dumping syndrome

Dumping syndrome, which can occur after invasive abdominal surgery, happens when the stomach empties quickly (dumps) into the duodenum. Read about it here.

1st major incidence

17/05/2014

2nd major occasion

10/04/2015

Reality of Gastric Dumping Syndrome.

Yesterday evening I was sitting in our living room answering emails on my laptop whilst Karen was in the kitchen catching up on a radio play on her laptop.

As I was typing just before 7:00pm I started feeling very tired and couldn't concentrate. Next I knew it must have been 20 minutes later. I gradually became aware of a loud rapid banging noise and gradually made out I was looking at the room through a fog. I couldn't move or focus. I realised the banging was my very rapid heartrate. I wondered whether I was having a stroke. I had no way of alerting Karen but thought she'd come through shortly as we planned to eat at 7:30 and watch University Challenge at 8:00.

After sitting in that catatonic state for ages, I found with effort I could move my fingers sufficiently to type a K which brought up Karen's email and the letters h e l p and send. But unfortunately she didn't see the email come in - and she'd lost all track of time.

10 minutes later I managed to stumble out of my chair. My heart was still racing, I was pouring with sweat and my vision was as if I had been staring at the sun. I found the route by instinct into the kitchen where I slumped in a chair and across the table trying to say, I'm not well.

Karen fetched the phone. She was going to call an ambulance but I stopped her. My speech was slurred but we compromised and I let her call 111. The triage person had a long list of questions she must proceed through and when I felt I could manage a few words I took the phone. I knew by now it was late dumping syndrome symptoms. Unusually I had not had the early dumping syndrome symptoms (half an hour after food - bloating and nausea) but I knew the culprit. I'd had some chocolate about 5:00pm. Recently I've been feeling fitter and also craving chocolate. (Perhaps I'm selenium deficient?) But I've been coping with small amounts. But I'd probably made a bit of a pig of myself.

Anyway, I eventually persuaded the operator I would be OK and did not need a doctor to phone me back in an hour or so. I declined her suggestion I go to A&E. By the time I got there I'd be feeling OK, Triage there would put me near the bottom of the list and I'd wait hours for what? To be given an ECG at best. And I've had so many of those over recent years as to know I don't have a heart problem.

But I will make an appointment to see my GP, if only to keep Karen happy. She said she thought I was going to die when I crashed into the kitchen.

It's only the second time I've passed out. The first was only a few weeks post surgery when she discovered me slumped over the toilet when I'd thought I was going to be sick.

3rd major occurrence: Details to be inserted later.

Progression:

Hypoxia (SpO2 as measured with pulse oxymeter): lowest transient reached 88 but usually only around 96%

Tachycardia as measured with pulse oxymeter: highest reached 136 but usually around 110-120 beats per minute: can last 5 - 10 minutes

Delirium (vagueness / not fully aware of what's happening / difficulty concentrating on what's going on: can last 5 - 10 minutes

Hyperhydrosis (profuse sweating)

Syncope (sudden passing out): only happened 3 times.

Rescue Intervention:

At first signs of vagueness or any other symptoms, chewing dextrose tablets (up to a whole packet) and drinking copious amounts of water (up to a litre).