Botox Injections placed near and/or around the Pyloric Sphincter.

yes botox for gastroparesis in 2014.I have written about it in the forum. Still working well. Was very sick before
i had it done and it has been a miracle!

I had a round of Botox injections in 2015 and they worked very well. They eventually wore off but I had the permanent surgery to have my pyloric sphincter opened and it has been a miracle. I do continue to have flare ups occasionally, but I don’t know where I would be without it. My physician at Cleveland clinic specializes in gastroparesis and he does not agree with the gastric pacemaker. Sometimes i was told it can cause more problems then good. I am thankful for the path I chose with the surgery. I have gained some weight back and can eat most things. But I am leading a more normal life than ever before.

I had Botox injections at Mayo in Arizona a few weeks ago. There has been some improvement with the “emptying” process, only one bad bought of Constipation followed by Diarrhea. Placing the blame for that on a holiday weekend and my poor choices of food as well as amounts. My life long problem has been when it’s good eat more or do more. That’s not working with Scleroderma
I was told Botox can work for some up to a year? How many times did you have the injections before surgery and how long did they last?
Is the surgery In-Patient ? What was the recovery like?

Good news is other than GUT issues my doctors are pleased with Lung Improvement numbers and the overall tests for Scleroderma indicators have improved TPN is administered every night for 12 hours and I’m on a as you can tolerate diet. I had lost over 150 lbs and was 120lbs when I became a patient at the Mayo. I now weigh 160lbs
Thanks for sharing I attend our local chapters monthly Scleroderma meetings and there are very few men and no
one has identical problems or symptoms
All the best to you

Welcome to Connect, @montgomery41 and @kamg,

Thank you so much for sharing your insights. You may also wish to view this discussion, "Botox injection" https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/botox-injection/ where @ryman has written about botox.

@aishia, @katmandoo, I'd also like to invite you to join this conversation and share your experiences with botox injections for gastroparesis.

Thank you so much!

My botoxinjuection lasted about a month. Then I opted to have the surgery. The Botox injection was a trial run for the surgery. And since it helped they figured the surgery would too. When I had the surgery however I did have a partial gastrectomy due to a failed previous surgery. But I don’t feel that without the pyloriotomy I wouldn’t be doing as well as I am. I still have problems withconstipation when I have the flare ups but it has gotten better.

From what I understand botox injections are not a permanent solution and repeat injections do not always produce the same results. Seems like this is true from your experiences @kamg and @rinstaffordaz. Is that correct?

This is true. They are not permanent. They will sometimes do multiple injections for a person or it will be a trial for a more permanent procedure. It’s up to you and the physician.

I am waiting for an apt to have Botox injections in my lower esaphagus sphincter due to swallowing problems. But I also have gastroparesis. I had a pacemaker put in in Oct and had problems with it. Tho no one wants to agree with me, I feel the surgery caused much of my trouble. They keep pushing me to take Reglan but I am afraid of that med and refuse to take it. I am glad to hear good reports because things have become pretty bad for me.

I too have the same problem. I too did not qualify for the nero stimulator. Although I have been given the same news you all received. I had the botox injections yesterday st the IU Hospital in Indianapolis. I found it to be a little painful, mostly a constant sense of belly pain. My GI told me that this is just an attempt to alleviate the problem of my gastroparesis. Only time will tell if it works. My GI used a balloon to test the rim of my esaphagus sphincter. He discovered a rough rigid opening and placed 100 units of botox into that area. I have not had a good chance to see if that is going to help. My GI was less than confident that it is going to be the cure. Next step is for him to cut the muscle that is affected by the vagas nerve damage to the esaphagus sphincter. This is all done through an endoscopy. What I found hard was the three days without solid food prior to the endoscopy. Good luck to everyone.