The Facts About Dumping

Last weekend I got sick on sugar free popsicles.  I thought I was dumping, but later realized it was a reaction to sorbitol from eating one too many popsicles. 

I've read all sorts of things about dumping here and I'm confused.  I read that some folks still eat a little sugar after RNY which confuses me because I thought sugar would cause dumping. Is it only brought on by consuming sugar? 

I hope someone here will explain what dumping really is and explain the symptoms.  What really causes it and how long does it last?

Hey Samantha

I am only 9 weeks out, but my two experiences with dumping have not come from sugar, but from eating too fast.  The first time I drank gatorade too fast (the low calorie kind with little to no sugar in it) I got nauseated, my heart was racing, i had cold sweats and felt like I was going to pass out.  This sensation was horrible but passed in about 20 minutes.
The second time was right after I was turned loose on fork tender foods and I ate talapia.  It was very tender and I guess I just got over excited about being able to chew food and ate it too fast.  I was sick from that for about 6 hours.  CRAZY sick!

It is my understanding that sugar can cause dumping as well, so I just choose to avoid it.

Hope this helps a little!

You're describing two different things...the gatorade sounds like dumping - fast heart rate...cold sweat etc......which is sometimes followed by GI distress. The talapia is a density issue - eating too fast and having it get stuck and sit heavy is not dumping. You can develop the 'foamies' - which is the body trying to secrete saliva to help with the offending food - end up with nausea and vomiting etc......but it's not dumping.

Dumping is an insulin reaction. It refers to the dumping of insulin into the blood stream in response to carbohydrate. In the RNY the section of small intestine removed has most of the body's insulin receptors - their job it to detect the presence of glucose/sugar and trigger the pancreas to secrete insulin. When that structure is removed the small intestine brought up the pouch has to take on a role it wasn't designed for......there are insulin receptors there as well.....but in normal anatomy they would only have fired up if there was a lot of sugar in the food intake....so when they detect glucose/sugar - they send a big message to the pancreas and the insulin is usually an overshot.....it's a much less refined system. All that being said.....only about 1/3 of postops dump. I only dumped two times in three years......and I really pushed the sugar limits.....cake and milk (milk sugars were involved in both of my dumping episodes......I can tolerate higher limits of other sugar forms but something about milk sugars really hits me hard.

Act like you dump even if you don't. Do your best to not test the waters. Any time you eat in such a way to increase insulin in your body you are slowing your weight loss - increasing your appetite and cravings and helping your body store fat. Keeping an even blood sugar is the best way to control hunger and help your body shed body fat. Susan

How many times a day to you eat something. My nut said to have three small meals a day and one snack. I dont think that is the best thing for me. I think I should be eating smaller portions more often? I always enjoy your comments and insight!

I could never have met protein goals on that plan.   Even now I still have very good restriction and can barely get in a cup of food.  I eat 6-7 times a day and as long as your food choices are protein loaded......with healhty fats and complex carbs...the scientific evidence behind metabolism is quite clear that that is the ideal way to fuel the body.    Nuts/Surgeons who suggest more restrictive limited feedings don't trust that we can make good food choices (and many of us can't/ or don't)......so the idea of telling us to eat frequently makes them nervous.   I say that's nonsense.    I have pretty intense hunger these days and one of the most important strategies I have is frequent meals.   I can be very hungry for whatever reason (just took an intense dance class and I"m starving!)....and I know I have a 'feeding coming up so I don't develop the anxiety that people who are compulsive about their food and hunger can develop.   I would try more frequent meals....every three hours.    A meal for me is a handful of almonds....or a cup of greek yogurt....or about a cup of chili......or a piece of cheese and a few apples slices.   I can't eat a half sandwich or anything big......because I never did.  I"ve gotten into a bit of  trouble with food choices - if it's more refined carb.....(I've been baking pumpkin pies for friends and eating the leftover pumpkin pie filling!)....I get ravenously hungry and the scale is reflecting my drift into bad food choice land.   But if you follow the guidelines the chances of controlling hunger and meeting nutrition goals is much better!     Susan

I know that you can slowly over time re-adjust to consuming refined sugars..i'm sure after going through a bunch of "Dumps"....I do know that some folks tolerate  natural sugars in small amounts...I for one can drink natural prune juice with no i'll effects, and I am about two and half weeks out from my RNY.  Carbs is another thing that will make you "Dump" (eating to many or the wrong kind)...please keep in mind that all of this I have taken from my Surgeon and Dietition..I myself have yet to have a Dump episode (thank god)

Well dumping is something that is unique to everyone. I am 8 months out and I had a mild form of dumping yesterday. I have never had any adverse reactions to anything I ate except a small piece of chocolate birthday cake with cream cheese icing (boy was it good). But about 10 minutes after eating the cake my face was flushed, heart pounding, head spinning. I really felt like I was on a rollercoaster. The feeling lasted for about 30 minutes and poof it was gone and I wanted to go straight to sleep....lol

The answer to your question is NO everyone doesnt dump but some do and they dump on fat, surgar, sugar alcohol, carbs, etc. Dumping is unique to us all because it doesn't always give everyone the same effect. You may become sleepy, others sweat profusely, some have vomitting or diarrhea. You just never know until you are in the throws of it.

I hope you don't ever get sick again, but if you do just know that the symptoms may manifest in a different manner.

 You will learn what your body can and can't handle. 12 grams of sugar is my limit, then I dump. I try to keep it under 10. 

The clinical presentation of dumping syndrome can be divided into GI symptoms and vasomotor symptoms. GI symptoms include early satiety, crampy abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and explosive diarrhea. Vasomotor symptoms include diaphoresis, flushing, dizziness, palpitations, and an intense desire to lie down.

The expression of these symptoms varies in different individuals. Most patients with early dumping have both GI and vasomotor symptoms, while patients with late dumping have mostly vasomotor symptoms. Patients with severe dumping often limit their food intake to avoid symptoms. This leads to weight loss and, over time, malnutrition.
 
 

• Early dumping systemic symptoms
  • Desire to lie down
  • Palpitations
  • Fatigue
  • Faintness
  • Syncope
  • Diaphoresis
  • Headache
  • Flushing
•  
•  
• Early dumping abdominal symptoms
  • Epigastric fullness
  • Diarrhea
  • Nausea
  • Abdominal cramps
  • Borborygmi
•  
•  
• Late dumping
  • Perspiration
  • Shakiness
  • Difficulty to concentrate
  • Decreased consciousness
  • Hunger
•  

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/173594-overview

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/173594-overview