Question:
Nausea and Sleepiness

Hello AMOS friends! I'm 8 weeks post-op (open RNY) and just starting soft foods. I have been very careful to eat slowly, chew my food to mush and stop eating when I'm full. It's been taking me about 30 minutes to eat a couple of teaspoons of food ... I'll take a small bite, chew thoroughly, then wait another 5 minutes to take another bite so I can make sure my tummy can handle it. I do this until I feel full, not overstuffed. About an hour later, I have occasionally found myself nauseous and feeling very sleepy, although I haven't reached the point of vomiting. The feeling lasts about a half hour or so and then I feel fine. I'm not eating any fatty foods or any sugar - just cottage cheese, eggs, beans and some pureed meats. Any ideas about what is going on? Thank you in advance for your help!    — MomBear2Cubs (posted on July 19, 2003)

July 19, 2003
I know you said you weren't eating sugar, but that is how anything with sugar in it makes me feel. I am now 6 months post op and it still happens. Check the labels on any meds or foods you eat and see what the sugar count is. Keeping a food diary will also help you. Write down what you eat and when the feeling happens check to see what you are eating when it happens. With the reaction to sugar mine usually started within 3 to 30 minutes of eating sugar. Good Luck.
   — june22

July 19, 2003
I agree with Brenda, that sounds like dumping. Sometimes sugar is in the oddest things. Check the labels on everything. Sounds like you're doing well though!
   — ZZ S.

July 20, 2003
I agree with the others that it sounds like dumping but it may be a reaction to carbs rather than sugar. After my surgery I found that if I have more than 10 grams of carb in a meal I get extremely sleepy afterward. It could be the beans in your case.
   — LLinderman

July 24, 2003
Hi there .. I was having such a problem with nausea, and part of it was I wasn't eating enough (or often enough)! It may not be dumping, but the food may be going through you a bit fast, and you may need to make sure you're eating enough, and often enough. I'm finally starting to feel better ... at 5 weeks out (-31).
   — Karyn B