Question:
Dumping Syndrome or bad indigestion?
Hello, I am 2 1/2 weeks post op and am doing soft foods and starting pureed foods. I was told to not eat too much starch and today I tried a cheese quesadilla(very thin)and ate just one and a half triangles of it. I took small bites and mushed the food alot in my mouth,etc. Afterwards it hurt to swallow it down and I felt like gas pains and my stomach was making alot of noises but I did not pass gas nor have diarrhea or vomit. It is still bothering me..I am just gonna give it a rest and not eat anything and just sip a drink for a bit. Is this considered dumping? Or just indigestion from me being an idiot and eating too much at one time? LOL..I am still learning. I am trying to improvise and such. What happens when you eat more than the pouch can hold(I had GB surgery)? Does it just skip the pouch and go to your intestines? Or? It doesn't feel like I have to throw up and I am not nauseous. Hmm..anyone? And also I know i am to drink my protein shakes and also try some foods// how many foods or times a day should I eat some food..like a little egg in the morning..shake..a little yogurt..shake..a little cheese? That sort of thing? Thanks! Kristen — aidenswings (posted on July 20, 2009)
July 20, 2009
The one time for sure i had dumping, i got bad cramps, sweaty and nervous.
the other night i think i ate too fast or took too big of bites but i got
really liquidy mouth and eventually i threw up the food i ate, no liquid
which i think is weird. it could be the tortilla also. i am 14 mos post op
rny and just recently started to have a bite or two of hot dog bun or
tortilla and it does not always agree with me. i get a really full feeling
and do not want to eat anything else. hope this helps
— bikermama
July 20, 2009
Kristen, what's probably happened is that your food has gotten
"stuck". Tortillas are a very starchy product, and I would
imagine that along with the cheese, what you've got is a gummy ball of
"goop" in your pouch that's not gonna go down. If you were
"dumping" - you'd know it. Apparently, you feel like you're
gonna die...you get the shakes, heart palpatations, you get all sweaty and
clammy, you get severe stomach cramps and explosive diarrhea, and it lasts
for at least a couple of hours. It's so bad that you basically have to go
to bed or lay down until it's over. BUT, I've had food stuck lots of
times, and it's an uncomfortable feeling. Like a big ball is just sitting
at the bottom of your esophagus, and the more you swallow, the more
uncomfortable you become. Finally, you will throw it up, along with a lot
of "foam" which is your swallowed saliva...or after hours of not
drinking or eating anything else, you may finally digest it enough for it
to go down. I would save the tortillas and cheese for a lot farther down
the road, if I were you. Soft foods are more like cottage cheese,
fat-free-sugar-free puddings, Jell-O, smooth yogurts, EggBeaters scrambled
eggs, pureed chicken and turkey with a liberal splash of chicken broth in
it to moisten it. My surgeon's list also had me eating Taco Bell refried
beans - but that didn't last too long since I'm not a "bean"
person. But while I DID eat them, I put a little beef broth in them to
make them less thick, because they got stuck, too. I was told to eat 6
times per day, about 1 to 2 ounces at a time, and to pay attention to when
my pouch said "That's enough" and NOT PUT ANOTHER SPOONFUL IN MY
MOUTH. So, I ate at 7:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:30 pm, 6:00 pm and 8:30
to 9:00 pm. This type of meal plan was to be followed from the 7th to the
21st day. I was to get my protein from either IsoPure ready-to-drink, or
the New Whey bullets put in Crystal Light or fruity flavored herbal tea. I
could drink the thicker shakes, like the yummy "Oh Yeah Vanilla
Creme", but was warned that it was VERY high in fat and calories, and
I also found that if I drank it at night to get in my required protein, it
would sometimes cause reflux. If you decide to try other foods, be VERY
SURE that you eat TINY bites - no bigger than your little fingernail, and
chew until they are literally liquid in your mouth. I hope this helps --
from one who still gets stuck 4 1/2 months out - like right NOW :-)
Erica
— Erica Alikchihoo
July 20, 2009
Kristen, what's probably happened is that your food has gotten
"stuck". Tortillas are a very starchy product, and I would
imagine that along with the cheese, what you've got is a gummy ball of
"goop" in your pouch that's not gonna go down. If you were
"dumping" - you'd know it. Apparently, you feel like you're
gonna die...you get the shakes, heart palpatations, you get all sweaty and
clammy, you get severe stomach cramps and explosive diarrhea, and it lasts
for at least a couple of hours. It's so bad that you basically have to go
to bed or lay down until it's over. BUT, I've had food stuck lots of
times, and it's an uncomfortable feeling. Like a big ball is just sitting
at the bottom of your esophagus, and the more you swallow, the more
uncomfortable you become. Finally, you will throw it up, along with a lot
of "foam" which is your swallowed saliva...or after hours of not
drinking or eating anything else, you may finally digest it enough for it
to go down. I would save the tortillas and cheese for a lot farther down
the road, if I were you. Soft foods are more like cottage cheese,
fat-free-sugar-free puddings, Jell-O, smooth yogurts, EggBeaters scrambled
eggs, pureed chicken and turkey with a liberal splash of chicken broth in
it to moisten it. My surgeon's list also had me eating Taco Bell refried
beans - but that didn't last too long since I'm not a "bean"
person. But while I DID eat them, I put a little beef broth in them to
make them less thick, because they got stuck, too. I was told to eat 6
times per day, about 1 to 2 ounces at a time, and to pay attention to when
my pouch said "That's enough" and NOT PUT ANOTHER SPOONFUL IN MY
MOUTH. So, I ate at 7:00 am, 10:00 am, 1:00 pm, 3:30 pm, 6:00 pm and 8:30
to 9:00 pm. This type of meal plan was to be followed from the 7th to the
21st day. I was to get my protein from either IsoPure ready-to-drink, or
the New Whey bullets put in Crystal Light or fruity flavored herbal tea. I
could drink the thicker shakes, like the yummy "Oh Yeah Vanilla
Creme", but was warned that it was VERY high in fat and calories, and
I also found that if I drank it at night to get in my required protein, it
would sometimes cause reflux. If you decide to try other foods, be VERY
SURE that you eat TINY bites - no bigger than your little fingernail, and
chew until they are literally liquid in your mouth. I hope this helps --
from one who still gets stuck 4 1/2 months out - like right NOW :-)
Erica
— Erica Alikchihoo
July 20, 2009
Hi Kris it sounds to me like you became what is called "stuck". I
was told about it by my advocate and when it haopened to me it was exactly
as you described. The pain is the tip off. The only thing I can say is
don't sip any liquids at all and if your mouth waters don't swallow your
spit, spit it out and let the feeling pass. It will after several minutes
and you get this full heavy feeling. I think the quesadilla stuck together
in a ball despite the chewing.
— sallie H.
July 21, 2009
I am always amazed to hear that people are on soft foods 2.5 weeks out. I
was still on liquids! You aren't chewing your food enough. I know you
said you chewed it to mush, but perhaps your bit was too big and not chewed
enough. Your opening to the pouch is about the width of your pinkie
finger. Take your time and best wishes to you.
— Kristy
July 21, 2009
Kristen, a quesadilla really isn't a good choice for weight loss. It is the
kind of food that got us into trouble in the first place. You need to focus
on protein, protein, protein. As this stage in the game, it wouldn't hurt
for you to still be on full liquids such as protein shakes. But since your
doctor is letting you go to soft foods, I would suggest, scrambles eggs,
soups with unflavored protein powder, or something like that. You should
avoid ALL carbohydrates except those found in vegetables until you have
reached your goal weight. There is a great site that has some recipes for
the soft foods stage. It is bariatriceating.com. Check it out if you have
time. You won't be disappointed. Good luck with everything and I hope you
feel better really soon!!! Take good care of yourself.
— Elizabeth_Ann
July 22, 2009
I have to agree trying to eat a cheese quesadilla 2 1/2 weeks out is risky.
I think it is too soon to be eating that kind of food. I know my Doctor
kept me on pureed foods till the 3 week checkup. I hope you do well good
luck.
— travis9559
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