Question:
Newbie here...
Hi Im 11 days post op and i wanna know can anyone explain to me how 1.dumping occurs, 2.what happens if u swallow too much food and it gets stuck AND 3.how to avoid dehydration and bowel obstruction? I guess im not asking the correct questions to my docs cuz I STILL dont understand these things and they are so quick to get me in and out sometimes I forget what I wanna say! Thanks sorry sooo wordy! :) — bigthighcutiepie (posted on May 24, 2009)
May 24, 2009
Hi Newbie, congrats on your decision. Dumping occurs sometimes when you
eat sugar. Well, you should be chewing your food really well so it doesn't
get stuck. If you swallow too much, you will probably vomit. To avoid
dehydration and bowel obstruction, drink at least 64 fluid ounces a day.
It is very important to drink. The fluid keeps your bowels from
constipation. Actual bowel obstruction can be from a lot of different
things, like twisting of the colon, which you can't prevent. I hope I
answered all your questions. Again congrats. What surgery did you have?
Vickie
— lpn_1992
May 24, 2009
Hi there. Dumping can occur when you eat too much sugar OR too much fat,
and sometimes for no discernable reason at all. I have heard that 15 grams
of sugar in a single sitting is kind of the line you don't want to cross.
Most people don't eat more than 7 or 8 grams at one sitting, just because
they don't want to precipitate dumping, which is VERY unpleasant. You get
shaky, your heart palpitates, you break out in a sweat, and have horrible
cramping and then explosive diarhhea, and you might be sick for 2 or 3
hours with it. I've never dumped (I'm 3 months out today) but, I've had
food get stuck. You don't even have to have eaten "too much" for
it to get stuck. I was getting stuck with one ounce of soft scrambled
egg!! There is not much you can do about being stuck.... except get more
and more uncomfortable as you swallow your saliva and it doesn't have any
place to go, until you finally vomit. And I find that I can't just go in
and MAKE myself vomit, I have to wait until my body says "OK, NOW it's
time!" I was getting stuck and vomiting a LOT before my 6 week
checkup, and they diagnosed me with a stricture. I had to go in for a
dilation procedure. I just told them I wanted to be completely out for it,
even though it only takes about 10 minutes, and it was over before I knew
it... and no pain. And the best thing was, I was able to eat normally
again. I had the dilation on April 24th... guess what? I feel like I'm
getting another one.... food getting stuck, vomiting twice this week.
Uggh. If you are experiencing stuck food, you won't be able to drink your
necessary liquids, so there is every possibility that you might become
dehydrated. If you Can make yourself vomit, that will clear the way for
your fluid intake. But, you've got to have food and protein, too. So make
sure you've got a lot of soft food and protein drinks on hand (Iso Pure in
the 20 oz bottles counts as both protein AND water, and so do the New Whey
bullets with 42 grams of protein). And I would definitely talk to your
surgeon about the possibility you have a stricture, if your food is getting
stuck. They showed me pictures of my stricture before and after the
dilation.... WOW, what a difference! Hope this helps.
— Erica Alikchihoo
May 24, 2009
Welcome. You have come to the right place to get answers. No question is a
dumb question. So, ask away. I can not answer the question any better then
the other people did. I just wanted to welcome you and wish you good luck.
Have a great day.
— dsquire
May 25, 2009
I never had bowel obstruction, dumping I have. Stay away from sugar,
carbs. But you know that. I chew my food ( I am 13 months out) until its
practically liquid. And I constantly have a drink with me (to the store,
shopping, running errands etc). Sip, sip, sip not taking a
"drink" is what helps too. I know its hard at first. I had food
get stuck and it hurts. Like I said above, chew until liquid and take very
little bites helps. Good luck and enjoy the new you.
— okbuffy
May 27, 2009
If you feel comfortable giving me your email address I can send you some
information that my doctor/hospital gave me when I had my surgery in
November '08. It's in a book and I had some of the pages that I've scanned
for others.
— StrangePassion
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