Gastroparesis with severe symptoms!

Posted by paarak @paarak, Jul 17, 2011

Does anyone have gastroparesis (low stomach emptying) and what are you doing to manage the problem. I was finally diagnoised with this condition this year after at least 3plus years of unexplained illness. Most of my symtoms were related to pain in the chest; deep back shoulder pain; lightheaded/dizzyness; I always felt like I was having a heart attack. But each time I went to the ER all the heart test came back fine and was told it was just acid reflux. I have been to cardiology; neuralogy; gastrology. I have had heart test; stress test;;thryrod; diabectic test; all kinds of blood test (only showed low vit D) MRI of brain; spinal tap. Finally had stomach emptying test in March - which showed 85% food still in stomach after 3 hours. I have had to switch to a no fat; low fiber diet - pretty much all liquid; soft (babyfood like) foods. If I do experiment and eat something that doesn't move through - then I end up with the deep shoulder pain; lighthed/dizziness;; numbness in the arms/fingers and over all wekness. In order to overcome this feeling - It seems to work by drinking just water /gator aid for at least a day. I just don't know if this all started by a nerve damage issue or if it is reverserble. I have done a lot of internet reading and there doesn't seem to be anything to do except eating habit changes. And no one else seems to associate the pain I have with the stomach - I never seem to have stomach pain - Only fullness; nausea; bloating/gas. I also am not diabetic. Which my understanding is a reason for this condition. If you have this condition - what are your symtoms and how are you managing? Thanks

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@sockwelljames

No but sounds little like me since i had all my large intestine removed .and on anixty med. May gey mine changed if yours works. Let me know

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Also on nexuim

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Hello,
Im new here, hope all is having a good day

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Hello @thelma76, and welcome to Connect.
I moved your message to this discussion about gastroparesis as I thought it would be beneficial for you to meet the many members who are talking about this condition.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

Could you share a bit more about yourself, @thelma76? Were you recently diagnosed?

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@kanaazpereira

Hello @thelma76, and welcome to Connect.
I moved your message to this discussion about gastroparesis as I thought it would be beneficial for you to meet the many members who are talking about this condition.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

Could you share a bit more about yourself, @thelma76? Were you recently diagnosed?

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I was diagnosed with Gastrparesis since 2014 along with some other issues, we tried Botox and it still had failed for the second time....

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I know you are never supposed to Google your symptoms but seeing as No doctors seem to know what's going on I figured I would give it a try. Well, Google says that my symptoms could be gastroparesis but because the symptoms reported online are so vague I was hoping someone who has it can tell me what their symptoms were before they got diagnosed. I currently have pain after eating, followed my stomach cramps and diahrea ( the diahrea is mostly yellow with what looks like could be slime or slimeyish). I also have like constant burping and a feeling that I am going to vomit or that there is something stuck in my throat

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Hi @hgarm,

I moved your post to this existing thread on Gastroparesis, so you can read about what Connect members have shared about living with this condition.

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@kanaazpereira

Hi @hgarm,

I moved your post to this existing thread on Gastroparesis, so you can read about what Connect members have shared about living with this condition.

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Hi @kanaazpereira could you move my reply, comments to the same thread? This is my current hell & I would love other's insights. Thank you!

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Hello @hgarm. My diagnosis of Gastroparesis came after my first radio frequency ablation of low grade dysplasia related to Barrett’s esophagus. When they were mapping the areas to be treated, they saw undigested food in my stomach that shouldn’t have been there. The surgeon reported that to my gastroenterologist who immediately said “you have Gastroparesis.”

I started googling and based on what I read about how people end up with Gastroparesis, I didn’t believe I had it. I asked to have the stomach emptying study done to confirm the diagnosis. That study showed that I do have moderate Gastroparesis. (But not severe like my doc had thought based on the food left in my stomach.)

As I’m sure you already know, Gastroparesis means your stomach empties too slowly. I was not aware I was having any symptoms before I was diagnosed. But then I realized this was likely the reason why I was always feeling like I was full after only taking 2 or 3 bites of a meal. I also had some vomiting and diarrhea.

Since I’ve been on a low fiber diet and I’m taking domperidone, I’ve been much better. And although food is no longer sitting in my belly, I still can’t eat very much. I guess that’s because food still doesn’t move thru my belly very quickly.

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@sonyaparkey

Update: she is still miserable.The devastation of watching my 11 year old A honor roll student and all the extra activities widdle to NOTHING, have caused us health issues. As parents it is devastating when doctors refuse to take the pain "REAL"!!!!!!!!!!! We both started depression meds, high blood pressure meds, and he had a triple bypass he swears is due to this anxiety. Never a pill or problem in 50 years. A sick child and no doctor "ON OUR INSURANCE" will listen. We had a positive ANA Hepatitis and were referred to Scottish Rite who ONLY said she NOES NOT HAVE LUPUS. I travel 200+ miles every appointment. Insurance sucks. No specialists want to take us.

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If your daughter does not have Lupus but has a lot of the same symptoms, could you ask them to test for Sjogen's Syndrome (Show-gren's)? It's another autoimmune system like Lupus, it's actually thought to be more common than Lupus, but it's not tested for in the typical Rheumatoid Panel. I addition to joint pain and fatigue and other Lupus-like symptoms, typical Sjogren's symptoms include dry mouth, eyes or skin. The body basically attacks the moisture glands. I was thought to have Lupus and had a positive ANA (not Hepatitis) and it took almost 6 years for an eye doctor to figure out I had Sjogren's. This isn't a diagnosis, just a suggestion. I'm on a Sjogren's discussion list and unfortunately, it's not unheard of for children, especially females, to be diagnosed with Sjogren's.

I wish you and your daughter the very, very best, Tracy

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@kanaazpereira

Hi @hgarm,

I moved your post to this existing thread on Gastroparesis, so you can read about what Connect members have shared about living with this condition.

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Hi Kanaaz, Could you direct me to the existing thread on Gastroparesis as well? My intro post was on Jan. 22.
Thanks, Tracy

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