Has anyone else experienced dumping syndrome sfter surgery. I had part of my oesophagus and part of my stomach removed. At first I had diahroea
randomly through the day and it didnt seem to fit with dumping. Now 8 months on it is just a problem in the mornings ans is looking like dumping sfter breakfast. I am waiting to see the gastroenterologist but no appointment yet. This is stopping me from resuming past activities. It does not seem to be triggered by any specific food type. Any suggestions?
Written by
grandylynda
To view profiles and participate in discussions please or .
Unfortunately all of us who have had the operation experience dumping at some time. I am 11 years post op and still have episodes of dumping and it is usually my own fault in eating one spoonful to many or drinking too soon after food. it's frustrating but it's one of the things we all have in common .In my case I will always experience occasional dumping but try to manage it with not eating to much ,eating slowly and little and often.
You'll be ok and will probably manage it better than I do.
Hi! Sorry to hear about your problem. I don't have any personal experience of dumping, but from what my husband's nutritionist told us after his operation, there are two types. Early dumping is when you vomit back up what you have eaten - and late when you get diarrhoea an hour or so later.
You say you get this after breakfast but don't say which type. From what we were told, a sudden influx of sugar to the body can cause this - e.g. if you have cereal for breakfast. I hasten to stress that I'm no expert and everyone tolerates (or doesn't!) certain foods differently. Have you tried varying what you eat for breakfast? I wouldn't wait until your appointment with the gastroenterologist - I would contact the nutritionist where you were treated for advice/information. I am aware that it's a not uncommon side effect after this operation, but that doesn't make it any less distressing.
Hope you can get something sorted soon. Best wishes, Kate
Thanks, I have had ongoing conversations with dietician and tried various things. It is early dumping and what I have for breakfast ma8kes no diference
Oh sorry to hear that. Just thought I'd offer a few suggestions, but clearly you've already tried them. Hope you can get it sorted soon as it must be having an awful impact on your quality of life. Best wishes, Kate
I will be two years post op mid June. The most uncomfortable part of my recovery has been dumping. For me it has been completely random regarding what food I eat in as much as one day toast is ok and the next its not! The only food I have found to be ok is porridge...
The main lesson I have learnt is to not eat too much (difficult when you really like something), and eat slowly, i.e. chew the mouthful slowly and completely like you were told to do as a kid and do not reload your fork/spoon until that mouthful is finished!
It took me a long time to realise these facts but thankfully my dumping episodes are much fewer these days.
Its a very harsh surgery and recovery takes a long long time...
Pretty much everybody gets dumping post surgery. It gets less with time - personally food portion plays a part - a bit too much then .....
you can get fast acting loperamide (Imodium) - helpful when going out
However main culprits seem to be sugar (this includes anything your body sees as sugar I.e all simple carbohydrates) and dairy (again could it be the lactose - sugar in milk).
Ask to be given a breath test, you may have a gut infection. My husband's came out positive and he is on antibiotics, Rifaximin, one week in 4, have seen a big difference in what he can tolerate and is much more comfortable. Hope this helps, we never really knew if he was "dumping" or not, but post meal burping has eased and sugar tolerance increased. As for portion size, he eats as before. Hope this helps. Best wishes x
We all seem to experience `dumping` differently. I`m 6 years post op and I find that its some types of food. One in particular is fish and chips, usually I feel it about an hour after eating. Usually a glucose tablet and a cat nap and about and hour later I'm back to `normal`. For breakfast I eat cereal (rice crispies or frosties) and either toast (wholemeal) or crumpets.
Bread seems to be a big problem with some. About 4 months ago I found that Tescos Finest High Portein bread doesn`t give me any problems. I can eat it as a sandwich or toasted. Only problem it contains a lot of seeds.
After this much time, I'd wonder about biome. I don't want to urge you jump on a health bandwagon, but this surgery has got to mess up the GI tract and its normal residents. It does take a while to establish a new normal. So I'd suggest maybe try a dose of probiotics--aside from the cost (more than vitamins), major risk would be no change.
You definitely might want to get with the GI doctor on this. The same thing happened to me after my gallbladder was removed. It didn't matter what I ate or drank in the morning. I've been to several GI doctors, and no help yet. I see a new one next month, hopefully she can get to the bottom of what'S going on.
Sugar dairy coffee and high fat does it for me. I couldn’t tolerate high fat milk, yoguart, ice cream. I have tried lactose free milk. If i have a little cake it can sometimes trigger it. It is to do with how sugar rushes through your system. I get light headed and feel faint at times .I carry Dextrose and take one as soon as I get signs. I had a breath test for bacterial overgrowth but it was negative. I am having one for lactose. Our plumbing has been altered and we have to make adjustments.
Also don’t eat and drink at the same time. I am trying creon as well.
Hi, i had a total gastrectomy and i'm 10 year's post op, i think everyone is different, in the beginning it can be a bit of a nuisance and your GI tract will never be the same again..i think everything has pretty much been said about dumping syndrome but as time goes by it will get better ..i hardly have it atall now..it's a bit of a learning curb and you will find how to deal with yours as time goes by..best wishes.
Like many people I’ve had it too! It took me a long time before I could reliably undertake a normal life where I didn’t have to worry about dumping in public. I find eating a small amount of protein with every meal and snack to be the best. Also to avoid high fat/sugar in anything but tiny quantities unless balanced by each other plus carbohydrates and of course protein! I have to plan what I eat each day and when. Two years post surgery it’s all much better. And happens much less frequentlyMostly because my body had begun to adjust to some of the changes and I have learned to live with it. As a result I can stay away from home and undertake most activities no worries. Managing it all is so normal now it worries me far less. I carry emergency food with me and know what to go for when I’m eating out! Some things are off limits ie tea/coffee with a cake. I’ll eat some nuts instead. We’re all different and I’m sure you’ll work out what’s best for you. But really I’m so pleased to have had two extra years since the surgery I don’t worry too much about these restrictions! Good luck!
Thanks.Like you happy to be here. I have come to realise I may not be able to return to previous activities but I think learning to live with it and not worrying are all part of it. At the moment I am experimenting whether fortisips play a part. I was much better for 2 days when I didnt have them. Going to try having it later in day.
I think you will get back to where you were on activities it just takes a lot of planning. Fortisips might release quite a lot of sugar quite quickly! They might be ok if you could have them with something else that would balance that out. I didn’t eat for 6 weeks after surgery as I was on TPN for a major chyle leak then on a no fat diet for 3 weeks by which time a lot of the post surgery healing was done. It really is trial and error but does get loads better and manageable!
Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.
Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.
Swallowing difficulties 5 months post-op
Diaphragm hernia surgery 
Diabetes and oesophagectomy 
From a Carer’s Perspective 
Post op sleeping position 
