Dumping syndrome

[othella 20]

How's anyone dealing with this? Just wondering, appointment is coming up this week unsure if this is something I have to deal with.

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[RickM 1,753]

Dumping usually isn't something to worry much about with the sleeve (it's more of a bypass thing) though it can happen to some occasionally (as it can for even those without any WLS, just rare.) It is the result of rapid emptying of the stomach, typically due to the lack of pyloric valve in bypass patients, but is possible for those with a VSG if one were to consume something high sugar or fat that is liquid or otherwise flows through the stomach quickly. Early on, if I sneaked in a piece of chocolate, I would get a quick flash of "oh, I shouldn't have done that..." but it would pass just as quickly. That is a version of what one might call "mini-dumping" but it was nothing worrying - far from disabling like some may get with a bypass.

[zombieskayer 84]

I've only had it once when I started solids I had a sugar free caramel and it hit me but that's the only time I've ever had it.

[othella 20]

Thanks

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[Kris77 1,539]

No dumping here either.

[MegPRN 204]

I get a variation of dumping with my sleeve where I get reactive hypoglycemia if I eat too much sugar (for example, I ate a pack of Skittles earlier this week, and within an hour or 2 my blood sugar was crashing and I was shaky and sweaty). It feels awful. It's a result of the massive changes to my metabolism causing hypersensitivity to insulin, and my body being used to dumping insulin into my system whenever I eat sugar. Hopefully it will balance out. If not, I'll just have to cut out all refined sugars (which I know I should do anyway!)

[Lindsay B 8]

22 hours ago, othella said:

How's anyone dealing with this? Just wondering, appointment is coming up this week unsure if this is something I have to deal with.

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Well, dumping syndrome can be a significant issue and a variable between individuals. It is a well known and recognized syndrome of post partial, or sub-total gastrectomy surgery. Largely, it is the overfilling of what is now a very compromised, much smaller pouch for a stomach, which post-op is now around 10% or so of what its original size used to be. The feelings of over-fullness, aside from the bloating and abdominal discomfort it brings, can physiologically set-off events than vary from mild to serious. The blood pressure can fall as the body tries to adjust to overfilling of the pouch - as the body detects that we have food to digest, the blood supply to the gut is increased, diverted away from the muscles etc. (the very reason why Mum told us to never go swimming too soon after food, as the reduced skeletal and muscle blood supply can lead to muscle cramping and potential drowning etc). This can, and often does bring great discomfort generally, feelings of faintness and often, overwhelming fatigue, the need to lie down flat.....things, even simple things, can seem overwhelming. This all usually passes with rest and while we should try to relax and allow things to pass, it is not always easy to do so, as the feelings of general 'unwellness' are so strong and all encompassing. Far better, of course, to never over-eat, to stop eating before those feeling of absolute fullness ever arrive. Of course, avoiding drinking whilst eating and allowing 20 to 30 minutes to elapse before eating, then 30 mins afterwards before drinking once again, will greatly minimize symptoms of the dreaded dumping syndrome. Hope this helps a little. It is quite easy to forget and either eat and/or drink too quickly, not adequately chew our food and so-on, especially in the earlier days after surgery. Dumping Syndrome is definitely unpleasant enough an experience to remind us, that's for sure!