As surgery has changed the structure of your stomach, partially digested food can move into the small bowel too quickly. This is called dumping syndrome.
This can especially be a problem with sugary fluids, such as soft drinks, juices and cordial. You may have cramps, nausea, a racing heart, sweating, bloating, diarrhoea or dizziness.
This combination of symptoms most commonly occurs 15-30 minutes after a meal. If they happen 1-2 hours after a meal, they are called late symptoms and can include weakness, light-headedness and
sweating. Symptoms are often worse after eating foods high in sugar.
How to manage dumping syndrome
- Try eating smaller meals
- Chew your food well
- Choose high-protein foods (e.g. lean meats, fish, eggs, dairy, beans)
- Eat starchy foods (e.g. pasta, rice or potatoes)
- Avoid foods and drinks high in sugar
- Try not to drink with meals
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Key resource
Download a PDF booklet on this topic.
Prof David I Watson, Matthew Flinders Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Flinders University, and Senior Consultant Surgeon, Oesophago-Gastric Surgery Unit, Flinders Medical Centre, SA; Prof Bryan Burmeister, Senior Radiation Oncologist, GenesisCare Fraser Coast and Hervey Bay Hospital, QLD; Dr Natalie Collier, Radiation Oncologist, Wollongong Hospital, NSW; A/Prof Melissa Eastgate, A/Executive Director, Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, QLD; Brett Hall, Consumer; Natalie Lalor, 13 11 20 Consultant, Cancer Council Victoria; Chris Menzies, Upper GI Cancer Nurse Consultant, Flinders Medical Centre and Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, SA; Stefanie Simnadis, Clinical Dietitian, St John of God Subiaco Hospital, WA; Prof Rajvinder Singh, Professor of Medicine, University of Adelaide, and Director, Gastroenterology Department and Head of Endoscopy, Lyell McEwin Hospital, SA.
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