Dumping Syndrome Treated by Mercy Doctors

Dumping syndrome, also referred to as rapid gastric emptying, is a condition where food moves too quickly from the stomach to the duodenum or small intestines. Dumping syndrome can affect those who have had part of the stomach removed or bypassed for weight loss surgery.

Symptoms can be felt directly after eating or a few hours after eating. Dumping syndrome is classified into “early” and “late” dumping syndrome. Early dumping syndrome occurs directly after a meal, typically high in sugar, resulting in: 

• Feeling bloated after eating
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Cramping in the abdomen
• Diarrhea
• Rapid heart rate
• Lightheadedness

Late dumping syndrome typically occurs one to three hours after eating as the body releases insulin to absorb the sugar entering the small intestines. Symptoms of late dumping syndrome include:

• Sweating
• Flushing
• Weakness
• Rapid heart rate
• Lightheadedness

Your physician can diagnose dumping syndrome based on symptoms and specific foods that cause more severe symptoms. Additional tests may be performed to confirm diagnoses, which could include a glucose tolerance test, hydrogen breath test or gastric emptying scan.

Possible treatment options for dumping syndrome may include:

• Lying down after a meal
• Excluding any foods that cause symptoms
• Surgery and medication may be used in more severe cases
• Change in diet, such as:
  • Eating smaller, more frequent meals
  • Limiting foods high in refined sugar and white flour
  • Eating more protein, fat and fiber
  • Eating more complex carbohydrates

Our physicians have extensive experience with dumping syndrome. Our team can help uncover the underlying issue to determine the most appropriate treatment method.