Question:
Feeling Sweaty after eating with rapid heart beat?

I am 6 days out from my surgery and after I eat I feel sweaty and hot each time and most always have a somewhat rapid heart beat. Is this normal? I called my physician on call last night and of course it was a regular surgeon and not the bariatric one so he thought since my pouch is so small it is making me diophoretic(sp?). I know this makes people cold and clammy and sweaty. He thought this was normal. Anyone else have this problem? It is not bad but just cumbersome. Otherwise I am doing fine. Getting in what I think I need despite I don't think I am getting enough water but trying!! I am up and around to the grocery and driving already. I had the RNY Lap. My brother has it tomorrow!!! Let me know what you guys think. Oh and also my mother ran across some sugarfree candy like reeses they don't have sorbitol like my dr. said not to eat but something new called lactitol. Anyone heard if this is safe for us to eat? It is recommended by the American Diabetic Association. Thanks    — aishabilal (posted on November 10, 2003)

November 9, 2003
At 6 days out, are you still on the liquid phase? Sounds to me like you might be experiencing some slight dumping episodes. Watch the sugar and carb content on the foods you are eating. And make sure you are drinking plenty of water.
   — Sheryl W.

November 9, 2003
It sounds like you are dumping, you didn't say what it was that you were eating. At six days post-op, what does your Dr have you eating, I was still on liquids for the first three weeks then on pureed for 2 weeks. If you are eating foods, take bites that are about the size of a pencil eraser, and chew - chew - chew (at 15 months post-op, I still chew everything to applesauce consistancy). You can get the pulse racing from eating to fast, from getting to much sugar into the system to fast.... it could be a number of things. As far as the sugar free candies, if you can, try to hold off on these for another month or two. This is the perfect time to eliminate the cravings for all of those sweets. If you are really hungry for something sweet, try yogurt (Dannon light and fit is my favorite) or some frozen popsicles (sugar free of course) The first couple of weeks were the toughest for me, because I had terrible head hunger and once I got past it the next six months were much easier. Keep telling yourself that you know you can do it and try and avoid your old triggers. If you ever need to talk, please e-mail me!!!
   — Dana B.

November 10, 2003
Sounds like dumping to me, too. Early on I had one of these mild dumping episodes from drinking diluted apple juice. So, watch the natural sugars in whatever it is you're eating/drinking. Regular yogurt, fruit juice, fruit and such can have plenty enough sugar to cause dumping, especially this early out. Read the labels, dilute all your juices, and you should be fine.
   — Vespa R.

November 10, 2003
Sounds like maybe dumping? Here's a good explanation - see what you think: When the pylorus (normal point of connection between the stomach and small intestine) has been bypassed, undigested food may rapidly enter the jejunum. Water is pulled into the intestine (from the surrounding blood vessels and tissues) resulting in a decrease in blood volume and intestinal dilation. Peristalsis (the movements of the intestine to propel food further down the tract) is stimulated resulting in nausea, vomiting, epigastric pain, abdominal cramping, gurgling sounds, and diarrhea. Decreased blood volume results in a rapid heart rate, low blood pressure when you go from sitting or lying down to standing up, dizziness, flushing, and breaking out in a sweat. In addition, the entry of this undigested food into the jejunum causes a rapid rise in blood glucose. This stimulates the release of an excessive amount of insulin, leading to hypoglycemic (low blood sugar) symptoms 2-3 hours after the meal. Dumping syndrome is managed primarily by a dietary pattern that delays gastric emptying and allows smaller amounts of undigested food to enter the intestine at one time. Blessings, dina
   — Dina McBride

November 10, 2003
Ditto on the sounds like dumping. You don't mention what you've been eating when you experience this. I had many problems early on with fat in food causing dumping just like this. I had to be very careful in the beginning with fat grams. If you tell us what you're eating it could help us to give more specific answers. Oh- the Reeses sugar free are YUMMMMMY. But certainly a no-no until much further out. Don't waste your calories on anything that is not prtein based! AND- if your problem is fat at this point- these will be horrible for you.
   — LMCLILLY

November 10, 2003
Same thing happened to me early post op and on occassion now if i have too many carbs. (almost 6 mo out) My Doc said it was mild dumping. Keep tract of the foods that cause this and decrease the amount of them. Sometimes it happens on plain chicken for me - I think it's if I eat too much too fast. Good luck to you... and your brother! P.S. I've had the sugar free reeses they taste so good. Be careful how many you have at one time - I'm ok with one, I dump on two. :)
   — adeas

November 10, 2003
I agree with the dumping. Sugar will do this, but even without sugar CARBS will do it to me yet.
   — Danmark

November 15, 2003
Sounds like dumping to me, too. Mild. Several have mentioned sugar and/or carbs, but milk can also make many of us dump . . . are you using milk?
   — RWH G.