Also called rapid gastric emptying, dumping syndrome occurs when food, especially sugary and/or fatty foods, moves from your stomach into your small bowel too quickly. Most people with dumping syndrome develop signs and symptoms, such as abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, 10 to 30 minutes after eating. Other people have symptoms 1 to 3 hours after eating, and still others experience both early and late symptoms.
Prevention
Generally, you can help prevent dumping syndrome by changing your diet after surgery. Changes might include eating smaller meals and limiting high-sugar and high-fat foods. In more serious cases of dumping syndrome, you may need medication or additional surgery.
Signs and symptoms
Signs and symptoms of dumping syndrome generally occur right after eating and might include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramps
- Diarrhoea
- Flushing
- Dizziness, light-headedness
- Rapid heart rate
Late dumping signs and symptoms, which occur 1 to 3 hours after eating, are due to your body releasing large amounts of insulin to absorb the large quantity of sugars entering your small intestine after eating a high-sugar meal. The result is low blood sugar (functional hypoglycaemia). Signs and symptoms of late dumping can include:
- Sweating
- Hunger
- Fatigue
- Dizziness, light-headedness
- Weakness
- Rapid heart rate
Some people have both early and late signs and symptoms. Some people may not develop dumping syndrome until years after surgery.
Contact your health care team if:
- You are losing large amounts of weight due to dumping syndrome. Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian to help create an eating plan to address the issue.
- Your symptoms are not controlled by changes to your diet.