Question:
What is "dumping"?

I keep hearing the word 'dumping' thrown around alot, what exactly is that?    — TinaHallock (posted on January 29, 2008)

January 28, 2008
Tina, Dumping is when you eat too much or eat something you shouldnt have eaten. It affects people differently. When I get it i feel like crap for aboput 30- 45 minutes. I ahve to lay down. It makes me very sleepy. Some people get diahrea, some vomit. I have heard it can last for days but that has never happened to me. If I eat a lot of carbs or sugar thats when it happens. And it doesnt happen if you had the band. Only if you had bypass. It is not a good feeling. I have learned that if i want a sweet treat I have to eat protein first. No carbs then sweets. Ice cream is not a good treat. Some times I can safely eat 1 scoop of ice cream. I have also found that if I follow the information on the carton and go by what a serving is I am ok. Pasta also effects me sometimes.
   — Joanc

January 28, 2008
Dumping is the RNYers reaction to sugar. It is one huge reason why I chose the Duodenal Switch weight loss surgery. Good luck and research, research, research!!
   — SameButDifferent

January 29, 2008
Pre op I was a sugar addict and picked the RNY so I would dump, but I never dumped much but the icky feeling reminds me to behave myself. I wished I dumped more severly. Its kinda like having a little guy on your shoulder watching what food choices you make
   — bob-haller

January 29, 2008
Dumping Syndrome - Considered by many surgeons an essential component or consequence of the RNY procedure, this syndrome is generated by the small bowel bypass or the Roux en Y Limb [malabsorptive component of the procedure]. After the patient has undergone a laparoscopic gastric bypass with Roux Y limb, the nutrients [ food] will pass directly from the small gastric pouch into the small bowel, thus bypassing the usual digestive route [the body of the stomach, the outlet of the stomach or duodenum and the small bowel]. The new digestive or bypassed route poorly handles highly concentrated [high osmolarity] nutrients such as carbohydrate rich-food or certain fat-rich food. The ingestion of these foods will create an unpleasant abdominal discomfort or cramping. As the post gastric bypass patients recover they will learn to avoid this type of nutrients and naturally will steer their diet toward healthier foods. Not all patients will experience this syndrome; some may experience severe manifestations, others may experience a so-called late dumping syndrome. This pronounced syndrome is caused the inappropriate, rapid absorption of highly concentrated sugar which in turn may cause the body [pancreas] to produce delayed, large amount of insulin. This hormone will inappropriately and dramatically decrease blood sugar level and may create a hypoglycemic state. The patient in turn may feel dizzy, clammy, fatigued and may experience heart palpitations. Fluid shifts may occur in the small and large bowel in turn creating diarrhea. It should however be noted patients who do experience severe dumping syndrome always report significant improvement with time. Dumping syndrome is not dangerous, but frightening to the uneducated patient. It is a natural and expected consequence of this procedure. It is beneficial as it eventually deters patients from the type of food to avoid. In addition, the patient who do experience severe dumping syndrome always report significant improvement with time. If you have Dumping once, you will remember what not to eat the next time. Stay away from sugar, and fats as those will bring Dumping on if the quanity is to large for your systme to handle.
   — William (Bill) wmil

January 29, 2008
dumping syndrome is different for everyone. i stopped eating sugar six months prior to my RNY and am almost 4 mo out and still have not eaten any sugar (only sugar-free stuff for me), BUT sugar is not the only thing that causes it!!! i have experienced it from eating pizza, general tso's chicken, certain protein bars that don't even have sugar, fried chicken wings, spagetti and a few others i can't really remember at this time... what happened to me was.... i got really flushed feeling, diaphoretic (sweaty), heart palpatations, nausea and vomitted. it lasts about 30mins and it makes you feel really really bad. i don't eat those things anymore or i may just take one bite and that's it. sometimes even if you don't intentionally eat sugar the sugar is hidden in things and sneaks up on you (like carbs) so be careful. for example i fixed a chicken enchilada meal last night and just happened to look at the nutritional value on the back of the package and each serving, which is only one enchilada, has 16g of sugar. needless to say, my husband ate them and i had a bowl of tomatoe soup. what i have found is everything is trial and error. good luck and i hope this helps..Holly
   — RNlvnCARSON

January 29, 2008
5 1/2 YRS OUT OPEN RNY AND STILL GET IT.HAD IT SINCE DAY 1.
   — deb44m

February 3, 2008
Dumping is throwing up!
   — lyndayvette