Dumping Syndrome After Bariatric Surgery: What Need to Know

Key Takeaways

• Dumping syndrome is when food moves too quickly from the stomach to the small intestines, causing uncomfortable symptoms.
• Managing symptoms often involves dietary changes,  with incorporating bariatric protein shakes or bariatric multivitamins, and slowing down during meals to improve digestion.
• Lifestyle adjustments and sometimes medical intervention can help reduce the impact of dumping syndrome on daily life. 

Dumping syndrome can be an all too real experience that disrupts daily life after bariatric surgery. It’s characterized by uncomfortable symptoms like nausea after bariatric surgery, stomach cramping, and rapid heart rate after eating certain foods. Bariatric vitamins and other supplements may help mitigate some effects of nutrient malabsorption linked to this syndrome.

We know you didn’t expect to feel this way after bariatric surgery. You want to start living your best life.

So we’ve put together this guide on why dumping syndrome happens, what triggers it, and most importantly, how to keep it from spoiling your post-surgery success.

What is Dumping Syndrome?

Dumping syndrome is a group of symptoms that happen when food rushes through your stomach too quickly and enters the small intestines without being digested.

There are two types of dumping syndrome: early and late.

• Early dumping syndrome: Early dumping syndrome is when food dumps into the small intestines about 10 to 30 minutes after eating, often resulting in symptoms like diarrhea after bariatric surgery.
• Late dumping syndrome: Late dumping syndrome happens between one to three hours after eating. 

Another aspect is hormone release. When the food moves into the intestines too soon, it starts a chain reaction, and insulin suddenly releases from the pancreas. 

Insulin is responsible for lowering blood sugar when it rises in the bloodstream. A sudden increase in insulin can cause dramatic changes in your blood sugar, leading to uncomfortable symptoms like dizziness and sweating.

Dumping syndrome can also be triggered by the types of foods you eat. Foods that are high in fat or sugar especially amplify dumping syndrome symptoms.

What are the Symptoms of Dumping Syndrome?

Dumping syndrome can come on in two separate waves, each with their own unique set of symptoms. 

The severity of the symptoms varies from person to person. For some, the symptoms are a minor nuisance, while for others, they can be quite intense. The type and severity of symptoms can depend on what you eat and your overall health.

Early Dumping Syndrome Symptoms

Early dumping syndrome symptoms come on about 30 minutes after eating a meal. You may have symptoms that include:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Sweating
• Headache
• Feeling tired
• Loud stomach sounds
• Fast or irregular heartbeat
• Feeling bloated or overly full
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Feeling light-headed or fainting
• Flushing or getting red in the face, neck, or upper chest

Late Dumping Syndrome Symptoms

Symptoms of late dumping syndrome can appear between one to three hours after you eat. Health experts believe these symptoms are due to having low blood sugar. You may experience symptoms such as:

• Sweatning
• Weakness
• Feeling tired
• Feeling light-headed
• Feeling shaky or jittery
• Difficulty concentrating
• Fast or irregular heartbeat

Is Dumping Syndrome Serious?

For all the nuisance of dumping syndrome, the good news is that it’s not life-threatening. 

However, we don’t want to downplay that this condition is no walk in the park. It is worth taking seriously. 

Dumping syndrome won’t send you to the ER. But, it can hurt your daily life and well-being. It’s tough to manage meals and plan work around possibly feeling sick.

Also, if you have symptoms too often, your body may not be absorbing nutrients as it should. This may cause nutrient deficiencies. They could leave you more run down. 

Also, not treating the condition can harm your blood sugar and digestion. This may cause a cycle of discomfort and health issues later.

Diagnosis of Dumping Syndrome

If you think you are dealing with symptoms of dumping syndrome, it’s important to let your healthcare provider know. 

They will start by asking about your symptoms and their frequency. Keeping a journal can help. Write down the time you eat, the foods you eat, and when you feel symptoms. Also, note which symptoms you have and how long they last.  

Your provider may also order tests to confirm dumping syndrome.

A glucose tolerance test is handy for diagnosing dumping syndrome. You’ll be asked to fast for 10 hours before the test, then the lab tech will give you a sugary drink and monitor your glucose levels and heart rate for a period of time.

A gastric emptying test is another way your healthcare provider can track how quickly food moves through your stomach. You’ll be given a bland meal that contains a small amount of radioactive material. A camera outside your stomach can track how long it takes for the food to travel through your stomach and can determine if food travels through faster than it should. 

What are the Treatment Options for Dumping Syndrome?

More good news, most people learn to successfully manage their dumping syndrome symptoms by making a few adjustments. 

One of the most effective strategies is to eat small, frequent meals and avoid foods high in sugar and fat. Making these changes typically brings some relief. 

If you are still experiencing frequent discomfort, your healthcare provider may prescribe octreotide, a medication that helps decrease symptoms of dumping syndrome. 

In rare cases that don’t respond to treatment, you may need to undergo an additional surgery to modify the stomach’s function and improve symptoms. 

How to Prevent Dumping Syndrome?

Prevention is all about being strategic and mindful about the foods you eat and how you eat. 

Stick to high-fiber and protein meals as these foods help slow down digestion and make it less likely that symptoms will appear. It’s also important to avoid sugary foods and those high in fat. 

For meals, give yourself time to chew each bite thoroughly and eat at a leisurely pace. Limit your fluid intake while you eat and instead focus on getting your hydration in-between meals. This can help prevent dumping syndrome symptoms. 

It’s also a good idea to be proactive. You know that having bariatric surgery puts you at higher risk for developing dumping syndrome, so team up with a registered dietitian who can give you personalized advice and help you avoid dumping syndrome.

Conclusion

While dumping syndrome may sound intimidating, learning about this common complication of bariatric surgery and the strategies to avoid it can make a positive difference. 

One of the biggest steps you can take to dodge dumping syndrome is tweaking your diet. Sugar and high-fat foods are known for triggering dumping syndrome symptoms. Avoiding those types of foods can make a huge difference in your comfort and quality of life. 

You can also consider talking with a registered dietitian for personalized nutritional advice on how to avoid dumping syndrome after bariatric surgery.

If you want to learn more, why not check out these articles below: 

• Constipation after Bariatric Surgery
• Gas after Bariatric Surgery
• Hungry after Bariatric Surgery
• Foamies after Bariatric Surgery
• Heartburn after Bariatric Surgery
• Dry Mouth after Bariatric Surgery
• Bowel Problems after Bariatric Surgery

References

Dumping syndrome. (n.d.) National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Hui C, et al. (2023). Dumping Syndrome. StatPearls. 

Vavricka S. R., et al. (2019). Gastroparesis and Dumping Syndrome: Current Concepts and Management. Journal of Clinical Medicine.

Salame, M., et al. (2023). Marginal Ulcer and Dumping Syndrome in Patients after Duodenal Switch: A Multi-Centered Study. Journal of Clinical Medicine.