>        I started NeanderThin in May.  While I can only guess my initial
>weight, 350 sounds about right.  At 282 I am now seventy pounds lighter
>and wiegh what I did in high school.

Karl! all right! you go, boy!  i missed your 'sunday weigh-ins' and was
wondering how you were getting along.

>        About a month ago I had what was one symtom shy of a panic attack.
>In waves, for a few days, I would feel a "surge" of something in my heart,
>although the heart rate wouldn't increase.  It's a feeling like a mixture
>of joy and dread - but no emotions were attached to it - only the physical
>sensation.  I -did- see a doctor about it, and he told me to eat a bowl of
>raisin bran.  I got some bloodwork done, but so far I have yet to even
>know the results.  It hasn't come back, but it still scared the shit out
>of me that I was going insane.  I cannot confirm or deny it being diet
>related unless anyone else can colaborate my experience.

        i was having symptoms of like a 'pounding' heartbeat, like the heart
wasn't beating any *faster*, just harder, and you know how you normally
aren't consciously aware of your heartbeat?  well, when this happened, i
could feel every single beat. and i would feel weak and almost breathless at
the same time. real weird feeling, sort of scary.
        i had thought it maybe was due to an electrolyte or calcium
imbalance, but someone here, i think it was Muriel (Muriel, you are so
smart, where've you been?) suggested it may be low blood sugar,
ie-hypoglycemia.  so now, when i am just noticing those feelings, i have
some orange juice, or fruit, and it seems to control it.
        eat a bowl of raisin bran, jeeesh.  although the raisins would help,
i guess.

JoAnn.