Developing Irritable Bowel Syndrome After Gastric Bypass Surgery

When I had gastric bypass surgery October 2001, I didn't know then that I would have irritable bowel syndrome. I don't like to go anywhere for fear of embarrassing myself, because I am plagued with frequent bloating and gas. I am very uncomfortable within just a few minutes of eating a meal. The cramping gets worse when I try to hold in the gas. It isn't only gas that is bothersome, but I also have diarrhea without any warning quite often. There are some days where I am constipated and don't have the urge to go, and then other days I am running to the bathroom trying to make it on time.

Over time I have learned how to control some of the symptoms of IBS. I have to avoid drinking milk, but I can eat cheese and yogurt without any problems. I have started drinking soy milk in the place of regular milk, because even the lactose free milk makes me hurt and causes gas to accumulate.

My surgeon explained to me that when he preformed the gastric bypass surgery on me that he made my stomach about the size of my thumb, and it wasn't anything more than a sort of funnel. He also bypassed 18 inches of small intestine. So the stomach empties into the small intestine very quickly. This causes irritation in the bowel and increased contractions (peristalsis) that causes undigested food to move along the bowel tract. Gas, bloating and cramping are my frequent companions.

There is no telling from one day to another how my bowel is going to behave. It may move food quickly causing diarrhea, or the food may move more slowly causing constipation. Stress is another of my triggers for symptoms. If I get stressed to the point of feeling nervous I will get stomach problems. I will get sick to my stomach, and I have had bouts of diarrhea just from being anxious.