Dumping Syndrome

Hi Sam

Im sorry it has taken me this long to respond but I wanted to set aside a few uninterrupted minutes to do this.

I am speaking from my own experience of dumping. Everyone has a slightly different story to tell, we all experience dumping but often differently. 

You may know there are two different types of dumping, early and late. Both are due to a relatively large amount of undigested food entering or being dumped into the small intestine. Early dumping is the body’s reaction to this. It can make me tired/sleepy, unable to think straight or make any decision. I believe this is due to a number of hormones secreted by the gut in unusual quantities. I can’t really explain how I feel. No energy, just need to lie down. It usually passes after 20 minutes or so or a 30 minute nap.
I was given a good piece of advice straight after my surgery almost nine years ago. I still adhere to it religiously. And that was to drink before eating, not during or in the 30 minutes or so after eating.

Late dumping is caused by a lot of sugar/glucose (from digested carbohydrate) being absorbed quickly, raising the concentration in the blood, which in itself doesn’t cause any symptoms. However, a large amount of insulin is released in order to bring down this spike. Too much, in fact, resulting in a lowered blood glucose about an hour or so after eating. This gives me the shakes, disorientation, vision disturbances, sweating and possibly fainting. I carry jelly babies with me always. I have learnt to recognise the early symptoms of falling/low blood sugar or a hypo (I bought myself a finger prick glucose meter from Amazon - though your doctor may give you one). Four jelly babies stops the fall and life continues! Also I have learnt not to eat simple carbohydrates, the worst for me are biscuits. But I can be surprised by a hypo after eating any carbs. Once I have had a hypo, I have a tendency to have more that day.

I could write a book on my dumping experiences and how I have come to understand their cause and effect on me and my family. Dealing with dumping is part of my new normal. I hope reading this helps a little.

Thank you for the advice, seems very similar to my partners I will let him know about the drinking before food and see if that helps any as this week has been pretty rough.  I have figured out, a bit like yourself, biscuits/cakes are def an issue and now we think potatoes aswell as milk make it worse.  I guess its a case of elimination and figuring it out for yourself.  We found none of this was discussed at the hospital so just trying to gather what info I can.

Thanks so much for the reply much appreciated.