Natasha Diddee, popularly known as The Gutless Foodie, passed away last week. She was residing in Pune at the time and was 50 years of age. Diddee was a famous food blogger and chef and had been living with dumping syndrome after her stomach was removed as it had sprouted multiple tumours.
The heartbreaking news of her passing was shared by Diddee’s husband on her Instagram page ‘thegutlessfoodie.’ He wrote in the caption, “It is with great pain and sorrow that I am forced to announce the sad and heartbreaking passing of my wife Natasha Diddee, aka The Gutless Foodie. The Instagram account @thegutlessfoodie will be kept alive and open since I know her posts and stories inspire a lot of people and many of her followers frequently come back for her recipes.”
The fact that Diddee was living her life without a stomach may seem puzzling to most of us. To explain Natasha’s case and the subsequent challenges of having your stomach removed, the OnlyMyHealth team spoke to Dr Pratik Tibdewal, Consultant Gastroenterologist, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road.
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What Is Total Gastrectomy?
According to the National Cancer Institute, total gastrectomy is a surgical procedure that involves the complete removal of the stomach. While this may sound drastic, it is a necessary treatment option for certain medical conditions, most commonly advanced gastric cancer.
Total gastrectomy is typically recommended when cancerous tumours in the stomach have progressed to a stage where they cannot be effectively treated with other methods such as chemotherapy or radiation. It may also be performed in cases of severe gastric ulcers or other conditions where the stomach is extensively damaged or diseased.
During a total gastrectomy, the surgeon removes the entire stomach along with nearby lymph nodes to ensure that any cancerous cells are eliminated. After removing the stomach, the surgeon reconstructs the digestive tract by connecting the oesophagus directly to the small intestine, to allow the food to pass through.
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Talking about the complications that follow stomach removal, Dr Tibdewal said, “Living without a stomach, either due to surgical removal or congenital absence, can lead to several complications.” He listed:
- Nutritional deficiencies: The stomach plays a crucial role in the initial digestion of food and absorption of certain nutrients like vitamin B12, iron, and calcium. Without a stomach, absorption of these nutrients may be impaired, leading to deficiencies over time.
- Digestive issues: The stomach secretes digestive enzymes and acids to break down food. Without a stomach, digestion may be compromised, leading to issues like indigestion, bloating, and malabsorption.
- Dumping syndrome: As mentioned earlier, rapid emptying of food into the small intestine can occur after stomach surgery, leading to symptoms like diarrhoea, nausea, and weakness.
- Weight loss: Difficulty in consuming and digesting food, along with malabsorption of nutrients, can lead to unintended weight loss and malnutrition.
- Psychological impact: Living without a stomach can have significant psychological effects, including anxiety, depression, and changes in body image.
What Is Dumping Syndrome?
Natasha had shared in interviews that she often had problems like nausea, diarrhoea, light-headedness or fatigue after having a meal. This could be attributed to dumping syndrome, another significant complication of stomach removal.
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Dr Tibdewal defined dumping syndrome as “a condition that occurs when food, especially sugar, moves too quickly from the stomach into the small intestine. It commonly happens after certain types of surgeries, such as gastric bypass surgery, where the stomach size is reduced or bypassed.”
He listed two types of dumping syndrome: early and late.
Early Dumping Syndrome
“This stage of dumping syndrome occurs within 30 minutes to an hour after eating,” said Dr Tibdewal. He shared that it is characterised by symptoms like nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, diarrhoea, sweating, dizziness, and rapid heartbeat. “This happens because undigested food rapidly enters the small intestine, causing a shift of fluids into the intestine, which leads to these symptoms,” he added.
Late Dumping Syndrome
Dr Tibdewal elucidated that “This stage happens about 1 to 3 hours after eating and is due to a rapid rise and subsequent fall in blood sugar levels.” Symptoms include weakness, sweating, dizziness, confusion, palpitations, and sometimes fainting. “This occurs because the rapid digestion of sugars leads to an excessive release of insulin, causing a sudden drop in blood sugar levels,” he explained.
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Natasha Diddee’s passing is sad news that has left many of her fans shocked and confused. She was a beacon of hope and positivity, as many of her fans and those who met her have claimed. However, her husband’s decision to keep her Instagram page alive is commendable and will serve as an important reminder of her inspirational work.