Question:
Does This Mean That I Don't Have Dumping???

I haven't tried sugar or honey or anything sweet since my surgery in July, because I have been too scared to. But, I have had orange juice, fruits, dairy, fried foods etc..and I haven't experienced any ill effects at all. The other day my husband brought home some honey grilled chicken breast from where he works and without thinking I took two bites of it. After I swallowed, I remembered, that this chicken was literally saturated in honey!!! I didn't get sick or nauseaous or anything. Does this mean that I don't have dumping? I was too scared to try it again, and I am too scared to take a bite of chocolate still. I am hoping I have the dumping, but it seems like if I can tolerate honey, which is almost pure sugar...then I don't have it. What do you guys think??? (open RNY 7/23/02 -72 lbs)    — Shawnie S. (posted on October 18, 2002)

October 18, 2002
With two bites you probably didn't get enough of the sugar to make you dump. I can eat foods with up to 6 or 8g of sugar without dumping. I drink orange juice with no problems unless I do something really stupid like drink 16 ounces of it in a short period of time (I did this once). That was way too much and made me dump badly. Natural sugars don't usually bother me because the portions are small. Just keep on assuming that you will dump and don't tempt fate. Good luck. Open RNY 11/29/01 -150+ pounds
   — Patty_Butler

October 18, 2002
I have a terrible sweet tooth. I can eat one peice of candy (carmel, taffy) with no effect. I ate a so-called protein bar the other day without looking at the sugar (19 g per serving) and it made me feel like hell for 2/3 hours. No physical reaction like throwing up, just felt horrible. Hot flashes and all. Good Luck
   — Bobbi H.

October 18, 2002
Shawnie, everyone is different with whether they dump at all, and if they do, to what degree. There are even differences in how we dump. Honey on chicken may not make you dump, and the sugar in fruit doesn't effect too many people, but other forms of sugar may. Usually the liquid forms of sugar effect you much harder as they dump directly into your system. I can eat portions of donuts, cookies, brownies and as long as I don't eat much, don't feel it. If I eat too much I get sleepy and a little stomach crampy. But one time I tried a Starbucks white chocolate mocha drink and 4 gulps later, I thought I was going to pass out. Never again! Your not going to know what you can tolerate until you test the waters. Then again, you don't have to test at all!
   — Cindy R.

October 18, 2002
I also find that sometimes I will eat something and have no problem, then eat it again only to dump. Consider yourself lucky with the chicken this time, but don't expect to always have the same results.
   — Amber L.

October 18, 2002
I hate to scare you, but I didn't dump for the first 3 1/2 months. I was disappointed that I didn't dump at all! But then, oh boy, since then, I am really unpredictable. I have dumped on things that I didn't think were so bad and other times I have gotten away with eating something like a Twix bar with no consequences. I am not suggesting that you experiment, but be aware that eating something once and not dumping doesn't mean that you'll be okay if you eat it again. I'd say that the best thing you can do is avoid sugar, it's better to just assume that you will dump unless you are fully prepared to feel like death warmed over for that tasty morsel.
   — cjabates

October 19, 2002
I agree with Patty. I think it is better to ASSUME that you will dump and leave it at that. I do that very thing. I have yet to try anything that would actually cause me to dump. I am proud to say that although it's hard, I feel like I am making such better choices than I would, knowing that I don't dump or do. I think I fear making bad food choices that might jeopardize my weight loss more than I fear actually dumping. And I am thankful for that! I am now not quite 3 months out and down 60 pounds! Good luck :)
   — Laurel C.