RNY'rs: IS IT DUMPING????

Helloooo everybody!!!  Since we have a lot of pre-ops and a lot of new post-ops, I thought I'd address this topic.  I've gotten some pm's recently and have read some posts that lead me to believe not everyone knows the difference between dumping and having food get stuck.  Trust me, the two are completely different!!! I took this from a bariatric website: Definition: Dumping syndrome, or rapid gastric emptying, is a combination of symptoms that occur when an overly large meal, or a meal high in fat or sugar is consumed by a weight loss surgery patient. The meal is "dumped" into the small intestine when the stomach empties quickly, causing feelings of nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach gas, racing heart, cramps and cold sweats.  Pretty accurate, from what I've experienced, although it can also happen from sugar alcohols.  Fortunately, the only things I've ever experienced were the racing heart and cold sweats.  It's akin to what it feels like when your blood sugar plummets.  Not a whole lot of fun!!!  And then, you're incredibly exhausted and feel much better after "sleeping it off."  The passage of time is usually the only thing that helps this, although I've tried drinking lots of water or eating protein, but usually, like a bad hangover, time is the only med!!! I couldn't find an "official" definition of getting food stuck, but I like to think of it as a tool called, "Bargaining with God!"  When you don't chew something well enough, or when something isn't moist enough (usually dense proteins), it can get stuck at your pouch opening.  This results, in my opinion, in a feeling quite similar to a full-blown gallbladder attack.   I think Kelly P., who's not on the boards much, called it a "food induced heart attack," and OMG! is she right.  I've found myself praying to DIE after some of these episodes, and if it's severe enough, you may find your pouch quite touchy for a couple of days afterward - then, just baby it until it feels normal. The only thing that relieves the discomfort of having food stuck is for it to pass - either through your system or by being regurgitated.  I never knew that puking could have such wonderful results!!!  Because the relief you feel is IMMEDIATE!!!! Most surgeons caution forcing yourself to vomit in your early post-op days because of internal stitches and such, but sometimes, you just gotta to get some relief.  The best thing to do to prevent this is to listen to your body - if you're attuned to what it's saying, you'll know when a bite of food isn't agreeable - sometimes, if you stop right then and there, it may pass on through.  If you continue to eat or drink on top of that, you will start bargaining with God, "Please, dear God, make the pain go away!!  I promise I will not eat dinner rolls again!!" or "Please, dear God, if you're gonna take me, do it NOW!" Trust me, all veteran RNY patients know what I'm talking about.  So to everyone considering RNY or newly recovering from it - take your time, make sure you chew, don't drink while you eat and LUBE!!!  Be it salsa, dressing, etc., lubrication is vitally important to a happy pouch!!!! Here's to pain free eating!!! Tia And DON'T add any liquids, thinking it'll help things along.  When you have a clogged drain and run the water, what happens?  It just backs up on top of it and makes you feel worse.

OMG, "Food induced heart attack" is my new favorite expression. 

Tia: So this is what I get:  Something that feels like it is just sitting in your esophagus.  Never gets to the pouch.  I stop eating and then feel like I have to continue to swallow.  Like my body is producing extra spit or I'm foaming at the mouth or something.  You want to sip something real bad, but I have restrained myself from drinking.  Then, usually, not a minute later, it all comes up.   Is this something getting stuck or is this something else?

Hey Lisa! Doesn't matter where - stuck food is stuck food, and if it's too big, too dry, too unchewed, it can get stuck anywhere.  What you've described is affectionately known as "the foamies," but if it helps, tell Larry it's rabies!!!  LOL!!!   Actually, when we were coming back from NYC two years ago (I was already a year post-op), we stopped at a rest stop where they had a Roy Rogers, Nathan's Hot Dogs and Cinnabon, for the love of GOD!!!  Thinking I'd get a grilled chicken at Roy's, I went there, but no grilled chicken.  So I got a cheeseburger, eschewed the bun and dipped it in mayo - only to have it get stuck.  That sucker stayed stuck while I tried to bring it up for 1.5 hours!!!  Finally, it came up, but without warning - I ended up throwing up ALL over myself!!!  And it smelled just like baby puke!!  OMG!!!  And I still had about 2 hours to go!!! Hope this helps! Tia

Why did we have to bring up this subject?  I just went to Taco Bell for lunch.  Got the Fresco, grilled steak soft taco and I think the soft taco part is stuck.  I didn't eat that much of it, but its what I did eat that is worrying me now.  Add to list:  no more soft tacos.

Lisa - I, too, sometimes have problems with tortillas - I realize you picked the Fresco because it's lower in fat, but next time, get the crunchy taco shell.  For whatever reason, crunchy works better.  Just like Cheetos and all that other evil stuff slide down well - they mush down into nothing. I still have a hard time with doughy bread products - they just sit in me like lead. Sorry!  Hope it passes (literally) soon! Tia

I think I've experienced the getting stuck with that veggie chicken tender.  I felt like I was getting stabbed like every 3 seconds until I could bring it back up.  For a full 24 hours afterwards it was nothing but mushies and I was ok after that.

And were you saying, "God, if you make this pain go away, I will NEVER look at a hot man again!!!"????? LOL!! I feel for you, though.  It hasn't happened to me in a long time (the last time was with Chinese food), but I well remember the pain!!!   Tia

LMAO exactly!  I kept telling him that I'd marry you!

Silly boy!  You only get me when you make deals with the devil!!!!  LOL!!!