Question:
Why is my body digesting sugar?

I am 4-months post op from a open vertical gastic bypass. I was told that I could never eat sugar again, because I would become deathly ill (diarherra for 4 days, or throwing up). Ok. During the holidays, I did some really dumb things-I had some Chex Mix that had brown sugar and honey in it, and I ate a few chocolate chip cookies. I DID NOT get sick after eating these, and I can't figure out why. I am just afraid that somethign is not right with me, because I can digest sugars. If I don't figure out whats going on, I am afraid I will continue to eat sugar. This surgery was supposed to keep my away from sugar, making me very sick, and its not working!! Someone please help?!? Has any other post-ops experienced this or similar problems?? Thankk you Krista Cochran [email protected]    — Krista C. (posted on January 1, 2000)

January 1, 2000
I really don't know if I'm Distal or Proximal RNY (Gastric Bypass) yet. My doctor said he would make that decision once inside.. I forgot to ask him.. I will, with my 8 week return checkup.. However, I did experience a dumping syndrome and trust me I don't want to do that again.. I bought some fat free sugar free juice popcicles.. (big mistake) the sugar from the fruit alone did me in..I was so sick. Laid me flat out for hours, nausea, cold chilling sweats, stuffed miserable feeling, really can't even discribe how it felt was so bad.. Something I never want to repeat I will tell you that.. I have learned to read labels very well now.. So guess I'm not one of the ones that can tolerate sugar of any kind.. That's ok I now crave spinach and protein like crazy.. I just will be glad when it does not have to be pulverized and smashed to a pulp first lol... Victoria Lynn
   — Victoria B.

January 1, 2000
Did you have vertical gastric banding or rny gastric bypass? My belief (and I've been known to be wrong on occasion) is that VGB has no real effect on sugar consumption; rny gb would have more dramatic results from sugar eating the more intestine that is bypassed. Either way, we all need to focus on what we are putting in our mouths, and whether it will benefit us or hinder our progression to goal. Cindy open rny w/gb distal 10/20/99 53lbs gone so far
   — Cynthia B.

January 1, 2000
I had some similar experiences over the holidays. I had not tried any refined sugars since surgery 9/20/99, but while visiting relatives over the holidays, the spread of sweets was too much for me to resist, and I tried a few bites of some "forbidden" foods. I did not have a dumping reaction, although I did get a big headache, and a few hours later had gas. No everyone has dumping, and everyone has a different limit of how much sugar they can tolerate. Normally, I don't keep those foods around my house, so it is easier to resist them, and I also find that eating plenty of protein reduces my sugar cravings. Talk to your doctor and nutritionist about this. I don't think there is anything wrong with you. This seems to be pretty common.
   — Lynn K.

January 6, 2000
Hi! Iam 8 months post op with a proximal roux en y. I was addicted to sugar before surgery. I was so happy to not have any cravings for several months following surgery and I was afraid of dumping. I did begin to want something sweet now and then in a bad way. Finally I have tried some sweets; couple of cookies here, 3 bites of ice cream there and NO reaction at all. It scared me. Today I wanted to know if I pushed the envelope would I experience dumping( I WANT to have it to strongly discourage me from my mortal enemy-sugar) so I ate 3/4 of a milky way bar and had NO reaction at all except to just have the feeling it was too rich and I simply didn't feel like having any more. I was very disappointed needless to say. Some may say I shouldn't want to have dumping but I DO want it as a deterrent. Now I realize that I must not be one who reacts to sugar and I MUST be very careful of what I eat. I'm still very glad that I had the surgery and that I can only eat small portions now to feel satisfied and I will focus on eating good meals to to the point of feeling full and not allow sweets to sabotage my success. I've lost 114 pounds in 8 months and I want it to STAY off!!
   — michelle T.

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