Question:
9 Days Post Op, no change in routine- Why did I dump??

Hi guys, I am 9 days post-op LAP RNY and last night was BAAAAAAAD. I think I had my first dumping experience. I did my normal routine, protein shake, water ect..was up kind of late, around 12am, then I went and took my zinc, A&D and Calcium (this is the first time I've had the zinc and A&D, the Calcium I did all day yesterday fine with no problems.) I took all these together. About 1/2 hour later my stomach started to hurt. Soon after I started sweating, then had terrible diarreha, then I went and woke up my hubby, as I was getting terrible hot flashes, my stomach pain was increasing, and I thought "Oh shit, I have a bowel obstruction!". My poor hubby sat on the tub while I sat on the toilet clutching a plastic bag and practically in tears. I finally went and layed on the couch, in excruciating abdomanal pain, sweating and moaning. My hubby sat with me the whole time, holding my hand and wiping me down with cool cloths. He said he knew I was dumping, but I could not understand WHY, I didn't cheat on my liquid diet, have been SOOO faithful, not even licked my fingers after cutting up the baby's food! So why did I dump? Was it the A&D, Calcium and Zinc all together? I'm terrified to touch the A&D and Zinc now, this is an experience I DO NOT want to repeat, it was as painful as my kidney stones right after my twins were born. Didn't even get to put sugar in my mouth, and if sugar does THAT, I will never even TRY to cheat and eat sugar. Anyone have any ideas? I'm wiped out today! Jenn RNY June 11th@Duke 297/284/145    — nikita22 (posted on June 21, 2003)

June 21, 2003
Hi Jenn...no, this was not dumping. Dumping occurs when overindulging in sugar or fats (carbs, too, which turn into sugar). It sounds like one of those pills got stuck in your stoma temporarily, as I'm assuming that awful feeling did eventually pass. Perhaps you need to space out your pills a bit and not take so many at one time since you're a new postie and your stoma/pouch is most likely still a bit swollen. The key thing that tipped me off...there normally is no "excruciating pain" with dumping...just an overall icky/flu like feeling. Yes you do get sweaty, etc...but no pain. Take care, and space out your pills more and you'll do okay. Hugs, Joy
   — [Deactivated Member]

June 21, 2003
It sure sounds like dumping to me! Did your protein shake have milk in it?
   — ZZ S.

June 21, 2003
Original poster here: No I don't ever do my protein shakes with milk-water only, as I know how much sugar is in milk, and I only had water, no juice of any kind. In fact all I've had is broth, water and protein shakes for 10 days now, no cheating, no change in routine, nothing. It makes sense something might have gotten stuck in my stoma..but would that cause the runs too? I never want to go through that AGAIN as long as I live!!
   — nikita22

June 21, 2003
How big are your pills? If they are a decent size, then taking them all at once could have overfilled your pouch and upset it. It sounds like dumping to me and if I take my multi-vit on an empty stomach, I have similar experiences that you did.....not fun!
   — Tami H.

June 21, 2003
Hey Jenn - My doc says that some combinations of pills can cause symptoms like this, but other WLS docs say no - so I'd suggest telling your doc's office and listen to what they have to say. It wouldn't surprise me if they said, "you're only 9 days post op and anything can be uncomfortable right now!". For me and a couple of my WLS friends locally, we have incidents when things may be okay to eat for awhile, then suddenly they make us feel bad. It takes awhile for our new systems to learn to tolerate things...even if we think we're fine with eating something...eventually we may not be. If it's not the vitamin combo thing, then I bet this will pass soon. Good luck!
   — toolio