"Feed me or I'll kill you"

[Sheila]

I was listening to the People's Pharmacy on NPR today and when I heard the speaker mention people who suffer from, "feed me or I'll kill you" symptoms, I sat straight up and listened. In my family I'm famously "crabby" when I'm hungry, as is my oldest son. When he was a teenager it was like having two hungry bears in the kitchen at breakfast. Not funny at the time. Perhaps I'm woefully uneducated on the topic but it never occurred to me that this wasn't anything other than a lack of patience on my part. Now I find out there is a reason for my crabbiness when I need to eat. Many of you probably are aware of the cause but, for some reason, I never connected hypoglycemia with low cortisol. I remember being told that I was probably hypoglycemic but no remedy was mentioned other than eating small, frequent meals. The speaker on the radio show was a Dr. Teitlbaum (sp) who has written a book about such diseases as fibromyalgia etc and the fact that you can't just put a band-aid on and walk away. You need to find out what is causing the symptoms. So, I probably have low cortisol. This "need to feed" has gotten better since I've been on the paleo diet and I don't get as ravenously hungry or as crabby as I used to get. He mentioned something called Adrenal Stress End as a remedy for a non-prescription low cortisol aid and I think I will take it and if it helps my hypoglycemia.

So, has anyone else experiences "feed me or I'll kill you"? And, if so, what did you do about it? I looked at my last blood work and there is no reference to cortisol.

Thanks,
Sheila W

[tex]

Hi Sheila,

When I first saw the title of your post, I was afraid you might have encountered the panhandler from hell, on your last shopping trip.

To be honest, I've never heard of that syndrome, but I can see how it might occur.

Most doctors never routinely check cortisol levels. Since cortisol levels change during the day (normally they're at the highest point soon after awakening, and they diminish as the day goes on), the saliva test, which is done hourly (or at some other regular interval), is arguably the optimal way to check cortisol levels. Most allopathic doctors seem to check cortisol with a single blood test, first thing in the morning (or thereabouts). I'm guessing that most naturopathic doctors probably prefer the saliva test (but I could be wrong).

Tex

[desertrat]

Tex is right. Most doctors don't check cortisol levels. It's a simple blood test. Blood tests are usually covered by insurance; not sure about the saliva. You can get a morning cortisol blood test, a random cortisol blood test, or an afternoon blood test. Most doctors choose the morning. Cortisol can be affected by stress, so beware. I have fluctuated from a 16 to a 25 range in the span of three weeks due to stress.

As for the Adrenal Stress End, you might want to back off buying that. It has several reviews of major gastro distress from people who took it. (Check Amazon reviews.)

I take Gaia adrenal support (available at Whole Foods, etc.). My PA was able to diagnose my adrenal fatigue through hormonal blood tests. Once I got those hormone numbers up, through bio identical supplementation, I felt better, but not great.

Not sure if the Gaia is helping, but I know for a fact that it has never given me stomach problems. Maybe because it doesn't have the adrenal extract in it.

Mandy

[Sheila]

Thank you, Mandy for the warning about Adrenal Stress End. I will look at the reviews and also be more aware of allowing myself to go too long without eating.
I think my hypoglycemia symptoms have improved somewhat because of the modified paleo diet and budesinide. The trip to the Galapagos and Ecuador will be a real challenge. I've already been worrying about not having the right foods to eat, not enough to eat etc. I have a pretty small appetite but do get stressed when I can't eat right away. I'll be bringing almond butter, crackers, Lara bars etc but that isn't going to help much. I don't want to become known as the Crabby American on the boat.

Sheila W

[Jody bee]

That sounds like a wonderful trip Sheila! I hope you can just relax and enjoy without any food issues. Almond butter, rice cakes, almonds and Lara Bars were my snacks that I carried everywhere. Now I find out I shouldn't be eating almonds...so sad : ( lol

I think most people get crabby when they are hungry..you aren't alone!

[Deb]

Sheila, I've found cruise ships (if that's what you're doing) to be pretty cooperating and concerned. They would meet with me the night before to discuss my dinner menu for the next day. Their concern was as good or better than any restaurant I've been to. Denb

[Vandolyn]

Sheila,

I just booked a cruise on Holland America going to South America in November. They have already gone above and beyond to assure me that I can be gluten free on their ship. I have already picked from a listing they have on some items. I would tell the Company and allow them to assist you.

Vandolyn

[Sheila]

Large cruise ships are a great option for us. Ecuador strictly limits the size and number of boats allowed in the Galapagos. My boat, the Santa Cruz, carries 80 passengers and 90 crew, one of the largest allowed. The company I booked through assured me gluten free is not a problem. Soy,dairy and all of my other food issues will make it tough. Tandayapa Lodge in the Andes also assured me that GF is no problem. The lodge is small and owned by Americans so I won't have a communication problem. I'm really looking forward to the trip but anxious about eating. What else is new for us??

Enjoy your cruise to South America. Are you going to Patagonia?

SheilaW

[Gloria]

The company I booked through assured me gluten free is not a problem. Soy,dairy and all of my other food issues will make it tough.

I've never taken a cruise for that reason. I think the cruise can easily handle a gluten-free diet, but multiple intolerances present a more difficult situation. I talked to a travel agent about taking a cruise with my intolerances and she was astounded that I could eat such a small variety. I felt a little like a freak after I talked to her. When she called the cruise line to inquire about my meals, they told her to send them an email. I never did because I don't think they could provide for me.

I'd be perfectly happy if the cruise line would just prepare my meats and my cauliflower, but let me bring the rest of my foods (muffins, pancakes, and waffles) and store them in a refrigerator/freezer in my cabin. Then they could just reheat them. It would be nice if they would cook my corn noodles, too. I've been told that the cabins don't have refrigerators, so I've surmised that I'm out of luck.

I'd love to know if anyone else has been able to bring their own food aboard and reheat it.

Gloria[/quote]

[brandy]

Hi Vandolyn, Sheila and Gloria,

My only experience with a cruise has been a Carnival 4 day thing out Tampa to Cozumel pre MC diagnosis. I've been thinking thru my strategy for my Canadian cruise in October. Going by my Carnival experience dinner will be no problem. Lunch should be no problem--I can have a burger and salad or salmon and salad or something like that.
Another forum member reported back that she had no problem with the GF pancakes that they served for breakfast. I typically don't do well with that kind of stuff so I plan on bringing packs of salmon and paleo mini muffins to eat in my room for breakfast and get fruit in the restaurant for breakfast.

For me I'm packing: soy free salmon packs, paleo mini muffins, nuts and 85% lindt soy free chocolate or 85% green and black soy free chocolate? I think it is called green and black?

For Mom I'll probably throw in a box of GF rice checks and raisins so I can make GF trail mix for Mom and I during shore visits. I might also bring a loaf of Udis and nut butter packs so I can make gf sandwiches for shore visits for Mom. (I don't do well with GF bread.) She seems to need to eat around every 2-1/2 hours and I'm supposed to be helping out with her and she has a tough time maintaining weight as celiac. I'm sure they'll have gf bread on the boat but sometimes it is easier to fix a sandwich in your cabin and tuck it into a ziplock for shore excursion.

It seems ridiculous to be bringing food but I think it will lower the stress level. I don't do well with cured bacon, I don't do well with eggs....what's left for breakfast?

I reviewed Rick Steves packing procedures on his website and he's big on packing light. He says if you are not going to wear something three times don't bring it. (This is easier to do in a cold weather climate.) Clothing wise I'm going to pack really light but throw in the long johns as 38 degrees to 62 degrees sounds really cold to me.
I've bought extra socks as I only own about 4 pairs as I mostly wear birkenstocks. My plan is to pack light so I'll have room for the food then as the food goes down I'll have empty space for shopping in Quebec!

I'll have a long day of travel to get home so I'll pack salmon, nuts, fruit from boat for my air travel home.

I figure with all of the salmon my skin will be glowing and wrinkle free upon return!

Brandy

[Sheila]

Sounds like you've got a good plan, Brandi. Breakfast is a real problem. How are you going to keep your paleo muffins fresh? A paleo muffin is perfect for breakfast but without a freezer, I'm afraid they will get stale and/or rancid.

I'm bringing almond butter, nut crackers, Udis bread, a couple of paleo muffins and Lara bars. I hadn't thought about packets of salmon and that's a very good idea. I may bring chocolate if I can find one I can eat.

Sheila W

[wmonique2]

Sheila,

Answering your topic question---the only time I feel that way is when my blood sugar is low below 80. I remedy it immediately by drinking some juice. Orange juice or apple juice. It raises it immediately within 10 minutes I am back to normal and I eat. I don't wait for the food to do the job because it takes too long for digestion. I start with juice. I carry juice in my purse all the time.

Your cruise sounds wonderful. I am not there yet where I can venture on trips like it...

Monique

[Sheila]

Thanks Monique. Drinking juice never occurred to me primarily because I rarely drink juice. From a very young age, I had issues with fruit juice. These days I put apple juice into my morning fruit smoothie without any problems. I will try a little apple juice next time I get murderously hungry.

I am anxious about this trip and don't know if my digestive system is ready for it. At this age I'm starting my Bucket List before its too late and to Hell with caution. Famous last words.

Sheila W

[wmonique2]

Sheila,

I carry a small box juice -- kids size in my purse. It has 15 gr of carbs and that raises blood sugar just right. There are juices that have 20 gr of carbs but I find that 15 gr does the job. Either size works great. Either orange juice or apple works fast too.

Yeah, I'd be nervous about such a trip too but like you said sometimes you just have to throw caution to the wind and hell with it

Monique

[tex]

Clothing wise I'm going to pack really light but throw in the long johns as 38 degrees to 62 degrees sounds really cold to me.

It's amazing how our latitude of residence affects our perception of what constitutes "hot" and what constitutes "cold".

FWIW, I agree with you — 38–62 degrees sounds cold (especially when thinking about it this time of year).

Tex