Dumping syndrome

[telford-hiker]

Hi,does anyone know if chemo makes you more prone to dumping ,post op..just had 3rd cycle of FLOT,and seem to be suffering a bit ..thanks

[Mauser1905]

Good progress on your third cycle and hope you will complete the fourth cycle as well.

I also believe you may have continued your daily walking regime through these last 2 months. 4+ months post surgery is very very early days and the body is still not adjusted to the New Normal. rest apart the chemo ongoing it will take more time to heal as a consequence.

Dumping Syndrome as such a subjective matter and not widely researched, not even correlation wise. Therefore there may not be a definite clinical answer as to if post-op chemo makes your dumping syndrome worse. Wish if there was some protocol.

Suggest tying probiotics to top up gut bacteria, currently you have too much of chemicals going inside of you.

Also everybody is different and has unique set of symptoms from the syndrome. Possibly its helpful to rest the body and mind to let it recover and heal. Many a times physical strain induces the diarrhoea dumping.

Some form of distraction would do great, as you really have been doing great physically immediately after surgery. my personal view only.

[telford-hiker in reply to Mauser1905]

Hi.thanks for reply,just been out on first descent walk..it really does clear the mind..I have a meeting next week to discuss 4th cycle,but would probably be foolish not to take it,as may be a big regret later on.I know this dumping is a big learning curve,awoke this morning feeling really well,had cornflakes and my only mug of coffee,next thing stomach cramps..for half hour, just can’t seem to get it right ..as you say early days..thanks for your help,very much appreciated. I hope you are well and staying safe too

[Singforyoursupper in reply to telford-hiker]

I have found coffee is a real antagonist for dumping, along with all the other things you are warned of. In respect to others advice about probiotics ( which I am a huge fan of and all things fermented for gut health normally) my dieticians were vehement I should not use these foods during and soon after my chemo as the bacteria even though ‘essentially good’ could react badly with the drugs. I introduced pre and probiotics after chemo was finished and have found them to be enormously beneficial. So do ask your dieticians. Best of luck.

[telford-hiker in reply to Singforyoursupper]

Thank you too,very useful information,much appreciated

[champagnelover in reply to telford-hiker]

I think most of us suffer or have suffered dumping which in my case seems to have no reason. I can eat the same thing and be ok or not! However I find a hot water bottle helps with cramps and keeping still after eating for at least half an hour helps. Good luck with the 4th round.

[telford-hiker in reply to champagnelover]

Must be a common problem then..most annoying,when you feel well 1 minute the slump..and yes aswell sitting here as we speak after eating early tea..thanks for the tip on hot water bottle,will give it a try ..🙏🏻 Thank you

[Janashlin in reply to champagnelover]

Agree with keeping still for 30 minutes, doesn’t always works but seems to help for me as well.

[rayw55 in reply to telford-hiker]

Just a thought. I had to stop drinking coffee completely as whenever I did I suffered from dumping. I put it down to the milk but I can enjoy milk ok now in reasonable amounts but coffee still causes me issues.

[telford-hiker in reply to rayw55]

I will try a process of illimination..only have half a spoonful of sugar now ..and small glass of orange juice to ..I’m gonna end up with an egg and a glass of water soon 😀

[JDMC16 in reply to telford-hiker]

Apple juice is better than orange juice for you due to orange juice containing citric acid ,causing reflux !

[telford-hiker in reply to JDMC16]

Thanks 🙏🏻 not keen on apple juice tbh..but maybe I’ll try ..thank you

[Hidden]

I still have to be careful as too what to eat so as not to trigger dumping. I would still find cornflakes milk and coffee first thing in the morning a disaster. I need to include protein but not from milk or yogurt with each meal. So an egg would be a better breakfast choice. I now have nuts and fruit for breakfast but I couldn’t have coped with that so early on from surgery. I think the hospital dietician would be helpful. Good luck with chemo. Dumping is a terrible nuisance but nearly five years on I’m still here and have learnt to mostly manage side effects.

[telford-hiker in reply to Hidden]

Ok,thanks for reply..still learning,I tried cornflakes this morning and was ok,then mug of tea,wasn’t quite dumping but did get bit of gut ache..I’ve spoke to a dietitian a few times ,but I find they don’t really know,as we are all different,but I will take your advice and try what you have said ..so thank you

[Hidden in reply to telford-hiker]

The tea after the cornflakes will do it! We all have a bit of learning to do. Good luck and well done for getting this far.

[telford-hiker in reply to Hidden]

I feel well,and think it’s all gone back to normal,then booom..😂 thank you 🙏🏻 tho ,much appreciated

[Janashlin in reply to telford-hiker]

Dieticians here in Australia do not understand dumping at all. No support really.

[telford-hiker in reply to Janashlin]

Hi,I don’t think they do here in the UK..maybe on paper,but unless you’ve experienced it people don’t understand it,last week after chemo everything seemed to set me off..So I think it’s going to be a personal thing..1 thing is for sure is to stay away from sugar..stay safe

[Notknowmuch in reply to Janashlin]

Hi, the dietitian at St Vincents Private was very helpful for my husband since his IL surgery stay till returning home. She put my husband on Fortisip drink.

Both my husband’s surgeon and dietitian advised that he should take small meals, take small bites and ti chew his food thoroughly. To rest at least 20 mins after meal.

My husband is lucky that he could tolerate rich and creamy food, even coffee and chocolate. He indulges with half a glass of cafe latte to start his day, then a bowl of oats porridge (with full cream milk).

I noticed that he’ll feel (and even look) uncomfortable when he over eats any of his baby size portion of food.

Since his IL on 2/6/2020 he had only drank a glass of red on 3 occasions. He loves his drinks but this is the only ‘food’ he’s refraining from consuming on a regular basis.

[telford-hiker in reply to Notknowmuch]

Hi,yes I’m very partial to a glass of red ..only on weekends,and I’ve leaned not for a few weeks after chemo..but no other problems there ..maybe dehydrate quicker than normal..so drink regular squash or water,although water tastes gross at mo....

[walking-in-wales]

Post-op chemo exacerbated all sorts of side-effects for me including developing a lactose intolerance, which can give similar effects to "dumping syndrome". I also found I could not tolerate coffee, but it may have been the milk. Too much sugar can also have a side-effects because it passes into the lower gut quickly & lots of fluids also pushes food into the lower gut quicker. I went on a lactose-free diet with less sugar & separated the bulk of the the fluids from the solids - might be worth a try. My lactose intolerance faded about 6-months after the end of the chemo. Fortunately there are lots of lactose-free alternatives available these days.

It's about 18-months since I finished my chemotherapy (after oesophago-gastrectomy) & because of the reduced stomach capacity find it best to have a mug of tea an hour or two after any meal & avoid too much sugar in foods. The sugar can lead to a "hypoglycaemic rebound" as the body responds to absorbing the sugar rapidly.

Good luck with your recovery & keep strong & safe from the coronavirus.

[telford-hiker]

Hi..I can only face 1 cup of tea or preferably coffee all day ,so I do look forward to it..I cut out sugar totally this morning and did feel better,I have also developed a bit of a cold,so maybe that is a contributing factor..I couldn’t face any milk in anything when I first left hospital,so maybe I have improved a little there..,I think I’m trying to push to fast..it’s hard but when you feel well,I seem to think everything has returned to the old normal,only to find out very quickly it’s far from it..thanks for your help tho..it’s all very helpful,kind regards Marc

[Notknowmuch in reply to telford-hiker]

Hi, if I remembered correctly you had your surgery close to when my husband had his on 2/6/2020.

From the sounds of it you seem to be recovering very well other than this dumping issue, great outcome!

Even though my husband is recovering very well his surgeon said recovery time will take at least 12 mths post surgery.

Getting up too quickly or drinking too much (take regular sips of water instead) could cause dumping.

Hope you get to manage the dumping better and all the best with your continual recovery.

[telford-hiker in reply to Notknowmuch]

Hi..yeah surgery was 16.6.20..I seem ok again now,so sort of putting it down to post chemo..and taking it too quickly after each cycle..I have my last session on Thursday as mine have been every 3 weeks,due to low blood count.This all started on first lot of chemo,so been kept the same ,..I think I may have been rushing things..I intend to take this last lot a bit slower..hope your feeling better now and wish you a speedy recovery

[Hon-Moonraker]

I'm 2yrs post op. I still get it on occasion. Haven't managed to pin point an exact cause, but excessive bread and rice could be one. I tend to get it about once a month and usually if I've over eaten. Never have gotten my portion sizes right.

[telford-hiker in reply to Hon-Moonraker]

Yeah it’s strange,been ok for days now,big walks and food seems ok..can’t understand why it happens..So if your still getting it ,looks like it’s going to be a mystery..and just hope as time goes by it may get less and less..thanks for reply tho ..and good luck

[Mauser1905]

Would suggest to pull back into a safe zone of whats working for you right now. At least for the chemo treatment is done and about.

Once you stabilise then you can do trial and error method with elimination method. Now is not the right time for it as you venturing into last chemo session.

Thats my two pence.

Pain in the chest lower to mid after eating and drinking Same time is due to overstretching the stomach within the diaphragm and thoracic cavity. Stomach is meant to expand like a balloon, but not anymore in oesophagectomy patients. It does expand against the thoracic structure and mainly hangs down and out from the diaphragm like a pear. So thats that pain. Also remember the anastomosis( suture of oesophagus and stomach) is still healing and will continue to heal for long time. That also pains along with scar tissue everywhere inside and outside.

Strictly no liquid like mug of tea etc with food except for a couple of sips to swallow creon. And not immediately after or before food.

[telford-hiker in reply to Mauser1905]

Yeah I’m goin to stay on the safe side for a few weeks..I find chemo makes me sensitive to dumping..last thing you need ..thanks for advice as always

[jay2908]

Chemo will irritate your gut, so probably why you’re getting dumping. One option is to slow the food down, by possibly having a bite of a banana (Not over ripe) and then eating your meal. Hard Boiled eggs will have the same effect also.

If needed, you can have a nasogastric feeding tube inserted (I had 3 in total) and it took the pressure off trying to get calories in.

[jay2908]

My safe food for breakfast is a potato waffle with a fried egg on top. I usually have a cup of tea 30 mins or more before breakfast.

Dry Roasted peanuts to graze on throughout the day (Asda own brand are better than KPs) Lots of cheese and biscuit snacks.

[telford-hiker in reply to jay2908]

Thanks,I do exactly the same ,bar the bite of banana..it funnily (or not) happened earlier on ..dumping..I had spag Bol ,hour later warm rice pudding with a scoop of ice cream ..then bingo,started again..I did have good swig of squash...I week today post last chemo,so I’m gonna try and put it down to that ..hopefully pick up next few weeks..been hard week this week tbf ..