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Dumping Syndrome with an ileostomy

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Posted 6/6/2010 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone ever had "Dumping Syndrome" after bowel surgery? This is what my doctor "thinks" may be happening to me...anyone have tips? How long does it last or anything you can do to feel better?

Thanks!
Posted 6/6/2010 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
WHOA! Rivals my story, but I'll spare you the details and try to help with your question.

I had severe dumping when my ileostomy was new. After 6 months it slowed down. (Mine is permanent)

Here's what worked for me figured out by a very experienced nutritionist: Do not drink with meals. Drink only between. Do not drink fast either, basically just little sips of water all day long. Also avoid sugar, fake sugars, and high fructose corn syrup. If you are lactose intolerant drink lactose free milk or get those lactaid pills. Eat small meals multiple times per day. Not 3 big meals per day. Right after eating she had me lie on my right side to counteract the natural gravity of food moving left to right. (However my ileostomy stoma is on my right, so am not so sure if this helped but her intent was good.) Avoid very hot or very cold foods. Go for luke warm stuff.

Only when you are up to it try a bit of thickening foods: maybe baby food banana, tapioca (Well cooked so the little grains are very soft and chew well), have a bit of apple sauce with pectin in it that is a real thickener. THis all worked for me.

Now as an adapted ileostomate I have to work to not have the effluent get too thick. But the above suggestions should certainly help you slow the dumping that new ileostomates get.

Good thing you got yourself some good help. It is sooo hard.

Wish you well, Rosemary
Posted 6/6/2010 3:09 AM (GMT 0)
racerwife
I was told that I have a condition called "dumping". For me it's between 3 and 6 AM. My ileostomy and intestines squeeze extremely hard. It can wake me up. When this hapens my stoma pulls in and to the side. This pumps the poop out under the wafer and onto the bed. Is this what you are talking about?

Dan
Posted 6/6/2010 3:36 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks Rosemary, I'll give those tips a try. I am such a "picky eater" also and it makes this sooo much harder. Go figure!

Dan, I think mine is more of the nausea, cramping, weakness, dizziness, fatigue part of the dumping syndrome. Not 100% sure about all of this, just found about this part this past week at the doctor. I know a lot of gastric bypass patients have this syndrome though.


Thanks guys!
Posted 6/6/2010 3:39 AM (GMT 0)
NASCARon,
It's something that happens to a lot of gastric bypass patients.

Gastric dumping syndrome, or rapid gastric emptying is a condition where ingested foods bypass the stomach too rapidly and enter the small intestine largely undigested. It happens when the upper end of the small intestine, the duodenum, expands too quickly due to the presence of hyperosmolar (substances with increased osmolarity) food from the stomach. "Early" dumping begins concurrently or immediately succeeding a meal. Symptoms of early dumping include nausea, vomiting, bloating, cramping, diarrhea, dizziness and fatigue. "Late" dumping happens 1 to 3 hours after eating. Symptoms of late dumping include weakness, sweating, and dizziness. Many people have both types. The syndrome is most often associated with gastric surgery.

It is speculated that "early" dumping is associated with difficulty digesting fats while "late" dumping is associated with carbohydrates.[citation needed]

Rapid loading of the small intestine with hypertonic stomach contents can lead to rapid entry of water into the intestinal lumen. Osmotic diarrhea, distension of the small bowel (leading to crampy abdominal pain), and hypovolemia can result.

In addition, people with this syndrome often suffer from low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, because the rapid "dumping" of food triggers the pancreas to release excessive amounts of insulin into the bloodstream. This type of hypoglycemia is referred to as "alimentary hypoglycemia".
Posted 6/6/2010 11:16 AM (GMT 0)
How are you feeling? Are you dehydrated?

Has your doc given you instructions for Imodium or anything? We are all different, but I was given instructions for Metamucil to bulk and Imodium to slow down...I wasn't classified as 'dumping' but I did have too much high liquid output.

What/How are you eating?

Do you know where in your intestines your stoma is formed?

Was your surgeon a ColoRectal Surgeon? If not, you may want a consult with one to get their opinion.
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