Gastroparesis Diet – Questions, Suggestions, Tips

Posted by bellbelinda3 @bellbelinda3, Jan 30, 2012

I was recently diagnosed with Gastroparesis. Can anyone enlighten me about diet?

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@pdilly I have gastroparesis and as it was diagnosed at Mayo GI in MN, I was telling the doctor of what reactions I had with broccoli ... (vomiting up the broccoli separately from the combination of things I had eaten for the meal earlier.... )... The broccoli obviously stayed in the stomach longer... The doctor said that, that reaction was the best reason not to have to deal with broccoli ever again. So I have followed his sage advice now for many years .. I recall also that GHW Bush banned broccoli from the White House menu because he did not like it .... Before I had developed this post operative gastroparesis, I liked broccoli... There are so many other ways to get that vitamin or fiber.. Steaming vegetables is so much better than boiling them as you do not lose so many nutrients..

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@ken82

@pdilly I have gastroparesis and as it was diagnosed at Mayo GI in MN, I was telling the doctor of what reactions I had with broccoli ... (vomiting up the broccoli separately from the combination of things I had eaten for the meal earlier.... )... The broccoli obviously stayed in the stomach longer... The doctor said that, that reaction was the best reason not to have to deal with broccoli ever again. So I have followed his sage advice now for many years .. I recall also that GHW Bush banned broccoli from the White House menu because he did not like it .... Before I had developed this post operative gastroparesis, I liked broccoli... There are so many other ways to get that vitamin or fiber.. Steaming vegetables is so much better than boiling them as you do not lose so many nutrients..

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@pdilly and @ken82,

Roasting veggies is also tasty. I usually put the tougher veggies (Brussel Sprouts, etc.) in the microwave for about 5 minutes before roasting (softens them considerably) them in the oven. Then before putting them in the over (425 degrees for about 25 minutes) I toss them in olive oil (a generous amount of olive oil) then add some seasonings, some onion, garlic salt, or Mrs. Dash, and perhaps a bit of brown sugar. Turns out very tasty as well as healthy.

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The Mayo Clinic has great info on the gastroparesis diet. I avoid foods high in fat, sugar and fiber. Generally, this produces favorable results. I, however, have had a pyloromyotomy which causes the valve responsible for emptying my stomach to open 100% every time it sporadically opens. My stomach would not empty without this surgical intervention (pre-intervention surgery, after 4 hours, 90% of an egg white and toast remained in my stomach; post-intervention surgery, the egg white and toast had cleared my stomach). If you don't know how effective your stomach is emptying (or not), please ask your doctor for a nuclear gastric emptying study. If your stomach is not emptying, diet matters, but in a different way (i.e., what is going to produce gas and bloating as food remains in the stomach verses, what will cause gas, bloating and diarrhea in your intestines). Foods high in fat, sugar and fiber, without fail cause me almost instant diarrhea and horrific stomach cramping. Most of the time, if I avoid these foods, my stomach and intestines function fairly well. Sometimes, though, it literally does not matter what I eat, my stomach and my intestines react almost immediately and in a bad way. I have spent a lot of time with a heating pad on my stomach trying to ease pain. My Mayo doctor just prescribed Hyosciamine (nor sure of the spelling) which I put under my tongue if I feel stomach cramping and diarrhea coming on. It seems to help most of the time. I hope my response and my experiences are helpful. Gastroparesis is hard to live with.

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@rossjt

The Mayo Clinic has great info on the gastroparesis diet. I avoid foods high in fat, sugar and fiber. Generally, this produces favorable results. I, however, have had a pyloromyotomy which causes the valve responsible for emptying my stomach to open 100% every time it sporadically opens. My stomach would not empty without this surgical intervention (pre-intervention surgery, after 4 hours, 90% of an egg white and toast remained in my stomach; post-intervention surgery, the egg white and toast had cleared my stomach). If you don't know how effective your stomach is emptying (or not), please ask your doctor for a nuclear gastric emptying study. If your stomach is not emptying, diet matters, but in a different way (i.e., what is going to produce gas and bloating as food remains in the stomach verses, what will cause gas, bloating and diarrhea in your intestines). Foods high in fat, sugar and fiber, without fail cause me almost instant diarrhea and horrific stomach cramping. Most of the time, if I avoid these foods, my stomach and intestines function fairly well. Sometimes, though, it literally does not matter what I eat, my stomach and my intestines react almost immediately and in a bad way. I have spent a lot of time with a heating pad on my stomach trying to ease pain. My Mayo doctor just prescribed Hyosciamine (nor sure of the spelling) which I put under my tongue if I feel stomach cramping and diarrhea coming on. It seems to help most of the time. I hope my response and my experiences are helpful. Gastroparesis is hard to live with.

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Wow. I’m sorry your Gastroparesis is so severe. My stomach emptying test showed moderate gastroparesis. I consider myself very fortunate.

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@rossjt

The Mayo Clinic has great info on the gastroparesis diet. I avoid foods high in fat, sugar and fiber. Generally, this produces favorable results. I, however, have had a pyloromyotomy which causes the valve responsible for emptying my stomach to open 100% every time it sporadically opens. My stomach would not empty without this surgical intervention (pre-intervention surgery, after 4 hours, 90% of an egg white and toast remained in my stomach; post-intervention surgery, the egg white and toast had cleared my stomach). If you don't know how effective your stomach is emptying (or not), please ask your doctor for a nuclear gastric emptying study. If your stomach is not emptying, diet matters, but in a different way (i.e., what is going to produce gas and bloating as food remains in the stomach verses, what will cause gas, bloating and diarrhea in your intestines). Foods high in fat, sugar and fiber, without fail cause me almost instant diarrhea and horrific stomach cramping. Most of the time, if I avoid these foods, my stomach and intestines function fairly well. Sometimes, though, it literally does not matter what I eat, my stomach and my intestines react almost immediately and in a bad way. I have spent a lot of time with a heating pad on my stomach trying to ease pain. My Mayo doctor just prescribed Hyosciamine (nor sure of the spelling) which I put under my tongue if I feel stomach cramping and diarrhea coming on. It seems to help most of the time. I hope my response and my experiences are helpful. Gastroparesis is hard to live with.

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Does the Hyosciamine slow peristalsis?

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@rossjt - Your gastroparesis seems to control your life too much- sorry! I think your new medication- the antispasmodic- is going to help. I have taken such meds for years. At one point I was told I had gastroparesis, but testing at Mayo claimed the opposite. I do have to eat like you do. Low fat definitely. I eat only small portions of meat. Too hard to digest quickly. Fish is fine. I have been trying to find a balance in how much I can eat of different foods in a meal. How long have you had gastroparesis?

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@blmd5861

Does the Hyosciamine slow peristalsis?

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@blmd5861 - It is an antispasmodic- it will help the intestines move in a more normal way, avoiding the cramping. I love it.

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@rossjt

The Mayo Clinic has great info on the gastroparesis diet. I avoid foods high in fat, sugar and fiber. Generally, this produces favorable results. I, however, have had a pyloromyotomy which causes the valve responsible for emptying my stomach to open 100% every time it sporadically opens. My stomach would not empty without this surgical intervention (pre-intervention surgery, after 4 hours, 90% of an egg white and toast remained in my stomach; post-intervention surgery, the egg white and toast had cleared my stomach). If you don't know how effective your stomach is emptying (or not), please ask your doctor for a nuclear gastric emptying study. If your stomach is not emptying, diet matters, but in a different way (i.e., what is going to produce gas and bloating as food remains in the stomach verses, what will cause gas, bloating and diarrhea in your intestines). Foods high in fat, sugar and fiber, without fail cause me almost instant diarrhea and horrific stomach cramping. Most of the time, if I avoid these foods, my stomach and intestines function fairly well. Sometimes, though, it literally does not matter what I eat, my stomach and my intestines react almost immediately and in a bad way. I have spent a lot of time with a heating pad on my stomach trying to ease pain. My Mayo doctor just prescribed Hyosciamine (nor sure of the spelling) which I put under my tongue if I feel stomach cramping and diarrhea coming on. It seems to help most of the time. I hope my response and my experiences are helpful. Gastroparesis is hard to live with.

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Haven't tried heat yet, always done ice packs. Definitely will try that and let you know.

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I have had gastroparesis ever since I had a Nissen surgery to reduce GERD.. I lost 50 pounds down from 195 within a few weeks of that terrible surgery... I am 5'-10" now 83 year old Male.. .. I left that Central Iowa Clinic who could not figure out what was happening and went to Mayo MN to get a diagnosis that they figured out in a half day... they were able to give me guidance to cope with it.. Where as I could drink Ensure before the operation, I could not after.. I would vomit it out... but I can eat nuts and seeds.. a little at a time.. Trail Mix that I make with dried fruits, nuts, M&Ms.. is great snack to keep me going.. Since Mayo I have gained back nearly 30 pounds.. I am still thin.. I eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits.. even Peanut Butter on Celery.. if I take small bites.. cutting the fiber very short.. meat has to be cut small 1/4"x1/4"..need to use gravy or some sauce with it... like Bar-B-Que sauce.. I need to drink Electrolyte drinks.. Pedialyte and probiotics or such to keep from getting diarrhea.. Small meals, eaten very slowly.. is the key.. I live alone so every time I pass through the kitchen I get something to eat... Ice cream with strawberries.. Chicken Stew.. lots of beans.. meatloaf.. Caprese Salads.. cheeses work well..

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@ken82

I have had gastroparesis ever since I had a Nissen surgery to reduce GERD.. I lost 50 pounds down from 195 within a few weeks of that terrible surgery... I am 5'-10" now 83 year old Male.. .. I left that Central Iowa Clinic who could not figure out what was happening and went to Mayo MN to get a diagnosis that they figured out in a half day... they were able to give me guidance to cope with it.. Where as I could drink Ensure before the operation, I could not after.. I would vomit it out... but I can eat nuts and seeds.. a little at a time.. Trail Mix that I make with dried fruits, nuts, M&Ms.. is great snack to keep me going.. Since Mayo I have gained back nearly 30 pounds.. I am still thin.. I eat a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits.. even Peanut Butter on Celery.. if I take small bites.. cutting the fiber very short.. meat has to be cut small 1/4"x1/4"..need to use gravy or some sauce with it... like Bar-B-Que sauce.. I need to drink Electrolyte drinks.. Pedialyte and probiotics or such to keep from getting diarrhea.. Small meals, eaten very slowly.. is the key.. I live alone so every time I pass through the kitchen I get something to eat... Ice cream with strawberries.. Chicken Stew.. lots of beans.. meatloaf.. Caprese Salads.. cheeses work well..

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Wow, Ken! Yours is the first experience I have read of that is SO similar to mine! I have been wanting to talk with someone like you for several years!!!! I had a GERD surgery and locally the doctors could not make heads or tails of my post-surgery complications/symptoms. My wife and I went to the Mayo and it was determined there that my Vagus nerve, both trunks, had been severed or damaged so severely that they no longer work. I am 6'2" and weighed 236.5 the day of my GERD surgery. I now struggle to maintain my current weight of 140 pounds. I am 59 years of age, married and live in Montana. I would really like to talk with you about our experiences. Are you amenable to a private message so that we could exchange telephone numbers? Would you like to talk about your experience? In reading your post, it seems you are able to eat a much wider variety of foods than I can tolerate. I cannot touch lettuce or celery or strawberries or nuts or seeds. Regardless, we seem to have a lot of similarities in terms of the cause of our gastroparesis and our weight loss. You have gained back and that is awesome...congrats! What do you think about a private message (email) and exchange of phone numbers and conversation? You don't know (maybe you do) how much I look forward to your response!

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