Question:
Please Help! I'm 2 months post-op and able to tolerated things you won't believe

I have been trying different foods to see what my system can tolerate because I want to know how this dumping sydrome feel and I have had a piece of fried chicken,potatoe chips no sweets I want to know why do they tell you your body cannot tolerate these things ever again after the surgery I'm scare to know if I have stretch my pouch but i still get full after I've eaten about 3-4 ounces of food no matter what it is at a time. I need to know how bad has this been for me trying these Items .    — [Anonymous] (posted on May 15, 2000)

May 15, 2000
Don't panic! You haven't done anything to hurt yourself--a piece of fried chicken and a few potato chips never killed anyone! You have to remember that this is not an exact science--we don't all react exactly the same to the same foods. I am now almost 8 months post op and I can eat literally anything with no dumping. In the very beginning I had a couple episodes of it from things I didn't think I would--like Nyquil and I tested the limits with Halloween candy and got it. I didn't tolerate super greasy foods well at first either--no dumping--just made me feel kind of queasy if I ate a meal of chicken tenders or something. Now I eat what I want but I have to make the right choices. Sometimes I think those with the real sensitive stomachs that don't need to make choices--they just CAN'T eat the bad stuff are the lucky ones but mostly I think I am. I choose to eat healthy most of the time and I have lost 100 lbs so far (I am down to 186). But when I really want something sweet or greasy I eat it and enjoy it. I didn't have this surgery so I could worry about every bite I put in my mouth for the rest of my life--I had it so I didn't have to. So anyway, maybe you will be like me and be able to eat more than some RNY's can and maybe you won't. But if you are--it's not the end of the world. You'll still lose the weight and enjoy a wonderful new life. Congratulations and good luck--write me if you want--
   — Cheryl W.

May 15, 2000
Everyone's body reacts differently...my daughter and I both have had a lap RNY this year...I have experienced the symptoms related to "dumping" and she has not. I have been sensitive to juices (orange, apple and pineapple) that have a higher fructose content...she has had bites of cookies or doughnuts and they haven't affected her at all. Typically, the symptoms are a feeling of weakness, breaking out into a sweat, faster and sometimes slightly irregular heart rate, occasionally some nausea and diarrhea shortly after eating. The foods that you describe...fried chicken and potato chips...have high fat content and usually it is sugar, not fat, that triggers the "dumping syndrome". Our surgeon warned us that this surgery is not always the magic cure-all...the over-all success rate of WLS (particularly proximal RNY) still depends on the patient's willingness to make some life-style changes such as reducing fat, sugar and caloric intake. He was quick to say that the only problems related to slow or inadequate weight loss that he had observed in his practice were related to overeating or improper diet. I guess my feeling is that this surgery was "the last resort" for me and it feels really important that I change alot of those lifetime eating habits that got me to this place. I do agree however, that it's important to strike a balance in this process...a little of the things you have always loved is not going to make that much difference...you just have to remember where to draw the line. Good luck, Diana
   — Diana T.

May 15, 2000
Hi. My information is that everyone does not get dumping syndrome. A friend of mine had gastric roux en y and she does not have dumping syndrome at all. The only food she still cannot eat is Chinese. Go figure. However, not getting dumping syndrome seems to make it hard to stick to the straight and narrow. I do have dumping syndrome. It is very unpleasant and works like a charm to keep me from eating sugar, fat and almost anything that would be a bad idea. I would suggest that you stop trying to eat fattening food to see if you have dumping syndrome because all it does it put too many calories down. My friend defeated the surgery and is about to have a revision. Over a year post op and she can eat unlimited food and is gaining weight. This scared me to death. It works almost as well as dumping syndrome to keep me from eating. LOL Beth.
   — Elizabeth H.

May 16, 2000
I had only one dumping early on right after surgery (hubby gave me whole milk) Since that time I have NOT had any dumping at all and I eat anything and everything I want (Except whole milk, sugar) I also stay away from breads, starches like potatoes, corn, because they turn to sugar and sugar results in fat...anything else is a go for me. Nothing has bothered me at all even STEAK..Yummy.. I choose not to eat fatty foods (chips, fries junk food) because I want to maximize my weight loss (I had a lot to loose) I am like you stay between 3-4 oz at a meal.. and never go over 800 calories not that I plan that it just works out that way. The chips you ate probably won't make you dump but will slow and even stop your weight loss. So be careful with fatty foods and starches. <p> Visit my profile page for links to my webpages for more information and recipes.
   — Victoria B.

May 16, 2000
Hi -- I'm about 12 weeks postop now from the lap RNY, proximal. I don't dump at all on sugar or fruit juices! It kind of bothers me, because I could use the negative reinforcement. I do dump on greasy foods, like the other person who posted, I dump on Chinese food! Actually, I get nauseous, queasy and vomit if I eat Chinese food. You might want to consider counting your calories for a few days, just to make sure those little 'extras' aren't adding up to too much at the end of each day. My doctor said I could have a spoon of sugar in my coffee, for example, but I make sure that I count that since I only want to get in 600 to 800 calories a day.
   — Elizabeth M.