If you’re considering bariatric surgery as a tool to aid weight loss, there are many factors to consider, including risks, before you commit to surgery. Dumping syndrome is quite common among patients who have had stomach surgery, occurring when undigested food passes too quickly from the stomach into the small intestine, more specifically after sugary or rich foods are consumed. This can cause a host of unwelcome symptoms quite quickly, as your digestive system adjusts to deal with the food (for example drawing in extra fluid or releasing extra hormones), or hours later as your blood sugar levels fluctuate due to additional insulin as a result of the food ‘dump’. 

Reflux

Stages of dumping syndrome

There are two different stages of dumping syndrome that a person may experience. The first can happen within minutes of consuming (excessively sugary/rich/semi-liquid) food or up to thirty minutes later. Symptoms include: 

  • Abdominal pain/cramping
  • Bloating
  • Nausea/vomiting
  • Diarrhoea 
  • Feeling dizzy or lightheaded
  • Increased/rapid heart rate

Late dumping syndrome can happen anywhere between two to three hours after you have finished eating. These symptoms are a result of low blood sugar, which takes time to develop as your body releases more insulin to handle the undigested food in your small intestine. Symptoms include: 

  • Fatigue
  • Weakness/shakiness or feeling dizzy/lightheaded
  • Flushing
  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat

Is dumping syndrome more common after a bypass or sleeve gastrectomy? 

Dumping syndrome is more common in patients who have undergone a gastric bypass, as food bypasses the stomach straight to the small intestine, but those who have had a sleeve gastrectomy may suffer from dumping syndrome as an unwanted side effect too. 

How to avoid dumping syndrome after bariatric surgery? 

The way to control dumping syndrome following bariatric surgery is sticking to the recommended dietary changes that your dietitian has outlined with you as part of your post-surgery diet. 

Avoiding sugar and being careful with dairy – avoiding simple sugars, carbohydrates and dairy products help to maintain steady blood sugar levels. The emphasis should be on protein, complex carbohydrates and healthy fats. Adding fibre can slow down sugar absorption in your digestive system. 

Drinking fluids – Try not to drink a lot during or immediately after eating. This will reduce the volumes being moved to the small intestine, as fluids encourage motility. If you are hungry and thirsty, make sure you drink first and try to avoid fluids that are high in sugar or fat.

Eat smaller meals – following bariatric surgery you won’t be able to consume large amounts of food in one sitting as you may have before, so be mindful to eat smaller meals to avoid dumping syndrome. 

Lie down after eating – if you start to feel uncomfortable, lying down for around thirty minutes after eating is advised to slow down gastric emptying and maintain the blood sugar levels in the digestive system. While this isn’t practical as a routine, you will need to give yourself a bit of a break if you do start to experience dumping symptoms.

mexican food after bariatric surgery

If you are still experiencing dumping syndrome and are concerned, then speak to your doctor or surgeon who will be able to review your dietary intake and potentially offer other options to help alleviate your symptoms. Sometimes a food diary is an important part of the assessment process, so if you do have problems, consider writing down everything you eat over a couple of days so we can try to relate your symptoms to what you eat.

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