Question:
I'm 6 weeks post op and I do not have the dumping syndrome! I can eat anything

   — 918nola (posted on June 5, 2009)

June 5, 2009
I guess I'm a little curious.... are you TRYING to make yourself dump? And if so, why? I've heard that it's soooo unpleasant that you'll never want to do it again. However, I understand your concern... as the whole reason I had the RNY instead of one of the other types of WLS is that there IS that "consequence" for eating too much food or the wrong kind of food (too much fats and sugars, basically). But Dumping Syndrome is really only one aspect of our new "tool". Changing the way you eat, the whole way you look at food, is key to successful weight loss. You shouldn't be "eating anything." You should be focusing mostly on protein and when you've got your required protein in, then on complex carbs. If you're eating other foods high in sugar or fat content trying to force yourself to dump, you aren't doing yourself any favors. And, you're not alone... I too have tried things I'm not supposed to have, but in REALLY SMALL amounts - I'm talking baby-feeding spoons full. I think maybe we all do... but when I do it, I'm keeping the amounts so small that I doubt seriously they would be anywhere near the amount necessary to cause dumping syndrome. I hope you continue to have good results with your weight loss, and maybe be happy that you can eat some of the things you love without having to worry that you're going to dump. But be careful, fill yourself up with protein first, then complex carbs... and only THEN, take that very, very small bite of something sweet if you have to...
   — Erica Alikchihoo

June 5, 2009
Hi, I agree with Erica. Please don't try to push the limits of your pouch now. I am almost 3 months out from rny done March 9th. I average 430 calories per day and average 69gms of protein. I haven't eaten anything sweet so I have no clue if I'm in the 60-70% of people who dump or in the 30-40% who don't. My surgeon is rather blunt in his instructions and he was very clear that the first 6 months to a year is the golden opportunity to lose the excess weight. By 1 year the hunger will be more of a problem and everyone's pouch will have expanded from the 1/2 to 1 ounce it starts at to 6-10 ounces (That is still a lot less than the 40-50 ounce pre-op stomach but still plenty big if we eat the high calorie foods &/or graze all day long). Once I reach goal weight and therefore need to increase my calorie intake I am looking forward to eating foods that I'm not getting now. My main desire right now is for more vegetables. This 2 tablespoon thing is barely a taste. I have no desire for sweets right now and so far the smell of fried foods is more nauseating than enticing. I have lost 81 pounds since surgery with 22 pounds preop for a total of 103 pounds. I still have 71 pounds to go to goal so I know I can't let up now. Every calorie that I put in my mouth above what is necessary for me to get my protein is just one more calorie I'm not taking out of my storage (fat). Go over your eating plan from your surgeon and meet with the nutritionist to help you maximize the use of your surgery in these early weeks and to set the pattern of eating for later. My main fear is later when I will be eating more so I am working hard to establish eating patterns, planning of meals for work and eating out, and regular exercise so that I can maintain. Each path we take is our own individual way so it may be that you needed to find out that you don't dump early so that you can plan and practice what you will do to control the effect that sweets can have on those of us who have been obese. Good luck in everything. Kevin
   — hapkidodoc

June 5, 2009
Ditto to Erica and Kevin! Everyone dumps on different things. It is not a pleasant thing. I'm 15 months pot-op and find that more and more I don't dump which can be frightening since the dumping did keep me from eating some forbidden foods initially. Use the first 9 - 12 months to really change your food choices because falling back into old habits are still hard to break as time goes on. Count yourself very lucky to have missed that experience!!
   — AuntPamcakes4six

June 5, 2009
I'm curious, did you have a revision? Your profile said you had surgery in 2003. If you meant you're 6 YEARS post-op then I've heard that over time the body produces longer villi farther down in the intestines and that can result in a "loss" of the dumping syndrome.
   — Arkin10

June 5, 2009
I had a band removed 6 weeks ago and then rny
   — 918nola

June 6, 2009
Just because you CAN doesn't mean you SHOULD...that has been a hard lesson for me.
   — shackett0426

June 7, 2009
N.J. -- I agree with the other posters here. Although I had a vertical banded gastroplasty (VBG, it's a surgery that's not done often or at all anymore, and is probably similar to a vertical gastric sleeve) in 2000 mostly because I didn't want the malabsorption issues that can occur with RNY, including dumping. I am here to tell you that it is possible to dump with a VBG, and it's not something anyone would want to have -- cold, clammy sweats, shakes, dry heaves, diarrhea -- and it can go on for an hour or more. As for myself, what I feel like with dumping is similar to what I feel like when my blood sugar is too low (I have Type II diabetes) and neither one is particularly pleasant. You shouldn't go looking for this -- or for this to be the fall-back measure if you eat what you shouldn't. As others have posted, eating "anything" is not a good idea -- it's what made most of us morbidly obese to start with -- and it seems like you might be playing with fire a little bit. I'm over 9 years out and there's stuff I STILL can't eat -- although, every once in a while, an hour or two or agony is WORTH it for a teaspoon of crunchy peanut butter on a little bit of bread. I still don't do well with most meat, with bread, and with some vegetables -- although I have recently discovered I can eat salad without too much difficulty. Be careful!
   — Cheryl Denomy

June 8, 2009
I too do not have dumping problems. It means you have to make careful choices in foods. I also have trouble with vomiting with meats. So it is easier for me to eat a cookie then protien. I just make sure I eat my protiens and avoid the sweets. Other wise it would be a waste. I still eat small protions so even if I eat the wrong things it is only a little. It is hard to get it all figured out but once you find the right balance for you and get a pattern of healthy eating set you should be fine.
   — trible