Stage 4: Stomach cramps and urgent need to go after every time I eat

I started on soft and pureed foods on Thursday and am having some difficulty.  On Thursday I had soft scrambled eggs with diced green onion and in the evening I had a teaspoon of egg salad with a thin slice of deli turkey breast.  I woke in the middle of the night with awful stomach cramps and had to dash to the bathroom where I had diarrhea, dizziness and felt flushed.  I took some immodium and went back to bed.

The next day I had a protein shake in the morning and had a teaspoon of hummus, two wheat thin crackers and four small bites of high-protein oatmeal in the evening.  I didn't want to push too many more foods in case I got sick again but I was actually okay on day two.  I did not get sick this day but I'm not sure if it may be because the immodium was still in my system.

Today I started my day with a 1/4 cup of reduced fat corned beef hash.  I chewed thoroughly and slowly.  30 minutes later I had a few small sips of water and immediately got stomach cramps and a stomach ache and had to use the bathroom.  I once again felt some dizziness/anxiety and felt flushed.  This time my bowel movement was solid.  I had an Isopure RTD beverage in the afternoon and that sat fine with no problems.  This evening I had 1/4c. of a vegetarian chili that I pulsed in the blender.  It's mostly made of tomatillo stock, cannelini beans, broccoli, a little corn and zucchini.  It took me about twenty minutes to eat and I chewed thoroughly.  Twenty minutes later I had a stomach ache and had to run to the bathroom where I had diarrhea again and the other associated symptoms.

Each time I've felt sick after eating I tend to feel better about 15-30 minutes after using the bathroom.

Can anyone help me identify what the problem may be here and what I can do to fix it?  I am 23 days out and had a Lap-RNY.

OMG Rebecca....I am only 9 days out and for the past 3 days I have been hungry as heck and I've been dying for just a morsel of food! Well after reading your post I definitely won't be taking any chances. I just had my post-op visit yesterday and my surgeon cleared me for soft solids like yogurt, cottage cheese, and eggs. I'm deathly paranoid of dumping syndrome so I'm afraid to eat anything but at the same time I'm so crazy hungry. It sounds to me like your experiencing dumping syndrome. I had Lap-RNY too and I know I'm still very early out but I'm not feeling so good about things. People ask me if I regret it and I honestly can't say yes or no just yet. I'm trying to be positive and hope this gets better. I hope that you can figure out what works for you so you don't experience this again.

I never got a stomach ache with dumping syndrome. With that its usually a fast heartbeat, sweating, dizziness (maybe) and fatigue.  Some people can dump on sugar but you can also dump on high calorie, high fat and high carb meals. Even though the corn beef hash is low fat, it is still pretty high fat content. This early out its easy to have alot of diarreah, so I wouldn't worry about that but do drink plenty of water. It will soon pass.  I remember I went through this and it did pass. Your new tummy is adjusting. Remember that you have to eat much slower. Eating too fast, even if you chew it well can hurt in your tummy. Some food are going to be harder on you. Some can eat eggs and others can't. I remember when I was early out in order for me to eat a scrambled egg I had to use extra milk (some dump on milk so careful there, I dont in small amounts). This made the egg softer and more gentle on my tummy.  I also would stay away from immodium unless your doctor says its okay. Let your body adjust. Your not that far out yet. It will happen.
Best of luck!
Paula

If I may make a couple of suggestions here.  For today go back to your very basics.  Protein shakes and maybe cottage cheese.  Give your tummy time to rest after the last couple of days.

Then when you start adding things, add them slowly.  1 new food at a time and make sure you read the label for any kind of sugar.  I personally did not add anything that came mixed out of a can other then re-fried beans from chi-chi's because of the sugar content. 

Even though you were cleared for soft and pureed foods and you chewed well.  Having all the new things in one day will make it hard to pin down what is giving you problems.  Adding crackers into the mix is probably not the wisest thing at this point either.  I was 2months out before I even tried a cracker and that was with 1 Ritz with SF Jam in place of a birthday cake.

You are still going to need to make sure your protein intake is higher then your veggie intake.  And this is something that I still have to remind myself of on occasion!

Yes you are going to get tired of the soft/purred type foods.  Yes there is not much variety but use a bit of imagination to shake things up.  For example, today have plain cottage cheese.  Tomorrow use a bit of mariana sauce (SF of course) with it.  The next day or meal add a bit of SF jam ( I love Smuckers SF jams)

Check out EggFaces Blog for some great recipes or check our Recipe forum here.  You can make some awesome Cottage Cheese Pancakes.  They don't look like much but boy can you play with the different fruit flavors!

The first few months are the hardest, trying to find what you can eat, what your pouch likes and retraining our brains.  But it is so worth it.  Just follow your Nut's plan for amounts and types of food, then add a dose of common sense (the stuff they never tell us, like only adding 1 new food a day) and you will do great!

I hope you feel better soon!

I had the same surgery you did and I'm 3 weeks out. Last night, I had an episode like you did with the diarrhea, anxiety, feeling flush, etc...right after eating puree turkey pot pie. It went down well but didn't give me a good experience. I think it was too rich/greasy for my tummy. My nut cleared me for purees last week and I've been pureeing everything I eat really well. I didn't get a puree/soft phase together so I'm not allowed crackers, and stuff like that. Maybe that stuff is just too much for your tummy yet?   I've been eating alot of cream soups, scrambled eggs which I mix up in a blender with stuff before I cook them (makes them smoother) and stuff like that. Maybe trying to eat the solids and puree together just isn't working?   You could try eating smoother things for a few days and see if that makes it any better. I know after last night....I definitely don't want that feeling again..it was awful!  Good luck  :) 

Just my experience...I had some problem wtih that early on and discovered it was what I was drinking in between then.  Once I went to water and protien drinks, no problems. 

It will get better, I promise..the one thing at a time add is the best.  I couldn't tolerate any turkey at all and now have a very difficult time with eggs of any variety.  I think they are hard to digest.

Michelle (EggFace) has some yummy recipes, check her out.  A GREAT riccotta bake, lots of protein.

 

Good Luck

Ceres

You may want to try using egg whites or egg beaters instead of whole eggs.  I've read that some people have dumping with the yolks. 

Also, with the egg salad - are you making it yourself?  The reason I am asking is that if it is pre-made from a store/deli, it may have sugar in it.  If you are making it yourself, then it could be the mayo you are using.  If you are going to use mayo, make sure that you are using non-fat or low fat.  It is preferable to not use at all.  Mayo can also have sugar in it and regular mayo is high fat. 

I agree with what someone else said - stay away from corned beef hash.  For one, it is high fat (even if it says low fat) AND you are probably not ready for any beef yet.  Beef is really hard to digest.

I've had crackers a couple of times and they didn't settle well.  Instead I've found that if I use the carb friendly tortilla that it sits with me pretty good.  The carb friendly tortilla gives me something to use with hummus.  I've also made myself a burrito using them.  I stuff it with egg beaters and low fat cheese and wrap it like a burrito.  I'm able to eat about 1/3 of it...very satisfying.

The chili - the veggies are probably too hard on your tummy yet.  Corn is especially hard to digest, as is broccoli.  If you want chili, I would go for a chili made with turkey.

I had my surgery the same day you did and I find that I am also have problems with some foods.  I just try and introduce one new food at a time.  That way I know what has disagreed with me.  I also have not tried any beef or vegetables yet.  I was told by my nut to not even try either until it has been at least 3 mos from surgery.

I'm by no means an expert but hopefully some of what I've shared with help.  Good luck!

I had the same symptoms after my surgey 10 months ago. personaly i do'nt know how you can drink the isopure yuk! just hang in there it will get better. I went through a phase were i litterly forgot that i had the surgery and got to were i could eat any thing and lately i have been haveing some small problems but do'nt know if it's what im eating or stress from this sh**** economy. Your mind will play games with you when your stressed out and it might not have any thing to do with the surgery. As I was told they can fix your stomach but only you can fix or adjust your mind so hang in there better times will come   Lorin