Terrified Of "dumping" Syndrome!

[Dons2.0 39]

Hi All,

Let me begin by saying this site and everyone that is open and honest about their experiences have been so helpful in my journey and decision to be sleeved!

I am a 28 year old female from Australia and am currently 138kg (303.6 lbs). I have struggled with my weight since I was a child and have tried every diet known to man! But nothing has stuck unfortunately. So after much thought and discussion with my husband I believe the sleeve is my best choice.

I have had depression and anxiety for about 10 years now and one of my phobias is being somewhere or with people and having an accident (not that it's actually happened, but it's been close before!)- TMI - sudden nervous bowel issues. So the thought that there is any chance of getting dumping syndrome absolutely terrifies me! I know that this can happen if you eat something naughty after sleeved (I have read this on this site) but I am scared I could be one of those people that may get it without reason. Can dumping be controlled? Eg. Anti- diarrhea tablets? This is the only thing that worries me about WLS.

Any advise or comments would be great!

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Yes, it definitely can be controlled. It's more common when you're first sleeved, and your insides are first getting used to new foods.

If you follow all the rules, you could make sure it doesn't happen. When you're very first sleeved, you'll be on a liquid diet. liquids in, liquids out. That's when people experience the most problems with diarrhea. After that, when you're mostly eating Protein, the opposite problem starts to happen.

[clk 3,519]

Yes, people refer to "dumping" all the time but I think they're using the wrong term in most cases. For the first several weeks it's liquids in, liquids out as Oregondaisy said. After that, if you're eating the right foods you shouldn't have a problem.

I developed lactose intolerance and the digestive issues that accompany that, but once I started avoiding foods that caused an issue I was fine. If you aren't used to artificial sweeteners and drink/eat a lot of them post op you might experience a problem, so take it easy on them until you're sure how they affect you. If you suddenly eat a ton of fat or sugar in your diet, you might experience an issue. Not because your body is rejecting a food but because it's simply not used to those things. The biggest time this happens seems to be when transitioning to "regular" food again. Someone will go out and eat ice cream or fried chicken and have a rough time because they've been on Protein shakes and cottage cheese for a month! Your body simply isn't used to the same foods as before surgery and the same thing could happen if you hopped off a diet into junk food without a sleeve.

I don't think you have anything to really worry about. Staying positive and calm is the best thing you can do with this type of problem.

~Cheri

[Lissa 2,631]

Well said, CLK! I've only had problems when I drink/eat straight dairy...and then only the non-cheese stuff. Cottage cheese still gets me, but yogurt and regular cheeses are fine. Milk/ice cream both send me to the bathroom immediately. Heck of a diet plan, hmmm?

[kyllfalcon 768]

I was scared to death to go back to work after three weeks because still in the middle of week two I was having numerous liquid movements every day, and in an urgent fashion. However, it all settled down quickly and the only time I have had an issue since is when i ate a really greasy hamburger patty cooked with onions. Lesson learned.

Good luck!!

[MinaT 669]

I believe there is more of a problem with "dumping" when it comes to gastric bypass. I also believe at first when you get the sleeve it's liquid in and liquid out.

I can tell you though, I would rather have liquid in and liquid out then liquid in and then nothing out.

I'm 3 weeks out and daily it was liquid in and out - and it was almost a relief. At first you are recuperating so you aren't out and about traveling. At 3 weeks, things are slowing down to the point, I miss the liquid out and I am now using colace and got approval to when I have issues go back on my amitiza prescription.

Again, Artificial Sweeteners can cause an issue with a lot of people, but if you are going to push your luck with greasy or high sugar foods, then I'm sure you will experience more.

Spend your time wisely pre-approval stage trying to rid yourself of the carb addiction, start working the high Protein, start working the 64 ounces in start workingo n getting in a shake a day and trying different artificial sweeteners until you find one that works for you. I do try to get a sf pudding once in a while but I avoid sf jellos myself. I try to stick with as much things that use Truvia, because I don't handle aspartame, or sucralose well.

All bodies are different, that's why I believe patients should use their pre-approval time - whether it is 6 months - 4 months or whatever wisely instead of spending their days doing "last suppers" they need to dig deep and start working on their food issues, addictions, in advance. It definitely makes after getting sleeved so much easier.

[Erin6573 10]

I agree with what everyone has said. I'm only 9 days out and still on full liquids and it is liquids in and liquids out. But for me, it hasn't been anything really "urgent" I think that the dumping syndrome is more with gastric bypass and the rerouting of your insides. I can hear things start gurgling in my stomach/intestines and know that soon I will have to go, but I haven't had any accidents.

[Wheetsin 714]

Dumping can occur with the sleeve, it just doesn't come with the "guarantee" that the RNY comes with. Dumping also isn't restricted to people who have had WLS. I know two people who dump with the sleeve - I've seen one of them go through it. I've seen posts or gotten messages from (I think) 3 others. So it's not a terribly common side effect, but it can happen.

I've seen people "think" they're dumping, when they're just having diarrhea. Dumping isn't just diarrhea, and probably if you ever experience it, whether or not you poop your pants is probably going to be pretty far from your mind. Everyone I know personally who dumps, who didn't know what was going on at the time, went to the ER. It was that bad.

Dumping syndrome is really just when your stomach empties too fast. The things your body does to cope with that unprepared food entering the small intestine is what causes the pain/discomfort/sensations/etc. Considering that, there really aren't many predictors of whether or not you will develop it after sleeve surgery, unless you have a known issue with your pyloric valve function or something.

There are also different "stages" of dumping. Most people think it's just a single event, but it's not.

Here's a long post I wrote up a while ago that explains what's happening when someone "dumps", at a non-technical level.

Hi All,

Let me begin by saying this site and everyone that is open and honest about their experiences have been so helpful in my journey and decision to be sleeved!

I am a 28 year old female from Australia and am currently 138kg (303.6 lbs). I have struggled with my weight since I was a child and have tried every diet known to man! But nothing has stuck unfortunately. So after much thought and discussion with my husband I believe the sleeve is my best choice.

I have had depression and anxiety for about 10 years now and one of my phobias is being somewhere or with people and having an accident (not that it's actually happened, but it's been close before!)- TMI - sudden nervous bowel issues. So the thought that there is any chance of getting dumping syndrome absolutely terrifies me! I know that this can happen if you eat something naughty after sleeved (I have read this on this site) but I am scared I could be one of those people that may get it without reason. Can dumping be controlled? Eg. Anti- diarrhea tablets? This is the only thing that worries me about WLS.

Any advise or comments would be great!

[carbgrl 119]

Oh. My gosh. I had a "dumping" episode last nite. I felt like I was going to die. I was to weak to call anyone. I had severe stomach cramps, profusely sweating all over my body. I felt like my stomach was going to explode. Finally after my body "dumped" I felt some relief. I also have a bad back so I happen to also have back spasms at the same time. I had shrimp scampi and later some roasted pecans. I guess it was to high in fat. I will avoid that at all costs in the future. I'm sticking to liquids today just to gentle with my tummy.

[TinaMari 75]

Omg. This is scaring me. What exactly is the dumping syndrome and how is it caused? Is there something the person can do to stop it?