Non-Surgical Rapid Dumping Syndrome

[dollface8689]

I have never had any stomach surgery (had an ovarian cyst removed in January) but have developed rapid dumping syndrome. My doctors didn't even believe I had it, now that my gastric empyting time test proved it their answer was 'Go look it up on the internet and figure out what to do.' I have become agoraphobic and don't leave the house except for dr's appts, and I can't drive because of the pain meds I'm on. If I could figure out what to do from the internet/if it was helping, I would have been feeling better a long time ago. I also have other conditions to manage (Post thyroidectomy, hypocalcemia, anemia, unexplained GI bleed) and am on several medication that need to be taken with food. I am getting no help and my life has fallen apart....I've lost several friends and my boyfriend because of my 'hypochondria' (which is also what several doctors told me I was prior to the test result). I'm constantly dizzy and out of it if I eat, but I'm vomiting and in pain if I don't. I used to be an actress, and I used to be pretty. Now I'm bloated, disgusting, I rarely shower because it takes too much energy. I hate my life and wish I were dead.

Is there any help out there?

[WifeyAdvocate]

Hi, first let me tell you that you are not alone.  My husband has been suffering with this same thing for almost a year.  No one can figure it out and most doctors are acting like this is completely in his head.  I live with him and am 100% sure it is not.  He had a gastric emptying test and his stomach is emptying in about an hour vs. a normal four hours.  For nine months every doctor has been giving him bowel treatments like Miralax, Lactalose, even Reglin.  These are really the opposite of what he needs as they are only exacerbating the issue.  He has a violent pain ion his stomach area that gets worse when he is hungry but never goes away.  He wakes up int he morning and his body feels like it is starving.  It is triggering major fatigue, he can't do anything and was previously active.  He literally sits on the couch all day and is not a lazy guy.  Whatever this is it is causing him serious anxiety - not because he is worrying or overthinking whatever is happening, but something in his body is causing this - it is like it is a physically driven anxiety.  He needed to lose weight but he has lost 80 pounds over the year this has been going on - not by trying.
When he eats, his blood pressure drops significantly.  He takes iron but is also anemic.  He has not had any esophageal or stomach surgery - no gastric bypass, nothing, so why this is happening is a mystery.  His blood pressure at other times is really high due to anxiety.  He doesn't have diabetes but I am having him check his blood sugar multiple times a day so we can keep track of what is happening in his body.
We live in New England and our hospital is Southern New Hampshire Medical Center.  He has had every test you can image - imaging, colonoscopy, endoscopy, we have seen oncology, hematology, our GP a million times, colorectal surgeon, multiple general surgeons (to see if he had adhesions restricting organ function from previous back surgery, hernia repair and appendectomy - nothing.  He is a chronic pain patient due to major back injuries so on top of everything, he is treated like a leper looking for more pain medicine when all he wants to do is get off as much medicine as possible, so the doctor's attitudes are not helping with any forward progress.  They just r4an a panel of endocrine system tests on him which all came back normal.
We are being referred to Mass General's gastro department and have to wait another six weeks to even be seen there.  I am watching the love of my life waste away - and no one wants to seem to help him because he is more complicated than the generic patient.  Healthcare really sucks - as much as we know, as much as we've spent and every hoop we have willingly jumped through, and other than the dumping test results, know about as much as when this started.  And we are fortunate to live in an are with top notch healthcare.
Why the doctors he has seen - all withing the same system, same EMR can't have a clinical powwow to try to collectively come up with answers or at least other areas to explore is beyond me.  It is as if they don't want to deal with trying to find an answer because it might take some extra effort.  Meanwhile our awesome GP office is trying to think of all the other options and things we can explore.  This should be elevated to a specialist level - not put on the already burdened back of our PCP.
How are you doing with these issues today dollface8689?  Have you gotten any more answers that you can share?  Please know - you are not alone!!!!  If we can all share here, maybe we can come up with our own answers - the doctors we are paying to help us are obviously not invested in doing so.

[Fly365]

I was diagnosed with Dumping about 2 months ago which has developed over a period of about 5 yrs..
I had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, and that time test where you lye on your back for 2 hrs.  after eating something radioactive which my GI doc determined it was Rapid Gastric Emptying. All he said is eat small meals. He wanted to put me on meds for SIBO but I had that test too and was negative. Then he suggested another med but I do not like to take any type of medications because there are so many side effects. He was referred by my medical practitioner but I'm not impressed. I felt like he simply didn't care.
I have never had any type of surgery. I am a colorectal cancer survivor of 17 yrs w/ no surgery then either.
Of all people, my chiropractor thinks that possibly the chemo and/or radiation could have killed some cells or damaged nerves which all work together the digestive issue. Maybe even bacteria related but what other test can I have bacteria related other then SIBO and how in the world could I figure out if cells or nerves have been damaged?
I have noticed if I wake up hungry, that's set my day off BAD with the runs, exhaustion, bloating and cramping but I haven't even ate anything yet but I still go to work, put in my hours.
I'm 62 and wish I could retire now but can't. No matter how hard I try by following the diet and recommendations it still bites me in the ass. I don't travel anymore because of this.
Ruth

[RSHI2018]

I have had this problem after eating and mostly at night.... but by chance when I was prescribed NEXIUM 40mg for my GERD and it helped my dumping syndrome too as it stopped. I was on it twice a day once mid-day a little after lunch and the second just before bed. If the dumping started before I could take the meds….taking it stopped all the associated issues within15-2-min. Over the next 6-8 months I only needed Nexium once a day and the dumping just went away. I even called Astrazenec to tell them the positive effects of Nexium on my dumping syndrome. Hope this helps …good luck.

[1Goliath]

I urge you to seek help...start today and the healing process will begin

[FrostyAlaskawtfjustworkyoupieceof]

Well I'm glad to see I'm not alone I'm 18 and have had problems since 6th grade past few months have been nothing but lying in bed the doc just said behavioral health and anxiety causes it I'm so weak all of the time and have no energy I beg for the release of death too metamucil sortve helps cause of the fiber I've developed a hemorrhoid and anal fissure from going so much 4 to 6 time's a day wake up diarrhea fall back asleep in a crippling cycle and so many others suffer without a cure so great this is going to be my entire ******* life I need to get on a proper diet my parents aren't the greatest so food in my house is all unhealthy I'm already so damn picky just a curse for no reason I'd get checked for ZED the bleeding sounds like a tumor or an ulcer I was cleared for those sadly hopefully one day we will get better probably not tho as theirs no known cure or even a proper diagnosis to why we have it

[Bloodrootfc]

I am not a medical professional, however I have chronically had these symptoms and am pretty sure most cases of IBS-D could also be accurately described as "dumping syndrome".

The short answer is that you need to follow the basic guidelines for any GI disorder:

Eliminate sugar, caffeine, and alcohol (especially beer and mixed drinks). Sugar-laden coffee is a potent trigger for dumping.

Consume more fiber. The best sources of fiber are beans, followed by "brans". You can add miller's bran (wheat bran) to just about anything because it is flavorless. Replace wheat flour products such as bread and pasta  with beans. Beans have 5X the fiber per calorie than wheat flour. Beans also act as a gut-health indicator. When you have a healthy gut you don't get flatulence from eating beans.

Intially consume plenty of food-grade anti-biotics on an empty stomach to kill yeast and bacterial overgrowths (these include: fresh garlic, fresh ginger, cayenne pepper, coconut oil, and citric acid - e.g. lemon and grapefruit juice and vinegar) for 48-72 hours. Note that you may experience significant diarreah, gas, fatigue and abdominal ain during this period. That's normal and a sign its working.

Also eat lots of fiber to "scrub" out the intensitines during the cleanse and consume l-glutamine powder supplememts to help rebuild the intestinal lining.

Follow-up longterm with a diet rich in fats and proteins and legumes (e.g. beans). Skip the wheat bread. Also add fermented foods such as hard cheeses, apple cider vinegar, and kimchi (flavored saurkraut) to maintain a beneficial bacterial profile so that the next time you eat E-coli ridden chinese takeout there is something it has to compete against.

Hope that helps!

P.S. get high-quality US or EU organic garlic and eat a clove twice a day. No better cure for GI problems.

P.P.S. Non-surgical dumping is probably a result of having stomach and intestinal ulcers induced by chemical-laden foods, and/or microbial overgrowths causing inflammation, and/or overuse of caffeine and alcohol.  

[gzknowles]

Hi.  I am going under the very same issues.  My GI specialist has never had a case with dumping syndrome not being connected to having some kind of surgery.  I have microscopic colitis too.  I am going crazy as well.

Hypoglycemia is a huge problem now due to my body not digesting things.  I also have severe abdominal pain around 30 minutes after eating.  I get reactive hypoglycemic less than a hour later, and I have fainted and gone into a coma like state.  It is pretty scary.  I eat small meals about every hour and a half, and I have been avoiding sugar and milk products which has helped a bit, but I can't get off the steroids as in in a few days I am in utter pain and need to go back to the ER or take pain killers.  My life is turned upside down and I am trying to hold a job, take care of my kids and have some kind of life while fighting to figure out what is wrong with me.  

I began having symptoms back in May/June and lost 10 pounds that I didn't want to lose.  I've had to buy all new clothes and I hate how thin I am.  I just don't want to be on steroids forever as even with them I am still in significant pain after eating.  I am scared that the nerves to my stomach are damaged.  The doctors are going to do that pill camera test to check out my intestines, but I think that I will ask for that gastric emptying test that was mentioned above.  Sounds good.  Please let me know if you learn more.  
Kind regards.
-G

[Reruho]

I am sorry to hear about your disorder.  One of the things you do need is a doctors that listens to you and is supportive. The fact they told you go online to figure out how to manage it is horrible. Ask them for a referral to a GI specializing in this area.

You are very depressed. Your depression is caused by your illness, Don't let anyone tell you that your illness is caused my your depression. You need someone that can provide you some emotional support.

I did find the following information about dietary adjustments. I hope it will help.
Reta

Dumping syndrome cannot be prevented; however, you can avoid dumping syndrome symptoms with dietary adjustments. Doctors recommend the following guidelines to maximize your nutritional absorption and avoid dumping syndrome symptoms:

    Eat six small meals at regular intervals throughout the day.
    Sit upright while eating.
    Eat slowly and chew your food thoroughly before swallowing
    Avoid solid foods like steak or pork and opt for ground meat or fish
    Avoid drinking liquid with your meals. Rather, drink fluid 30-60 minutes before or after sitting down to a meal
    Avoid liquid nutritional supplements and milk shakes.
    Limit simple sugars. Foods high in simple sugars pass through your stomach too quickly resulting in cramping and diarrhea.
    Avoid or eliminate highly sugary foods and drinks such as soda, fruit juices, cookies, donuts, cakes, etc…
    Consume more complex carbohydrates like whole grains, potatoes, pastas, rice, bagels, breads and whole grain cereal.
    Eat foods high in soluble fiber. These foods slow stomach emptying and prevent the rapid absorption of sugars. choose foods with a high fiber label and fruits and vegetables
    Increase the amount of fat in your meals. Fats such as butter, mayonnaise, cheese and creams slow stomach emptying.
    Eat protein with each meal. High protein foods include eggs, meat, poultry, fish, yogurt, milk, cheese and peanut butter.

http://www.gastricbypassexperience.com/what-is-dumping-syndrome/