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Gastroparesis with severe symptoms!
Digestive Health | Last Active: 1 day ago | Replies (692)Comment receiving replies
I am a care giver for my wife who is a diabetic 1.5 because of 3 stomach surgeries that damaged her vegas nerve. She also developed gastrio perisis (Spell).We have a terrible time with her diabetes as her stomach does not digest food as it should. She had a gastro test done at Mayo. It required eating and then waiting 4 hours to have scan done. It revealed after 4 hours her stomach only had digested 40% of the food she ate.It now only affects her diabetes but many other things. She was having another test and had to have breathing tube put in as xray or CT showed food in her stomach even though she had fasted for 12 hours. They were worried about nausea and getting into lungs.I had read about a new device like a pace maker that can be placed in stomach that stimulates stomach muscles to facilitate digestion. If we are ever going to be able to control her diabetes and not have tremendous swings in lows and highs we need to find a way to improved digestion of food.Anyone have that procedure done and can provide information on it. If you had it did it help.Even if you did not have procedure and have similiar issues what worked for you? I am trying to help my wife who is not a person who will go on support groups so reaching out. She is under the care of an endoctrologist, gastro doctor, gastro surgeon, dietician.
Replies to "I am a care giver for my wife who is a diabetic 1.5 because of 3..."
I believe the "pacemaker" you are referring to is Enterra Therapy. I have been looking into it for myself.
@jlharsh
She had a virtual appointment with her gerontologist yesterday. Not much help though.
She said he said the pacemaker type device was mainly for those suffering nausea not promoting digestion. Though my research on it said it helps stomach muscle contract and force food into small intestine. Then we asked about acupuncture and again got "has not shown to be helpful."
So he changed one medication for another and up her magnesium to 800 mg to be taken prior to bed. Wow that is a lot I thought but kept my thought to myself as most doses I have read are 400.
Our PCP thinks riding a stationary bike might help her with moving food down out of stomach into small intestine. We went over to our fitness room and tried out the incumbent and straight up bikes. I think because she has balance problems (has to wear a patch over one eye due to double vision caused by diabetes in eye nerve and muscle) so limited to walking to prevent falling. So bike might work.
I was really hoping the pacemaker type device would really help and could stop taking more and more pills. Will keep posting our journey with this. Thanks to all with their feedback and encouragement.
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Hi @jc76.
I was reading just today about a pacemaker for the gut. What an interesting topic!
I am not sure where your wife is with testing at Mayo. They may be just the place to answer your questions. A referral to Dr. Oblizajek sounds like it he may be a good option.
“Dr. Oblizajek's clinical expertise is in general gastroenterology and gastrointestinal motility including gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, chronic constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and other disorders of gut-brain interaction. His research interests involve the intersection of bioelectronic medicine with gastrointestinal symptom diagnostics and management.”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/oblizajek-nicholas-r-m-d/bio-20550222
What the result of your wife’s testing, has their been follow up? Dr. Oblizajek is located in Rochester and I believe you are in Florida? isn’t If you don’t go the referral route, perhaps you could request an appointment for a virtual consultation with him. http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63