Question:
Confused about Splenda & Dumping

I'm 11 days PO. I tried Splenda today in some oatmeal. I didn't like the oatmeal so I didn't eat very much. BUT, I noticed on the label of the Splenda that it has sucrose & dextrose in it. Now, according to my nutritionist, I should stay away from anything that ends in "ose" because it's sugar and I can dump. Why do I see so many people embracing (don't get me wrong, I like it too) Splenda if you can dump on it? And, if I don't dump on Splenda does that mean I won't dump on sugar?    — Goldilauxx B. (posted on January 27, 2002)

January 27, 2002
ALL I KNOW IS THE NUTRITIONIST AT MY DR.OFFICE SAYS TO EAT SPLENDA AND HE IS VERY EXCITED ABOUT IT! HE WARNS VERY STERNLY ABOUT THE DANGERS OF SUGAR THOUGH,SAYING IT WILL CAUSE THE DUMPING EFFECT.
   — rebecca N.

January 27, 2002
Please keep in mind that we are all diffrent, but I use splenda in everything, coffee, tea, cereal, baking goods and it has never made me dump, but put the slighest bit of sugar in my body and I have a definate date with the potty.. Good luck to you....
   — Malynda S.

January 27, 2002
Now, I am no doctor or scientist, but this is what I understand. Splenda is sugar, basically, but it has been chemically altered so that our bodies cannot absorb it. It is along the same lines as the fat substitue olestra, which is in many low fat/fat free chips these days. (yes, the diarrhea chips to some people) These sort of products are basically the same, only our bodies can no longer absorb them so they go right though us.
   — Jennifer Y.

January 27, 2002
I just came back from my pre-op nutrition class and, of course, Splenda was brought up. Splenda is sugar, but it has been altered so that it doesn't have any calories and doesn't digest the same way sugar does. I find it unfortunate that the name for it is Sucralose, because that confuses the issue of not using anything with 'ose' at the end of it. Splenda is the one exception. Go ahead and enjoy it. In fact, the dietician said she loves it.
   — garw

January 27, 2002
I use Stevia. It is plant based sweetner with no artifical anything in it. I can't tolerate the artifical sweetners they give me a headache and cramping. I got mine at the local health food store
   — Crystal B.

January 31, 2002
This came from my surgeon when I asked him if I had dumped from Swiss Miss (No Sugar Added) Hot Coca: "Yes, it is possible to dump from artificial sweeteners such as Splenda (not common, but it happens). Each patient needs to find their own pattern." Just food for thougt. It was no big deal though. I now know not to drink a full cup but only a half a cup.
   — Denise S.