DUMPING SYNDROME
Had weight loss surgery? Or thinking about evicting that naughty little tummy? I remember those pre weight loss surgery days and I felt total information overload! I might get what? What the actual fuck is Dumping! Am I going to shit myself a lot? I mean, it sounds like that right? Dumping .... just the name conjures up images of rivers of ............. ANYWAY! Dumping syndrome can be a thing after weight loss surgery. It can also be something that you never ever experience! I have lots of friends that have never had any dumping at all since their weight loss surgery. And then there is me, sitting over here in the corner, waving the " WLS DUMP MASTER CHAMPION" flag! (thats not a thing but I think it could be 🤣)
So what is it exactly? Doctor Google will be your friend and explain it to you but I can tell you what happens to me if I happen upon too many carbs! I get dumping syndrome if I have more than about 10 grams of carbs at a time. On days when I like to live on the wild side I might up it to 12 grams just because I am feeling like I am up the challenge! Usually it's okay but some days - like today - well it's not okay!! 10 grams of carbs isn't a lot - check out how many carbs you eat the next time you eat something and spare a little thought for me because even now, 4 years post WLS (Weight Loss Surgery) I still experience dumping if I ingest more carbs than that.
For me, what happens is as follows - within a few minutes of eating or drinking whatever it may be, I start to notice my temperature rise, I might feel dizzy and a bit anxious too - this is soon followed with a rapid increase in heartbeat. After this I will experience horrible horrible cramps in my lower abdomen. At this point I may or may not need the toilet - Usually not but sometimes I have had a rapid bout of explosive bumhole pyrotechnics. This is always followed by an intense need to lie down and overwhelming tiredness. I have had a lot of people say to me "But how can you even live with that!!" "I wouldn't have weight loss surgery if I knew that would happen to me!" "OMG how do you even survive" ....... After 4 years of living this way I can say that I am now thankful for the way my body responds to sugar. Chances are, I possibly could choose a better way to fuel myself than what I was eating, so I can use that as a moment to make great choices for myself. But in the early days I did feel overwhelmingly sad and even angry at times because I LOVE carbs. I was so upset the first time that it happened to me out in public. I had just had a Boost Juice and oh my word!! I got to see just how tightly I could clench my arse cheeks while running to the closest toilet! I have never had Boost Juice again.
All of that may sound kind of horrifying but honestly not being able to eat the foods that I was very clearly dependent on and that were causing me great physical harm has really been a blessing in disguise. I only had dumping a few times before I decided that I could happily live without those things. It caused me to be creative and make other food that satisfied my cravings that were better and healthier choices for me and it keeps me honest and accountable in the long term. I guess I could look on it as a negative but thats no way to live so I try to look on the bright side :)
Have you experienced dumping syndrome?
How is it for you?
