Dumping Syndrome: Who Gets It, What Are The Symptoms, And How To Relieve It

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Dumping syndrome (also known as ‘rapid gastric emptying’) is a condition in which food moves too fast from your stomach to the duodenum (the first section of your small intestine). It often develops after gastric surgery.

There are two forms of dumping syndrome:

- early dumping syndrome, in which you start experiencing symptoms 10 to 30 minutes after eating;

- late dumping syndrome, in which symptoms show 2 to 3 hours after eating.

Approximately 75% of people with dumping syndrome experience the early type of it, the rest have the late type. Some people may suffer from a combination of both.


Symptoms of early dumping syndrome include:

- nausea and vomiting;

- diarrhea;

- abdominal pain and cramps;

- feeling bloated or uncomfortably full after eating;

- increased perspiration;

- weakness and dizziness;

- flushing;

- increased heart rate.

Symptoms of late dumping syndrome are associated with hypoglycemia and include the following:

- weakness, feeling tired;

- increased perspiration;

- flushing;

- feeling faint;

- hunger;

- increased heart rate.

Dumping syndrome commonly develops after gastric surgery performed to treat obesity or other conditions, including cancer. These surgical procedures include:

- gastrectomy – removal of a part of the stomach or the whole stomach;

- esophagectomy – partial or complete removal of the esophagus;

- Gastric bypass (Roux-en-Y) – bariatric surgery, in which a stomach pouch is created to prevent you from eating too much.

Dumping syndrome is usually treated with dietary changes, medications, or surgery.

If your symptoms are mild, changes in diet are usually all you need. For severe cases, surgery is sometimes recommended.

You can try these steps to ease your symptoms:

- eat 5–6 smaller meals a day, not three large ones;

- refrain from drinking liquids for 30 minutes before meals and 30 minutes after;

- chew food thoroughly to facilitate digestion;

- eat more protein (found in meat, poultry, and fish), fiber, and complex carbohydrates, e.g. oatmeal and rice;

- avoid foods high in sugar, such as sodas, candy, cakes, cookies, and pastries;

- try adding pectin or guar gum to your foods to slow the absorption of carbohydrates in the small intestine;

- ask your doctor whether you need supplements to get enough nutrients.