Professor Clump Makes a House Call!

NOT FOR THE SQUEAMISH! Can you believe it? After 50 days, Gene finally had a "clumping" experience! Since this blog is for more than just my family, I feel I must share this information because it is far more common than our single experience with it and anyone considering the surgery needs to be aware of the possibilities.

To brush up, there are primarily two adverse reactions that a Gastric By-pass patient might experience adjusting to their new stomach. One, called "dumping" is exactly what it sounds like and since we all do this to some extent, while it can be a big deal, it hasn't been for Gene.

"Clumping" is throwing up and while that may sound fairly innocuous, a Gastric By-pass patient does so in a rather violent way. Oh well. Here are the reasons one may clump: 1)eating too fast, 2)eating too much (remember, still only 2-3 oz. per meal), 3)food too dry, 4)wrong food (refined sugar, "bad" carbs). Considering that Gene's total caloric intake on Sunday was less than 400 (today has only been around 500), it seems that clumping should not have been part of his day. But it was.

After all was said and done, Gene determined that he ate the little bit of food he had (2 oz. tilapia and 1 oz. refried beans) too fast, they may have been too dry and there was too much!

In all actuality, the clumping was a blessing. It is the one thing that he been terrified of since the very mention of the surgery but now he has done it and lived to tell about it. Yea for Gene! He even tidied up after (don't let that one out or his man-license may be rescinded!).

So, remember: this is not the "easy way"; it is merely a tool. Thanks for caring, listening and learning!