A woman holding her stomach in pain wearing an off-white blouse and blue jeans sitting on the couch.

Are you experiencing pain, bloating, fatigue, or nausea after eating? If you have recently undergone gastric surgery, you could be encountering dumping syndrome. Dumping syndrome is a condition that can develop after gastric bypass surgery and occurs when food moves too quickly from the stomach to the intestines.

Don’t let your health dictate your social plans, energy levels, and your personal comfort. Find the relief you deserve by learning more about the symptoms, causes, and treatments for dumping syndrome from the experts at Birmingham Minimally Invasive Surgery.

What Is Dumping Syndrome?

When a person experiences it, food gets “dumped” into the small intestine without being digested, causing bloating, swelling, abdominal pain, and other uncomfortable symptoms.

Usually, these symptoms can also be experienced in other areas of the body, including the feeling of light-headedness or tiredness after a meal. People with dumping syndrome can experience the symptoms anywhere from 10 minutes to 3 hours after eating.

Symptoms of Dumping Syndrome

This can be categorized into two types: early and late. Early syndrome happens 10 to 30 minutes after a meal, whereas late syndrome happens 1 to 3 hours after eating. Some common symptoms of dumping syndrome include:

  • Bloating
  • Swelling
  • Abdominal pain
  • Nausea
  • Facial flushing
  • Heart palpitations
  • Dizziness and fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • An uncomfortable feeling of fullness (even after small portions)

Causes

To understand the causes of dumping syndrome, we need to understand how our digestive system works.

Your digestive tract will make and then release hormones that control how your digestive system functions. When food moves too quickly from the stomach to the intestines, your digestive tract will end up releasing more hormones than it should. Your body reacts by shifting fluid from your bloodstream into your small intestine. This shift of fluid, plus other substances released by your intestines in reaction to undigested food, causes the symptoms of dumping syndrome.

Home Remedies

So what can you do at home if you want to try and treat this condition? The first thing that you need to do is try and change what and how you eat. Some diet changes include:

  • Avoid liquids until at least 30 minutes after a meal
  • Lie down for 30 minutes after a meal to alleviate symptoms
  • Avoid foods high in simple carbohydrates
  • Increase your protein and fiber intake
  • Avoid dairy products
  • Avoid alcohol

It may be beneficial to eat 6 small meals per day, instead of the traditional 3 meals a day. Your doctor will recommend what specific foods you should avoid and any other steps you need to take to avoid dumping syndrome symptoms.

Post-Op Best Practices

If you have had an operation and want to try and limit your symptoms, do not attempt to just “power through” dumping syndrome symptoms. Instead, rest whenever you feel tired. Ample rest will allow your body to regulate its processes.

If you are able, daily walks may help alleviate feelings of bloating and puffiness. We also recommend you do not lift anything at all that may cause you to strain, such as a vacuum cleaner, child, bags of dog food, or a heavy briefcase.

Find Relief from Dumping Syndrome

You deserve to enjoy dinner with friends or breakfast with your family without having to worry about possible side effects. If you notice any symptoms of dumping syndrome, it’s important to contact a doctor. A medical professional will be able to analyze your unique symptoms and advise treatments to give you relief. Don’t let your health dictate your social plans, energy levels, and your personal comfort!

Treatment at BMI Surgery

If you are struggling with dumping syndrome, don’t hesitate to contact Dr. Long and his team today. Proudly serving the Birmingham area, we specialize in all types of bariatric surgery and can help you with post-op recovery. Call us today at 205-850-1973 or contact us online to set up a consultation.

We look forward to helping you take back control of your health!