Gastroparesis with severe symptoms!
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
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Have you gotten any answers I am dealing with this exact issue now I know this is an old thread , hoping for some help.
What is your health problem?
I started about 6 month ago with severe bloating ,GERD type symptoms , pain in the upper abdomen, vomiting, nausea feeling full rapidly .After being told I had Gerd alone and medication not helping , also being told it was stress my gasto did more tests and it came back as Mild Gastro-paresis but my symptoms are severe .
WOW !!! THANK YOU
What helped me was botox to the lower stomach muscle. An injection was given in 3 places via endoscopy so food always goes into the small intestine. With gastroparesis, the stomach nerves can be so damaged that the contraction (peristalsis), is so slow that by the time the food reaches the lower stomach to enter the small intestine, the pyloric sphincter (muscle opening) closes, keeping the food in the stomach. That is what causes all the nausea, fullness, bloating and vomiting. It also can become the source of infection. Very serious. A special diet is needed of easily digested foods like white bread no wheat, oat, seeded breads, i.e.. I use gummy or chewable vitamins and liquid medicines also. March 2014 I had the procedure at Hershey Medical Center in PA and it is still working. Mine was severe. I would NOT get a pacemaker! There is no guarantee on how long this lasts but so far so good. I use liquid erythromycin as a prokinetic (muscle contractor) for the stomach. The procedure took only 15-20 minutes and no pain. Rare nausea and not that constant loss and gaining of weight, unable to tolerate smells and look at food...etc. A real blessing.
I also did the Botox injections in my stomach but they quit working. My only choice was the pacemaker which I had implanted in April of 2012 and it was a God send. It is still working until this day. Just my opinion. Kathy
Very glad to hear! Gastroparesis is difficult to have so thank goodness this is working for you.
I am so happy the pacemaker helped you .My husband had severe gastroparesis and we were In the hospital every other month and they couldn't do much because he was a high risk patient. I'm happy you are doing much better .
It is. Very difficult this is why gastroparesis awareness need to be out there.It is no joke especially when you have family or friends suffering from it we suffered so much. They need all the support and understanding they need
Thank you. Yes mine is very severe but if I watch what I eat the pacemaker works great.