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

I’ve had Gastroparesis for a few years. Current flare has lasted over 4 months and can’t eat much of anything. Very weak no energy. Has affected my daily life, in bed all the time. On reglan which has helped with bloating and associated pain when I do eat but eating even liquids leaves me too full and nauseous. GI doc thought it was worth it to try Botox. I’m just hoping it’s not painful afterwards.

Hello @marcellablanch,

Four months is certainly a long time for a flare-up to last. You must feel anxious to find something that will help you! I'm sure that you must also be losing a lot of weight.

If you could share more, what other treatments have been tried?

Had Botox injections about a week ago. Seemed to be some improvement after a couple of days, but nausea seems to be back??? How long did it take for these to work for others?

I have had non cardiac chest pains and excess phlegm for over 20 years. Treated with all kinds of PPI drugs but 2 Bravos indicate no acid. The last year chest pains more frequent(all day) and debilitating. Over the years numerous Endoscopies ..non bleeding gastric ulcers and inflammation of stomach lining( due to all the anti inflammatory drugs taken for arthritis but I have now eased off) I saw two new GI docs in Fla at beginning of year and they were upset I had been treated so many years fri acid reflux. I then had a barium swallow(normal)
Manometry(diagnosis was normal esophagus but motility disorder with eg outflow obstruction and spasms) so I had endoscopy with endo flip and BOTOX. After Botox I had more frequent pain.. after I eat, always associated with phlegm and gas. Docs thought beginning of Achalasia. Given GI Cocktail, calcium channel blockers and the was referred to a swallowing disorder specialist. 3 months after Botox the specialist did another barium swallow( normal) and manometry(normal and sphincter open and no obstruction) he said esophagus normal and if I had Achalasia or other serious problem with esophagus the Botox and other meds would have taken pain away( pretty much disputed my 2 other Gi docs test. He said I should see an ENT doc, have a 4 hour gastric emptying and hydrogen breath test and possible treated fir pain syndrome!
From these results my Fl GI Docs then diagnosed me with hypersensitive esophagus. Instead of tricyclic drugs they wanted to try trazodone first. Trazadone did not work. In the meantime I left for my home in Idaho. I saw an ENT doc. I have LPR barium swallow indicated lots of reflux(a Ct scan is planned for this week) I also saw another GI doc and had colonoscopy (ok) and endoscopy.. report indicates abnormal motility, gastritis(always diagnosed with that after endoscopy) and for the second time a sliding hiatal hernia which only shows up occasionally. Prescribed omeprazole 3 times per day. Also saw my internist who changed the omeprazole to pantoprazole, sucralfate(not taking made me worse) and another calcium channel blocker(not taking made me worse)
Although the docs in Idaho have my records they are trying to treat me again for Acid reflux!! I have reflux/spasms but non acid! I also believe the sliding hiatal hernia could be playing a role but hard to get through to these docs.
Still going to try the tricyclic drugs at some point after my other tests and appointments. My crushing pain has interfered with my life and hope at some point we’ll have an answer and treatment. I too had my gallbladder removed years ago as they thought it would help pain.
I know this has been a very long rant but not only did I want to let you know about my BOTOX experience but maybe someone out there has had a similar problem. Also, I can eat but do watch my diet. It is after I eat I get pain and phlegm, when I don’t eat and but if I go all day without eating even worse. If I lean over to touch my toes I will bring up phlegm and helps pain to subside. According to the results of both manometry’s the sphincter but obviously not the source of pain and now worse. My doctor told me problem with all these procedures is that they will not necessarily show up each time.

I’m being treated at Mayo in AZ for gastroparesis and cyclic vomiting and my doctor has recommended I get the Botox injection and, if it works, a surgery that might offer permanent relief because I’m not seeing much relief from any medication we’ve tried.

The big issue is nausea that prevents me from eating. Moving, even talking makes it worse. I am able to eat a bit more/keep a little more fluids down, but so far my longest stretch in the last six months without a hospital admission for malnutrition has been a month and a half.

I’m scheduled for Oct. 12, but I’m concerned because my wife has knee surgery Oct. 14. I’ll need to be feeling well enough to drive. How quickly do people typically see improvement? Is there pain after?

My husband had botox injected at the pyloric sphincter because of food being caught there. This was 6 years ago and there has been no recurrence of the problem. He had it done outpatient with anthestesia but I was there and he didn't have to drive. He had no pain afterwards and immediate improvement.

I had been suffering with severe heartburn, food sensitivities and severe weight loss for 2 years.. My GI found an obstruction after a 24 hr monitor test and performed the EGD with botox injection last Thursday. The abdominal pain subsided finally after 4 days But the horrible headache and sore throat and the dizzyness still continue.

Has anyone had Botox as a treatment for Gastroparesis?
I really need relief from this painful cramping.
I am having regular bowel movements.
Following my diet but still cramp for days at a time. I really need help.
I am in Kentucky.

Hi Brenda,
I moved your question to this existing discussion that @montgomery41 started about botox injections to treat gastroparesis.
- Botox Injections placed near and/or around the Pyloric Sphincter. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/botox-injections-placed-near-and-or-around-the-pyloric-sphincter/

I did this so you can read previous posts and connect easily with members like @jdd @lelarkin @neo @lildee1025 @kozlo52 @snapdragon20 @marcellablanch @lorishort, who has botox injections for gastroparesis. For some it helped, for others less helpful.

Brenda, does your GI specialists think that you would be a good candidate for botox to help the painful cramping?

I go again on the 23rd.
He has not mentioned Botox to me but I will ask.
He was planning to do a
Pyloriplasty. I have misspelled, endoscopy procedure to widen Pyloric valve.