Avoiding Unexpected Sickness after Surgery

One of the unfortunate side effects for bariatric patients is unexpected sickness. Most of these uncomfortable episodes can be avoided if you understand what is happening to your body and what you must do to avoid them. Perhaps the most common unexpected—and most preventable—illness is dumping syndrome.

Dumping syndrome can be an issue for some patients who have undergone a gastric bypass. Dumping syndrome occurs when your stomach moves food through the digestive tract too quickly. The stomach “dumps” undigested food and liquid into the small intestine before it is ready to be moved there. The small intestine is not prepared to handle the food and your body pays the price. You end up feeling nauseated, dizzy and even sweating uncontrollably. Sometimes this happens very soon after you eat (early dumping) and other times it takes between one and three hours for your body to feel the effects (delayed dumping). In either case, it is a very uncomfortable and avoidable situation. You can avoid most instances of dumping syndrome by following some guidelines about what you eat and when.

Let’s start with what you eat. First of all, avoid greasy or sugary foods. Neither one is good for you in general and both can cause dumping syndrome. These dietary guidelines will also help Lap Band patients to avoid discomfort even though they are not directly affected by Dumping Syndrome.

• Choose lean proteins (poultry and fish are great) and protein powders as the basis of your meals.
• Then eat fresh, non-stringy vegetables and skinless unsweetened fruit.
• Choose complex carbohydrates that are made from whole grains. These are also often high in fiber which will help reduce dumping.

We know that you have heard this about your diet before but the truth is that it’s the best way to eat. Not only will you be healthier, you will help avoid the discomfort of dumping syndrome. Cook all of your foods well so that they are easier for your stomach to break down. Anything that you can do to help your stomach digest food is a good idea.

Once you have made the right food choices, it is time to eat correctly. While we do think manners are important, that is not what we are talking about. We want you to think about how you are going to eat and plan ahead.

· Watch your liquid consumption. No drinking within a half an hour of your meal or while you eat. Excess liquid can cause dumping and if you had a Lap Band procedure liquid can push foods into your larger stomach cavity which eliminates the whole point of the procedure.

· Also try cutting your food into small pieces before you eat. This will make digestion easier on your stomach.

· While eating, chew your food thoroughly. We advise that you chew each bite twenty times before you swallow. This will make sure that your food is in smaller pieces before it gets to your stomach.

· One last tip is to watch your portions. Do not eat huge portions, your body will tell you when it is full and you should listen. Overeating leads to a variety of complications besides dumping.

If you are having any complications after your bariatric surgery or if you would like to find out more about the procedures and how they can help you call us. Our telephone number is 1-800-611-6913.

SOURCES
North Florida Regional Medical Center Bariatric Department
National institute of Health – Dumping Syndrome
DocShop.com
International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders
Medical Center – Ohio State University