Do gastroparesis symptoms slowly creep up on everyone?

Can you tell me what brands of coconut protein powder and egg white protein powder you've used? I need to get more protein but have difficulty with other types of protein powders due to numerous other health problems.

Hi Skim3737,
I use Carrington Farms Organic Protein Blend, which is my favorite, because there is no overpowering flavor to it and only 3 ingredients in it. Organic coconut powder, organic pumpkin powder, and organic pea powder. Two scoops per serving = 20 grams of protein. I usually mix mine in frozen blueberries, and add some tart cherry juice, and sometimes a banana or apple. When you add ice this is real thick and you eat it with a spoon because it doesn't go through a straw. I used to get this at Walmart, but haven't been able to find it in the store. I found it online but to get the $11 bag they want you to subscribe now. I went to Amazon and get it there now.
My egg protein, I just realized is no longer just the egg whites, that got so darned expensive I switched and forgot. This is Designer Wellness Egg Dutch Chocolate. I see in comments where many like the vanilla better. This is made with the egg white and the yolk, cocoa and Non GMO Lecithin. It does have Stevia in it. Two scoops is 24 grams of protein. This product is 120 calories per serving and the Coconut Protein is 130 per serving. I love peanut butter, so I add peanut butter and ice to the chocolate egg protein, and again, get a very thick smoothy, so I can still feel like I am eating instead of drinking through a straw. The Designer is more expensive @ $20 a bag, but both products are pretty clean, and I'd rather they leave the Stevia out of the Egg protein. The chocolate is about $10 less then the vanilla egg protein (Designer).
You can let you imagination run wild. I add a banana and instant coffee to the chocolate one and with ice it's like having a frozen mocha frappe, only thicker.
I add peanut butter to the Coconut powder too, with Lactaid Milk, because I can no longer digest regular milk, and do it with or without ice. Hope this helps.

This is all very interesting. I think my mom may have this. Most of the time after she eats, she regrets it. She’s seen gastroenterologist before, but I don’t think she got this diagnosis.

I had a friend who was diagnosed with it and she had type 1 diabetes. After not seeing her for several years, I contacted her and she said she was doing great. She had surgery and had recovered. I wonder how that works.

Gastroparesis can fluctuate from mild to severe depending on symptoms. There are several medications that can help. I may not be up to date on current treatments but there was also gastric stimulator implants for severe cases. I was diagnosed back in 2005 and have had a few major flareups where I was on liquids only or hospitalized with IVs only for several weeks at a time. I took Erythromycin as needed for years when a flare-up was bad it has gastric motility benefits and didn’t pursue stronger meds. Managing thru diet is extremely important and each one of us has different triggers or things we can tolerate. Keeping yourself hydrated is really important. Look for nutritional liquids you can tolerate, I drink diluted V8 peach mango, in flare ups I get boost breeze also diluted with small amounts mixed with water, etc.

I found the following links very helpful. Crystal Saltrelli’s website Living Well with Gastroparesis and books have a lot of great information, I highly recommend checking them out. She gives a lot of tips on foods and nutrition and battles with it herself, it started her on her journey to be a nutrionist. The other link below is to a Jackson Gastroenterology site I found years ago. They show a three tiered dietary approach, the concept is very helpful and what I follow in my daily life. If symptoms start to flare I step down from level 3 diet to level 2 and if it continues I step down to level 1 and as things settle I work my way between the levels.

Keep a food diary also very important to identify your triggers and what you can tolerate with less discomfort. This can be such a challenging and frustrating journey but hang in there. There is hope and support.
https://www.livingwellwithgastroparesis.com/
https://www.gicare.com/diets/gastroparesis-diet-for-delayed-stomach-emptying/

@celia16
I have never heard of a surgery for gastroparesis, and I am still seeing a gastroenterologist every year just to learn if there is anything new. I'm wondering if the surgery she had was something pertaining to her diabetes??
At one time my PA sent me to University of Michigan to see if anything else was offered there. I saw that doctor once and never went back because I don't want to take part in an experiment. They wanted to put shots of Botox in my stomach, which I can see how that could definitely stop the spasms in the stomach when I ate something my stomach didn't like getting, BUT, my question of how would that help my stomach to digest the food I'm eating if the stomach muscles are numb, went unanswered. I did not stop at the desk to set up any future appointments on my way out the door. I have a slew of sensitivities and allergies to medications and when I asked if there was a way of testing to see if I had either to Botox, he simply told me I wouldn't have.

Interesting concept on the Botox that seems to see something they are broadening in use, my neurologist mentioned it for a different issue. It appears there are studies indicating stomach spasms may contribute to gastroparesis and the botox calms them which may result in better digestive flow. I have the same long list of allergies and sensitivities it runs in my family and sometimes the med team doesn’t seem to take into consideration but it can make treatment options tough. I would be the same way regarding the botox because our bodies seem to over react to ingredients maybe it’s autoimmune or other not sure but it’s real. Perhaps they can attempt a low dose of botox under the skin like allergy testing as I read online a skin test is an option but not sure if it’s sufficient may be worth re-checking with the doc.

I’m seeing a wellness way specialist now finding more information on how the gut microbiome also can contribute to gastroparesis may be worth checking it out. Good luck!

@mavans10
Been there done that. I would love to know how many who have gastroparesis now, started out by having acid indigestion or heartburn and were handed prescriptions for antacids which are now over the counter so everyone uses them. I used to be able to eat anything and loved homemade chili, tacos, wet burritos, etc. To me a pizza wasn't a pizza without all the pepperoni for that spicy taste. I truly think one of the worst things "we the people" are doing to ourselves is overeating, or not stopping before we are full. Today, most of us know that it takes about 30 minutes after the "full" peg has been hit for us to feel it, when we could eat normally. With gastroparesis, the full peg is almost always there 24-hours a day, unless we are following common sense. We learn smoothies are a real good choice, and Bone Broth became a staple for lunch when I just knew it is going to be one of those days. When I went to U of M I actually expected more along the lines of the implant, and was certainly not expecting Botox,
as a remedy. Allergies and sensitivites are no laughing matter, and it makes me approach all things with caution. I certainly fix my own meals most of the time, as eating out produces a lot of issues, and travel became a nightmare, especially on trips with a group where eating dinner was often 7-8 p.m. That does not work for me at all. So, while I do okay most of the time just watching what and when I eat, it has removed a lot of "The character and adventure" my life brought. What I never will understand is why I had to ask my gastroenterologist if I had gastroparesis, instead of him telling me I had it years in advance when he knew it, so I could have chosen a much different path early on, that would have helped my body heal. Our bodies are miraculous at what they can do to heal themselves. If I'd have known early on, I would have made many different choices then I did.

I totally agree. It’s also amazing the toxic and bad ingredients in food in the USA that I believe are increasing all types of health issues. I too am very cautious with everything I take or eat and love to travel for both work and pleasure all over the world. Sadly health issues have impacted both but when I do I typically need to bring my own food or pick up items there I can eat or have to request the group go somewhere I can find something on the menu (always feel bad about) often I go and have water and visit eating separately before or after the work meal.

Did you ask about the gastric pacing implant, curious what they said vs the botox. I was on aciphex for 20+ yrs up to twice a day only to find out now it’s like a big factor in my poor gut microbiome contributing to lots of other health issues including chronic c-diff for seven months I can’t get rid off. My wellness specialist indicated meds and diet big part of my colon issues. Best of luck to you very glad I signed up for the mayo chat.

@mavans10
Type in "Healthy Gut," and read what the gastroenterologist there says about the medical treatment we are receiving being the exact opposite of what we should have been doing. I was taking Pepcid and Tagamet when they were prescription drugs. By nixing the acid in our gut, the FOOD WASN'T DIGESTING. DUH!!!
I haven't been on the site for a while, but I went there after looking at information about our gut and found a young female surgeon talking about what has helped her. I read what she said about SIBO and you probably could have seen the steam coming out of my ears 50 miles away.
By being on all these antacids we destroyed the make up of our gut and the undigested food sitting there, sometimes for 2-3 days, IS WHAT CAUSED SIBO. We are only supposed to get that bacteria in our intestines, but because the food is staying in our stomach so long we are getting bacteria in our stomach. This infuriated me when I was reading it. 2004 to 2025, and I constantly got worse until I started looking for alternatives online and handling my own situation by learning as much as I can. I went to the Healthy Gut site and there were three products that pop up initially. The first one is something like Tribytrin ( I'm just going off memory), and I can't take that as it has sugar alcohol in it, and that stuff I can't get near. I was reading all the comments said about the products and if you can take the one I just mentioned, the young female surgeon said this stuff worked for her to rid her of SIBO.
While reading about the third one, HCL Guard, I saw where a woman also said it took care of her SIBO. I had gotten to where I was getting hiccups and burping just waking up and laying in bed. AGAIN, NOT ONE WORD FROM MY GASTROENTEROLOGIST WHEN ASKED WHAT IS CAUSING THIS? Then wonder why we are going online and looking for information from others with the same issues.
I bought the HCL Guard, which increases the acid in your gut when you eat a bigger meal. I don't take it daily because I don't eat a big meal daily. I graze throughout the day just trying to get protein at one meal and veggies at another, and my dark chocolate is a must each day for me. I'm not giving that up!!!
I try to take the HCL 1-2 times a week, and the hiccups and burping stopped the first week. I still belch after eating, but this other was when I had not eaten or drank anything.
It's comical to read the way it is written, but you might find one of those three products that pop up when you get on that site could help you. The HCL Guard really made a difference for me, but I've only had it for a couple of months and I never take more then one, wheras you will see they recommend 2, 3, or 4, depending on how it comes out the other end. I can't take probiotics that my gastroenterologist recommended as they cause the worst spastic colon I have ever had in my life.
To answer your question about the stomach implant, I asked, but that doctor said they would rather try the Botox first along with a good probiotic.

I totally agree so important to be your own health advocate. In 2005 when I was first diagnosed with Gastroparesis I went through multiple doctors in various specialties. I lost 90 lbs in four months, found specialists two hours away to go to, by then I had pancreatitis, my gallbladder wasn’t working and my digestion was shut down. I could hardly sip water, couldn’t eat gerber one baby food or anything. It took a very long time to recover but thankfully I pushed to get the referral to go elsewhere. Gastroparesis wasn’t as identified back then or treated as it is now. Interesting you mention sibo, I sent that to my GI doc this weekend due to the symptoms and chronic cdiff wondering if there is sibo or something else going on keeping bacteria there. I will keep searching and learning to work towards good health. I’m going to do some checking into the other items you mentioned. I also heard good things about DMSO and Colostrum just starting to research them for safety and benefits.