How do you know if you're intolerant to milk, etc?

[TijuanaPlication 87]

I'm a week and a half out from having a plication and it's going well so far. I've been sticking to yoghurt and lactose free milk just to be on the safe side, but how does an intolerance manifest itself in a weight loss surgery patient?

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,280]

Well, this is how I found out:

http://www.verticalsleevetalk.com/topic/10598-a-very-interesting-evening-for-me/page__p__91930__hl__interesting+night__fromsearch__1#entry91930

[Tiffykins 672]

Within 2-3 small swallows, I was gassy, painful cramps, and then I'd puke typically. I could still tolerate yogurt and low fat cheese, but milk and whey Proteins were completely out.

[DrWatkins 13]

I'm a week and a half out from having a plication and it's going well so far. I've been sticking to yoghurt and lactose free milk just to be on the safe side, but how does an intolerance manifest itself in a weight loss surgery patient?

Some patients develop new lactose intolerance after malabsorptive procedures (gastric bypass, BPD/DS, etc). Since the plication involves no malabsorption, theoretically you shouldn't develop lactose intolerance any more than if you had it before. In the early weeks after plication, swelling of the stomach tissue in response to surgery can make it harder to eat solid foods, but this swelling goes down typically within 3 weeks.

Real lactose intolerance typically causes crampy abdominal pain after eating dairy followed by bad gas that would impress any fraternity and diarrhea.

Brad Watkins MD

[Starr 0]

Some patients develop new lactose intolerance after malabsorptive procedures (gastric bypass, BPD/DS, etc). Since the plication involves no malabsorption, theoretically you shouldn't develop lactose intolerance any more than if you had it before. In the early weeks after plication, swelling of the stomach tissue in response to surgery can make it harder to eat solid foods, but this swelling goes down typically within 3 weeks.

Real lactose intolerance typically causes crampy abdominal pain after eating dairy followed by bad gas that would impress any fraternity and diarrhea.

Brad Watkins MD

Hi Dr. Watkins!

I'm reading what sounds like "dumping syndrome". I know that some Gastrectomies can get this and it seems like even though this is the plication forum it is still mixed with gastrectomies. No doubt I will cancel my surgery if this is a possible side effect from the plication/imbrication. I've had one foot outside the door and to hear this is scaring the heck out of me.

[Starr 0]

Hi Dr. Watkins!

I'm reading what sounds like "dumping syndrome". I know that some Gastrectomies can get this and it seems like even though this is the plication forum it is still mixed with gastrectomies. No doubt I will cancel my surgery if this is a possible side effect from the sleeve. I've had one foot outside the door and to hear this is scaring the heck out of me.

Okay, this one particular person just shared that she had the VSG!

[DrWatkins 13]

Hi Dr. Watkins!

I'm reading what sounds like "dumping syndrome". I know that some Gastrectomies can get this and it seems like even though this is the plication forum it is still mixed with gastrectomies. No doubt I will cancel my surgery if this is a possible side effect from the plication/imbrication. I've had one foot outside the door and to hear this is scaring the heck out of me.

Dumping syndrome only occurs with malabsorptive operations such as gastric bypass and biliopancreatic diversion. In these operations the small intestine is rerouted into an abnormal configuration so that food serves as an osmolar irritant and you can get crampy abdominal pain and severe diarrhea. You do not get dumping syndrom with plication (make a sleeve with stitches but your stomach is still there, reversible) or sleeve gastrectomy (make a sleeve with staples and discard most of the stomach, irreversible). With sleeve the intestines are in their normal configuration - the stomach is just much smaller so you get full fast and lose a lot of weight. I like plication because you get the sleeve without staples or throwing stomach tissue in the trash can.

Lactose intolerance is caused by a lack of the enzyme, lactase, which digests the milk sugar, lactose. The simple way to look at this is that lactose intolerance doesn't have anything to do with any weight loss operation. A more complicated answer is that some people will develop lactose intolerance after malabsorptive procedures but plication/sleeve for sure is not associated with lactose intolerance.

Brad Watkins MD

[LilMissDiva Irene 3,280]

Well, I certainly did not make up my story - and I've never had reactions to milk like that before.

Also, I do not believe my stomach was thrown in the trash. I think that would be hazardous waste? There is enough room on this board for support of all surgeries listed as support here. I don't think it's necessary to vilify one to pump up another. I have not done so, and would appreciate none others do as well.

Thank you.

[Starr 0]

Well, I certainly did not make up my story - and I've never had reactions to milk like that before.

Also, I do not believe my stomach was thrown in the trash. I think that would be hazardous waste? There is enough room on this board for support of all surgeries listed as support here. I don't think it's necessary to vilify one to pump up another. I have not done so, and would appreciate none others do as well.

Thank you.

Hi Irene, certainly not looking to bash your surgery at all - please not at all. There is too much negativity in the world already. I wish you nothing but success with your gastrectomy. The thing is that there is no where for Plications to go for information - I thought this was a Plication forum and it seems like most the couple of people here are gastrectomies.

ABSOLUTELY TRUE, some VSG do indeed dump. If you go on OH, you can ask on that forum. I've seen it since the early days of the VSG as a stand alone procedure. FYI, ppl who have not had any WLS at all can dump - it is rare, but it can happen.

I panicked when I saw your post about not simply lactose intolerance, but full blown dumping. I want to have a baby real soon and I want to be able to supplement my diet with skim milk and other dairy. I thought hey, if I can't eat too much, surely I'd be able to sneak in 300+ extra calories of dairy.

Please understand that there is not a place for plications and I thought this was the place. On the other site - I adore everyone, but they are not really embracing us plications. They say "fake sleeve" and how we should really specify that we don't have the gastrectomy when we post because we will give a false impression of the "sleeve" because of the faulty results we are having. They don't want pre-ops and newbies to believe they will have plication "issues". They are right to a certain extent. We must clarify our surgery types over here. Although our sleeves look the same from the inside, we are different in the "issues" we may have. A huge reason I am not having the gastrectomy is: I am anemic most my life for none of the typical reasons, I didn't want a higher possibility of dumping - I don't want to be punished, I just want to be somewhat "normal", there is nothing wrong with the removal of 80+% of our stomachs, but for me I just never could come to terms with it. And reflux scared me - I had a single dance with that with the band - again, I don't want to be punished and yes it may happen with the plication. We will see.

No weight loss surgery is perfect - very far from. My plication may fail as any of these surgeries may BUT this is the one I am chosing and this is the one I am going to stick by and do my very best for success - a normal life, a chance to eat right and exercise and keep a normal weight.

(((BIG HUGS)))

Starr

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