Question:
Was this dumping or not?

I am 2 and a half months out, I have thought I experienced dumping before, sweats, nauseau etc. Tonight for dinner I went to a mexican restaurant, had 2 tortilla chips, some mexican ceasar salad and a few tiny bites of chicken from a taco. About 30-45 mins later as I was driving home I started to get similar to period cramps. When I got home I started to feel discomfort in my back and ribs and then all of a sudden I thought I was going to die. Mostly the pain in my back was the worst, I tried to lie down, I crawled around, started sweating violently. I could not stay in one position it hurt sooooo bad. I was crying and considered calling 911. I had sweat dripping from my body and then after about 30 minutes it suddenly stopped. Now I feel very weak and shaky, my face is bright red and it's been about 30 minutes. Was this dumping? It was the back and rib pain I had never heard about. Also, now I feel soo hungry.    — Mandy M. (posted on August 31, 2001)

August 31, 2001
It could be dumping, but moreso - if you've not had your gallbladder taken out, you might want to get it checked out. This sounds very similar to the gallstone attacks I had before I had it taken out.
   — Elizabeth D.

August 31, 2001
Gallbladder "attacks" or gastric ulcers can produce similar symptoms, so if it would be important for your physician to rule out those conditions. However, some RNY patients often experience "stomach spasms" post-op which cause the same severe discomfort. The three of us in my family who have had RNY surgery have all had our experiences with this. The pain comes and goes, lasts from 20 minutes to an hour or more, and will absolutely drop you to your knees. I was certain that I was having a heart attack, but the pain was primarily in my mid-back and radiating around my ribcage. I called my surgeon the first time it happened to me, and he immediately identified the problem (after he had confirmed that I no longer had my gallbladder). He called in a prescription for Donnatal, an antispasmodic drug, and our family now refers to it as our "miracle drug". This drug is as old as the hills, was used alot for babies with severe colic, but is rapid-acting and highly effective. We carry it everywhere we go, because you never know when one of these spasms will occur. The good news is that they happen less and less as time goes by. I haven't experienced it in over six months, but the event certainly leaves a lasting impression when it does happen :-) Best of luck to you!
   — Diana T.

August 31, 2001
Although your symptoms could indicate that you experienced dumping, it seems the food that you ate should not have caused you to dump. In that case, and knowing that there are other causes for the types of symptoms you mentioned, you should check with your doctor to rule out other possibilities. Good luck.
   — [Anonymous]

September 1, 2001
Sounds exactly like what I experienced with my gallbladder. You may have passed a stone. It comes on quickly and can pass almost as fast. I suggest contacting your surgeon or PCP to explore the possiblity.
   — georgiacarol

September 1, 2001
I had a similar experience when i was 4 weeks post-op. I went to the doctor. My pain shot through my stomach to my back. He thought it was pancreatitis.( My gallbladder is gone). He took blood work and it came back negative. I then threw up 3 times. Suddenly the pain was gone. I was still shaken but the episode had passed. He concluded that food got STUCK IN THE STOMA. This is very painful.When i threw up i dislogged it. You probably rode it out and it passed into the intestines. All i can say, is that i never want to experience that again. Rose
   — rose B.