Will Bowel Movements Change After Gastric Bypass?

Question Below Submitted By:  

Channing A. (a patient from Matthews, NC)

Does food move through rapidly and cause loose stools or diarrhea after RNY Gastric Bypass surgery?

I had an RNY Gastric Bypass done in July of last year… is it normal to have loose stools or diarrhea with accidents in the pants from food that is moving through too rapidly.

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01.

Expert Responses to the Question Above

Bowel Movements Change After Gastric Bypass

by: Jeff

Hi Channing,

Yes, the more of the stomach that has been removed or bypassed, the more likely you would be to experience diarrhea and loose stools. These are a couple of the symptoms that can occur under the umbrella of "dumping syndrome" which occurs to some degree in about 80% of gastric bypass patients.

It can also occur in other procedures that bypass or remove part of the stomach including gastric sleeve and duodenal switch surgery.

The good news is that most patients are able to avoid dumping symptoms as long as certain dietary guidelines are followed. In fact, many patients say that they actually LIKE dumping syndrome as the risk of it occurring provides a strong incentive to keep their diets on course and their health and weight improvement continuing.

General dietary guidelines to avoid dumping include:

1. Eat several small meals each day rather than 3 larger meals

2. Remove sugar, refined carbs and most fats from your diet

3. Don't drink anything with your meals (the liquid can speed up digestion)

4. Stay on top of the bariatric vitamin regimen prescribed by your dietitian.

5. Lie down after eating to slow down digestion.

See this Dumping Syndrome page for all of the details.

Hope that helps,

Jeff

Related Page:
- Gastric Bypass Side Effects

DISCLAIMER: The above is provided for informational purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. It should support, not replace, the relationship between the patient and his/her physician(s).

02.

Patient Responses to the Question Above

Eliminate the Sugar

by: NurseLife

You cannot eat anything with refined sugar or you will experience this "dumping syndrome."
I'm 17 years post op and I still have these experiences if I eat refined, high carb foods.

Bowel Movement

by: Kimberly Kirkland

Thanks for sharing!

Dumping

by: Amanda

I have experienced a couple of accidents, too. I am out 1.5 years. However, within my first 5 months post surgery, I had 3 accidents.

They finally stopped. Then, I went for a year with no dumping symptoms. My weight loss also stalled.

About 4 months ago, after a 72lb weight loss/stall, my body woke up again. I am currently 147lbs (another 11 lbs down), but now, I have an orange/ oily discharge, which I have read is fat that your body doesn't absorb. Also, the gas is back.

I have to go back and start paying better attention to what I am eating, since I believe that I am eating too much fat if it's exiting my tush. I am not sure why, but I can assume that we all react differently to our surgeries.

Can’t eat at all

by: Jim

I am out 4 + years and I have to drink to stay dehydrated so now I can’t eat my drs have tried everything, but nothing is helping. I have NO desire nor appetite. I have lost close to 325lbs.

I am at a good weight at 231 lbs, but I am also in a wheelchair and can not exercise, if I do it’s a floor bike.

I have been in a chair for over 38 years, from multiple problems. So I am faced with I can drink or eat and the drs are telling just drink, protein, protein, protein, adding to my drinks 🍷.

So anybody got an idea?

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[ Last editorial review/modification of this page : 05/24/2021 ]

* Disclaimers: Content: The information contained in this website is provided for general information purposes and your specific results may vary depending on a variety of circumstances. It is not intended as nor should be relied upon as medical advice. Rather, it is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician(s). Before you use any of the information provided in the site, you should seek the advice of a qualified medical, dietary, fitness or other appropriate professional. Advertising: Bariatric Surgery Source, LLC has entered into referral and advertising arrangements with certain medical practices, original equipment manufacturers, and financial companies under which we receive compensation (in the form of flat fees per qualifying action) when you click on links to our partners and/or submit information. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Read More

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