Do you sometimes experience weakness, shaking, fainting, sweating,  irritability, get light headed, or an urgent need to eat?  These symptoms could be what is referred to after gastric bypass surgery as "late dumping". Basically, it's caused by a drop in blood sugar levels, called hypoglycemia. 

Hypoglycemia is a potentially dangerous condition, so it's very important to know the signs and effects of low blood sugar.

Late dumping (rapid gastric emptying) typically occurs 1-3 hours after eating. Late dumping is caused by fluctuations in blood glucose levels among patients whose digestive anatomy has been altered by bariatric surgery, like gastric bypass. When sugar is eaten it is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream triggering a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. The pancreas responds by secreting an equally large amount of insulin to soak up the excess blood sugar. However, because the amount of sugar that instigated all this was so small, there is now too much insulin in the blood, and this triggers the common hypoglycemia symptoms of late dumping, such as: weakness, dizziness and fatigue.

Symptoms of "late" dumping are not to be confused with "early" dumping.  Dumping syndrome can be separated into early and late forms depending on the occurrence of symptoms in relation to the time elapsed after a meal. Both forms occur because of rapid delivery of large amounts of osmotically active solids and liquids into the duodenum. Dumping syndrome is the direct result of alterations in the storage function of the stomach and/or the pyloric emptying mechanism.  (eMedicine at Web MD)

You'll find more info on earlier post, (search hypoglycemia at the left sidebar).  I experienced some of these symptoms after increasing my exercise and activity this past spring.  The extra activity called for more immediate energy than I had available, so my body required more than I was "feeding" it.  I am happy to report that at the present time I have my blood sugars under control.  Mostly with diet, watching my carbs and sugar intake, only however, after adding alpha lipoic acid and cinnamon tablets to the mix of supplements each day did I see any results from my dietary efforts. 

Dr. Miles explained that sometimes it only takes a small change to get things off balance, and for some of us that threshold may be more sensitive than for others.  In hypoglycemia it only takes a small amount of sugar to get things off balance when you have an altered digestive system. Even though I had experienced a few intermittent episodes of low sugar during my three years after surgery, these episodes were routine and seemingly unresponsive to my best efforts of controlling my diet. 

Gastric Bypass Surgery symptoms are different for everyone and all the facts and side effects or what effect it may have on our body overall or for the long term are not known yet.  My advise, stay in contact with your surgeon or physician and just as important--stay informed, it's your body and you know it better than anyone.  Keep a watch on your blood sugar levels, and the way you feel especially when your feeling symptoms that could indicate a drop.  If you are several years out and no longer doing protein shakes, make sure you are eating enough protein and sorry to say, watching the refined carbs. 

I always carry food with me, a protein bar, an apple, crackers, and even glucose tablets at all times, especially when my activities increase.  I am sure to eat a protein food before exercise, walking or even shopping.  I eat a carb, such as an apple afterwards. 

After consulting several professionals for nutrition and medical help, I kept searching until I found the answer that worked for me!  You can too...yes, you can...we have many more miles to go!  

Re-post from October 23, 2009