Hypo

[nuttytreacle]

Hi, I'm 8years post Ivor Lewis and still occasionally get dumping, last Friday while on holiday I had a fairly large hypo, fitting,the works, scared hubby ! I've felt a bit fragile since then , it was a couple of days ago, any tips on how to avoid them thanks

[shaughsearcher]

Hi,

I am 12hrs post 'll and still suffer occasionally. I find that carrying a small bar of kendal mint cake works for me. At the first sign of dumping i have about 2/3 of the bar and within five minutes of so I'm ok. Hope this is useful. You can get it on eBay from various camping sites for about £6 for a dozen bars.

Brian

[strangetimes]

Aah dumping/hypo it's all a bit strange to me . Are the hypo/fitting symptoms an extreme form of dumping or something different ?

I'm 6 yrs post op and do suffer with the hypo/fitting . Not often but enough to scare me .

I'm v interested in understanding and managing this as it's awful .

As far as I can work out tiredness,stress etc make it more likely . I have become better at spotting early signs and have learnt that hoping it will go away if I try and carry on is NOT the way to proceed .

My early signs are visual disturbances and mental fuzziness /detachment . I often just want to close my eyes . I'm not convinced that sugar helps but I do carry glucose tablets and take them .More as a placebo and to keep myself calm .

Main thing I think is to keep still ,sit if at all possible .I often have an overwhelming urge to eat ( cheese! ) and drink .

Have had an MRI and tests for epilepsy and the neurologist finding all ok said, in passing really, that he thought symptoms were due to an inbalance in electrolytes .That makes sense to me ,foof/fluid intake rushing through our shortened digestive system ,osmosis coming in to play .

So maybe making sure one is well hydrated ? Taking those rehydration drinks ?

[nuttytreacle in reply to strangetimes]

Hi, I admit I don't drink enough, I've felt rough today I find once my eyesight starts to go in too far gone to help myself,it's scary

[strangetimes in reply to nuttytreacle]

sorry to hear you're still feeling under the weather ,especially as you're on holiday .

I do symapathise ,it's horrible and scary and hard to describe !

[liz_crisp in reply to strangetimes]

Hi I am twelve years post op and still get dumping. I have an endocrinologist as i have another small tumour and he explained one reason for me getting dumping still is because the body releases insulin in to the blood when we eat a meal it gauges when and how from the saliva and signals from when we chew. Trouble is with our rearranged plumbing the timing is out, the sugars do not get released into our blood stream to meet up with the insulin release. it’s not always sugary foods as any carbs get turned into sugar in the blood. He also said fat slows the absorption of sugar down, wonder if that’s why you get a craving for cheese? As your neurologist said osmosis due to food in the wrong place stimulates a release of insulin. Our bodies are amazing fascinating machines, but we have altered the system and it’s the coping methods that normally keep people on an even keel that cause us the problems. Which is why for some of us there seems to be no real pattern to it. I find it is worse when I change my routine ie go away or suddenly start exercising a lot regularly (when I remember I’m a gym member ) he said sugar definitely helps to stop it and the earlier the better. Like you say if I sit down rest and stay still it also helps. If I do nothing I go to sleep and wake up a few hours later feeling tired. Which since my body is working fine, just not in sync is OK. But as he said a few glucose tabs and a 20 min rest is a better way of dealing with it. Learning to recognise the onset is important and it’s not always the same for everyone. I feel clammy and sweaty and my brain feels fuzzy. Glad you are doing well. X

[kiddy]

Hi there remember to drink an hour before food only sip water with food. Take care with sugar as in cakes,sweets etc also high fat like some cheeses, meat milk, ice cream etc. I carry dextrose tablets and take 1 or 2 if signs happen. Sometimes it just comes on and you need to lay down and rest.

I take a banana and dextrose with me. I have a banana after exercise like gym, or long walks.

I also take creon with food,which has helped

Hope you get it under control.

Best wishes

Debbie

[Mentalmicky6]

I sometimes get caught out with bread and potatoes, too much too soon, it's not always the obvious sweet stuff.

As always little and often, I find an apple straightens me out if I do have an hypo, I'm seven years post IL

[grandylynda]

I find dextrose helps but also you need to sit still and quiet if at all possible. I always try to sit for at least 15mins after food. Don't eat and drink together. I find it difficult to drink enough because of this especially while out. I always have water with me to sip and it helps to have a take away cup for hot drinks. It keeps them hotter while you drink slowly.

Most of all, listen to your body. good luck

[Hiloboy]

18 years after surgery, dumping still rears its ugly head. Sugar and lying down for a little while seems to take care of it.

[Mindcrazedbanjo]

I'm nearly 3 years post IL and I never get dumping anymore because I never eat sugar. If I want to sweeten something I use Xylitol which doesn't give me dumping and is also better for me. My advice is to cut all sugar out of your diet because its bad for you.