to make it home.
I have ARLD and cirrhosis. I don't have diabetes but was borderline last year but my recent bloods had shown an improvement. I'd had a big bowl of muesli at about 12 noon and a crunchie bar mid afternoon, but this seemed to come on fairly quickly at about 5ish.
I spoke to my niece who is a Physician Associate who said it sounded like I was having a hypo. Do other people experience this sort of thing? Is it possible to experience a hypo just through glycogen depletion or is this a diabetic response? I will mention it to my GP when I speak to her.next week. HollyX
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Get checked out, you do need to snack regularly with cirrhosis as you very quickly use up your fuel supplies and your body can't just release them as a healthy person would. My hubby used to get these 'power outages' quite often when out and about.
He would completely shut down, physically and mentally (be completely away) but would revive quickly after a biscuit/snack and 5 minute rest. He carries a bar of flap jack with him and has to eat it 'before' starting to feel hungry. He has seen a liver specialist dietician who has pointed out the need to frequently fuel.
Discuss this with your specialist and try to see a liver specialist dietician to advise you on suitable diet. Obviously diabetes can come along hand in hand with cirrhosis so you perhaps need another check up on that situation.
Be aware that having these sorts of episodes and indeed having ARLD are notifiable conditions regarding DVLA and your driving licence so you shouldn't perhaps be driving.
Thanks Katie. It says to inform dvla if you have more than one incidence of hypoglycemia in the last 12 months where you have needed someone to help you so I guess you're right
Im so glad in a way you have raised this issue ,as i too have ARLD ,14 yrs since diagnosis, cut a long story short i get these eposides ,i get to a point im shaking , trembling hands etc.. only thing that rectifies it is a sudden imput of something sugary .. i did often wonder why i get these outbursts.
They dont appear all the time,but i have noticed its when maybe i have not eaten ,especially if im having to fast for a blood test or a scan etc.. i literally have to request an early morning appt as i cannot do late fasting .
Myself i am pre diabetic , no idea why as i have cut down an awful lot of sugar confectionary in my diet ,never have any sugar in hot or cold drinks either but i can really relate to how you feel with these episodes ,they really are debilitating when you get one !!..
Thanks Linda. I have also cut down on sugar and starchy foods so I was delighted that I was less borderline/not borderline but looks like I've still got to be careful. I'm going to follow advice and carry a flapjack on me for emergencies. I was actually looking for something like that when it happened but all I could see were protein bars x
I buy flap jack in bulk from Home Bargains and B&M - brand called Higates - 29p a bar for big ones and 19p for smaller ones (a few different flavours - we avoid the chocolate ones). Hubby never goes far without one in his pockets and flap jack is what he was advised was a good carb rich snack by liver specialist dietician.
You need to see a liver specialist dietician because you absolutely need carbs if you have cirrhosis (the diet plan hubby was put on was very high carb/high protein & even at one point when they suggested he was border line diabetic he was told he needed to continue this plan). Little and often is key, no long fasting periods.
Sadly, chocolate exacerbates hubbies urgent 'need to go' which on top of lactulose isn't a great thing. I've only been able to get them in Home Bargains of late.
my partner gets this from time to time, almost word for word as you describe. We mentioned it when he went to his transplant assessment and they didn't think (in his case) it was anything to worry about and was likely to do with needing to take on board some food. He does find if he eats something like a banana then it starts to ease off
Hello. This is very interesting - my husbamd gets exactly the same, and is also pre-diabetic range.
We have mentioned it to the liver team, they havent made a great deal of it. Just encouraged him to manage his diet better. He struggles with fatigue a lot but tries to ignore it, so tends to reach for sugary snacks to get those quick energy boosts he relies on.
He definitely manages better if he starts the day with porridge.
Hope you feel better soon agree to eat little & often I do. Get episodes like you if I dont.
Have autoimmune liver issue's showing fatty liver had biopsy early August not had results or follow up appointment yet! Have four extension numbers for my hepatologist none connected & didnt give me option of leaving message! Have emailed him now & he should pick it up today 🤞
Know more wrong but cannot deal with it till I know what I am dealing with! All brought on 3 years ago when I got sepsis Sepsis shock & legionella pneumonia was not expected to survive had excellent care in my local hospital my consultant made all the right decisions for me. Top bloke had my own large room 24/7 nurse at all times intubated induced coma resuciated twice called my partner & two kids in to tell them to expect the worst 😱 how traumatic for them to see me like that!
Sure my guardian angel 😇 was looking after me & lots of prayers being said for me.
My time wasn't up yet & Obviously did survive but it kicked in autoimmune disease that I used to self manage no medication sepsis keeps giving sadly
My rheumatologist is useless put me on drug whuch helps many to protect my organs unfortunately did not agree with me one bit. Came straight off them left a message for him to call me he did 2 weeks later said come off them thinks I am silly I already had. Asked him what he was going to prescribe now he said nothing lets wait & see how you go! Fuming as got problems with all my organs now! Paid private for second opinion she was fab & pulled up lots more & did not cost the earth. As for him all he says is loose weight will help! Common answer when they dont know what to say! Lost about stone told him & said what now? He again changed the subject. I am not obese not skinny either sit around 11 stone not bad for 5ft 2/2 is it
& my mum said have to have a bit of fat to iron out the wrinkles bless her 91 now bad dementia & chronic kidney disease proud of her still lives independently in her little bungalow with lots of help bless her xx
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