I have started sweating after eating. Anyone else?

Posted by GailBL, Alumni Mentor @gailb, Sep 24, 2017

I am soon to be 69 years old and have started sweating after I eat. It's as if I'm having a big and extended hot flash. I have been doing this close to a year. I'm wondering if my bidy is telling me something.

Some background:
I had gastric bypass surgery 3+ years ago
I have type 2 diabetes, 6.6 A1c
I have back problems
Meds: Tramadol, Valsartan, Levothyroxin, Glipizide, Lantus Insulin

If you have these symptoms, what have you done that helps or stops these heat waves after eating, please share what you know.

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@fredheiden

Dear Gail @gailb -- I am struck by the similarity of some of our symptoms. This is NOT just a woman's problem. I am a 74 yr old male and sweat profusely on the head, neck and arms after most every meal. I drench my towel-covered pillow. Comes with slight nausea, extreme weakness/fatigue (onset within 5-10 min.), and stomach ache/bloating. Often resolves within an hour, but is DEBILITATING. I have to lay down. I can't seem to associate the problem with any triggering foods (except dairy, which I can never tolerate). Upper GI barium work-up shows only slight gastroesophageal reflux. Problem has continued for several years. My GI doctor has no answers. Am sensitive to high temperature conditions (live in Phoenix area); mild exercise also brings on severe sweating. I feel sick all the time and am getting discouraged. I would gladly go to MAYO if I could get an appointment. I have Medicare + good secondary insurance but there are no openings. Has anyone offered you effective treatment suggestions?

Similar background:
I had gastric bypass surgery 15 + years ago
I have type 2 diabetes, approx 6.5 A1c; experience occasional blood sugar spikes followed by lows -- after big meals
I have had back problems (had epidural injections for ruptured disk)
Had gallbladder removed; have pacemaker

Meds: Metformin, Januvia, Gabapentin for neuropathy; (don't take insulin)
Don't use tobacco, alcohol, or eat spicy food, but drink non-caffeinated diet soda.

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@fredheiden You and me both - but my thyroid is normal. I don’t have diabetes. I do take metrormin. I had gastric bypass surgery 7 years ago. What is with this? Have you had your hormones chexked because there is something called Andropause out there which is the equivalent of menopause, which is likely not it for you. I thought I was going nuts but to hear others suffer from this makes me feel there is hope for an answer..

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@fredheiden

Dear Gail @gailb -- I am struck by the similarity of some of our symptoms. This is NOT just a woman's problem. I am a 74 yr old male and sweat profusely on the head, neck and arms after most every meal. I drench my towel-covered pillow. Comes with slight nausea, extreme weakness/fatigue (onset within 5-10 min.), and stomach ache/bloating. Often resolves within an hour, but is DEBILITATING. I have to lay down. I can't seem to associate the problem with any triggering foods (except dairy, which I can never tolerate). Upper GI barium work-up shows only slight gastroesophageal reflux. Problem has continued for several years. My GI doctor has no answers. Am sensitive to high temperature conditions (live in Phoenix area); mild exercise also brings on severe sweating. I feel sick all the time and am getting discouraged. I would gladly go to MAYO if I could get an appointment. I have Medicare + good secondary insurance but there are no openings. Has anyone offered you effective treatment suggestions?

Similar background:
I had gastric bypass surgery 15 + years ago
I have type 2 diabetes, approx 6.5 A1c; experience occasional blood sugar spikes followed by lows -- after big meals
I have had back problems (had epidural injections for ruptured disk)
Had gallbladder removed; have pacemaker

Meds: Metformin, Januvia, Gabapentin for neuropathy; (don't take insulin)
Don't use tobacco, alcohol, or eat spicy food, but drink non-caffeinated diet soda.

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Jj

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@gailb I think a certain amount of getting warm after eating is natural as your body digests the food. I find this particularly noticeable when I eat red meat. I take the absolute tiniest amount of levothyroxine, half of the smallest dose pill, and my thyroid tests indicate that my thyroid is fine -- at this point I take so darned many pills that I can't keep track of dosages without going upstairs to look at my pill bottle, but I know the dose is extremely low.
When I sit down to dinner I generally have a sweater or something warm on. l always have to remove it after dinner.
JK

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HELLO I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND HAVE FOUND OUT I HAVE THYROID GRAVES DISEASE THIS IS ONE ☝️ OF THE SYMPTOM OF THIS. NOT SAYING YOU HAVE IT ONLY A SUGGESTION. THE SWEETING IS TERRIBLE.TAKE CARE AND GOOD LUCK 👍

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OMG iv been looking for someone who might have gone through bariatric surgery and have the same symptoms as profuse sweating after eating like I have.
Is there anyone out there who is 2 to 3 years in From having bariatric surgery and still having some minor health issues if there is maybe we could have a chat and help each other out it’s always nice when you know you’re not alone. Hope to hear from some of you soon regards Tracey

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Hello @trbrewer65,

Welcome to Connect. Bariatric surgery can affect different bodily functions, including your metabolism. A condition known as dumping syndrome is an extremely common problem after the surgery, and symptoms include profuse sweating and lightheadedness.
The presence of certain types of food causes an osmotic overload upon entering the small intestine. This osmotic overload prompts your body to release extracellular fluid, resulting in a vagal reaction. Patients often complain about lightheadedness and profuse sweating after eating a high-glucose meal or drinking fluid with a meal. This is a very uncomfortable feeling and can be accompanied by palpitations, flushing, headaches, extreme fatigue. https://asmbs.org/resources/bariatric-surgery-postoperative-concerns

I'd like to invite @mstephen @nova1976 @jarnold246 @sbrokenshire who have discussed this type of surgery. While they may not share the same symptoms as you, they may have some similar experiences and insights to share.

@trbrewer65, could you share a bit more about the diet you’ve been following after the surgery?

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@trbrewer65

OMG iv been looking for someone who might have gone through bariatric surgery and have the same symptoms as profuse sweating after eating like I have.
Is there anyone out there who is 2 to 3 years in From having bariatric surgery and still having some minor health issues if there is maybe we could have a chat and help each other out it’s always nice when you know you’re not alone. Hope to hear from some of you soon regards Tracey

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I have not experienced any sweating after eating, but I avoid sugar and all the stuff that you are not supposed to eat post surgery. I also don't drink for 1 hour after eating, but when I drink a bit too early I can tell. It hurts! I have had some health issues post surgery like reactive hypoglycemia and right upper quadrant pain. Sometimes so severe that I end up in the ER. I saw a GI doc and my bariatric surgeon and both suspected it was some sort of nerve issues but it really didn't feel that way. I was put on gabapentin which did help... I got frustrated and took the leap to get an appointment at Mayo. I'm really glad I did. They confirmed what the GI and surgeon suspected that it was in fact nerve pain from having back to back surgeries (Oh, I had to have my gallbladder taken out 4 months after VSG). I was given a trigger point injection and so far so good.
It can be very frustrating, but don't get discouraged. Someone out there is going through what you are and a doctor has seen this happen and can give you answers. DO NOT GIVE UP.

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@trbrewer65

OMG iv been looking for someone who might have gone through bariatric surgery and have the same symptoms as profuse sweating after eating like I have.
Is there anyone out there who is 2 to 3 years in From having bariatric surgery and still having some minor health issues if there is maybe we could have a chat and help each other out it’s always nice when you know you’re not alone. Hope to hear from some of you soon regards Tracey

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Hi, @trbrewer65 Welcome to Connect. As I commented in my post from March 6, I do get very not almost always after dinner. I have not had any bariatric surgery so I assume it's just my physiology. I did also lose a lot of weight a few years ago, but not with surgery. That makes me wonder if our weight losses have contributed to this sweating and feeling very hot after eating. How long does the hot feeling last for you? For me it's generally not more than about 30 minutes.
JK

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It's called Reactive Hypoglycemia post-gastric bypass. Look it up online. Low blood sugar. Try drinking a glass of juice with about 20 grams of sugar as soon as you feel it coming on. Be careful to not eat high sugary things in your daily diet as it can throw your blood sugar levels out of wack. Pick up a glucose test kit; 70 or below will indicate a low blood sugar.

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Hi @gailb
I saw your original post and even though it is older I thought I would ask you this. I have not had gastric surgery of any kind. I do have a moderately sized hiatal hernia since at least 2002 which has not been a problem and also have barrett's esophagus. I never felt that I had reflux but my GI doctor says it is silent and that many people have it that way. I am on omeprazole 40 mg twice a day. I do notice sometimes if I eat anything too close to bedtime and don't prop up my head I have some reflux. Recently I started having the symptoms described by you and others here. That is, almost like clockwork as I take my last few bites of dinner, I am sweating profusely. I also begin to feel nauseated. It doesn't last long. Often a few sips of ginger ale will help. I also don't throw up or anything. I notice some belching recently which is not normal for me but it could be the ginger ale. Sometimes I take a pepsid. Today it happened after lunch and I just had to lie down. I don't notice that it is related to any particular food but I do often have a small bit of sugar free greek vanilla yogurt as dessert after dinner. I know that sometimes I will have trouble swallowing it. I has a barium swallow test and it showed mild esophageal spasms. Doctor gave me some medicine for it but I didn't like it (can't remember why as it was a while ago). He told me to stop taking it and that the spasms weren't dangerous just a common symptom of someone with barrett's and hiatal hernia. The swallowing issue doesn't happen all the time so I just don't worry about it. But the sweating and nausea has me concerned. I have been hesitant to go to the doctor because of COVID-19 but am due for my endoscopy to check my barrett's. I have gained a bit of weight (maybe 20 pounds) over the last 2-3 years due to back problems. Am largely a healthy eater (don't eat much meat at all just every so often) but I do have something sweet just about every day (usually a bran muffin that helps me to not be constipated from pain meds for my back). Any thoughts please send them my way. If I am posting in the wrong place, please redirect me.
Thank you.

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