Question:
Why dumping now?

I am upset. I am almost 4 months postop and just recently have been experiencing dumping. Up until last week, I could "pig out", and literally eat candy, pastry, ice cream etc. with no ill effects. I realize that that was a bad thing to binge( however I only did it a few times). Now all of a sudden, I dump even with just cottage cheese and a few ritz crackers. Each time seems to be worse then the previous. I have had about 3 of these experiences and am afraid of what to expect next. Did I do this to myself?    — Gina L. (posted on November 18, 2001)

November 18, 2001
Cottage chesses is a odd thing to dump on... Call your surgeon, perhapsa you need a dialation again, or have some other unusual problem starting.
   — bob-haller

November 18, 2001
Now, here's the difference between you and me...I'd be asking myself "Did I do this to myself?" after eating "candy, pastry, ice cream, etc." I'd be wondering, now why did I have my insides reorganized so I could go back to eating the way I did before? Didn't I WANT to not have normal insides? Anyway, a couple of things come to mind...#1 what type of feelings are you experiencing? Are you just feeling like laying down? Are you actually vomitting? Fast heart rate etc. If you are vomitting, then I agree with Bob. Cottage Cheese and Ritz shouldn't cause dumping. You may need a dilation. If not, then be happy to be a dumper. I'm not one (at least, I'm pretty sure I'm not) and while I haven't gone back to sugar, I'm always afraid I will. Good luck and God Bless!
   — Kimberly L.

November 18, 2001
Are you sure you're dumping? It sounds like something else. Call your doctor and good luck.
   — [Anonymous]

November 19, 2001
Thank you everyone for your response. To answer a few questions, my symptoms are nausea, racing heart, dizziness, and an overall flu/like feeling for about an hour. No vomitting. I agree that when I ask if I did this to myself, I am questioning the few times I ate sweets. Believe me, I have put myself through enough guilt trips. However, I feel that an occasional treat gave me something to look forward to. In the past I would have eaten the whole carton of ice cream, now a small bowl satisfied me. To me, that is what this whole process is about, learning to eat in moderation. I felt more in control knowing that my body only allowed me a small portion, and therefore I was satisfied. Anyways, we all have different opinions about what effects would work best for each of our individual bodies and needs. I am just asking if it is possible, to have been able to eat sweets for 3 months with no side effects, and then all of a sudden to develop these dumping symptoms.
   — Gina L.

November 19, 2001
I have dumped on cottage cheese and crackers before (not eaten at the same time) so I don't find it strange that you would dump on that. If you do dump today it doesn't mean you will dump next week. I had the same experience just this week. I had bought a small container of eggnog for a holiday treat and was drinking 3-4 ounces at night instead of another snack. I did fine the first 3 nights but on the last one: DUMP CITY! Oh, man, was I ever sick! I can probably drink it again later but I don't think I wanna for a while . . . <p>I don't know why you would suddenly dump after NEVER dumping but, like the other posters said, dumping isn't the end of the world. It's uncomfortable, but for the most part only hits when you've had something you shouldn't. You'll learn what foods make you dump then you will go back to not dumping because you'll avoid those foods. Or at least that's what happened to me!
   — ctyst