Question:
Does anyone end up with a racing heart after eating carbs?

After I eat any carbs (pasta,mashed potatoes,any thing with starch)I end up with my heart raceing and pounding like crazy. No dumping though. I just don't eat them anymore. Will this go away eventually? I am 4 weeks post-op.    — Heather D. (posted on November 17, 2001)

November 16, 2001
When I was a "new" post-op, I was under the impression that only concentrated sugars would cause the symptoms associated with dumping syndrome. I have since found out that foods too high in fat, eating too fast, and eating too much give me exactly the same symptoms. I also thought that "dumping" only meant nausea/vomiting and diarrhea, so when I also experienced profuse perspiration, rapid heartrate, stomach spasms, extreme weakness, and the "just shoot me" feeling, I called my surgeon in a panic and was certain that I must be dying. He assured me that all these symptoms could be associated with "dumping" and that patients experience them to some degree or another...or not ever at all. I am now 20 months post-op, and I learned quickly to avoid this experience for the most part....my daughter is 22 months post-RNY and has never experienced "dumping". I don't eat sugars, have no desire anymore for high-fat foods, and really try to slow down and take smaller bites when I'm eating "dense" or heavy carbohydrates like mashed potatoes or breads. Those more dense foods have a tendency to "gum up" and just sit in my pouch like a lead weight. I would never say that I look forward to these symptoms, but they have provided a great learning experience over the past months. The feeling is miserable, but not life-threatening....it only lasts 20-30 minutes, and then I'm as good as new, but during that period I am acutely aware that I don't want to ever "sin" again! I think that for most post-ops who "dump", the experience lessens with time, but seems to stay with us.....perhaps we just learn to avoid it better :-) Good luck!
   — Diana T.

November 16, 2001
Its a mild form of dumping, and it occured to me very early post op. It mostly made me feel warm. Totally gone a month or so after surgery. Nothing to worry about...
   — bob-haller

November 16, 2001
Carbohydrates when digested by the body are broken down by repiration into glucose. That might be why you are experiencing this... just remember protein first! Good luck!
   — Deborah W.

November 17, 2001
I am pre-op, my date is Dec 5th. I have had that problem all my life. I was diganosed as a reactive Hypoglomic. The doctor did many tests and found there was no damage from it. I try to stay away from carbs as much as possible, but when I do enjoy them I know that the racing heart will subside shortly.
   — Kathy P.

December 27, 2001
Oh my goodness, I get those heart palpitations also, and it is when I eat carbs, I am 2 weeks post-op and I had rice and noodles I had them pureed and non-pureed and they went down fine, however I had the heart palpitaitons-I am reading that pasta enlarges the pouch I most defintely don't want that,but my 3 meal a day called for a starch so I thought the rice was ok. I am learning a lot from this site. Thanks
   — jjpj497