Does anyone know if gastroparesis is progressive over time?

Brenda:
thank you for the update. your diet sounds very similar to mine - looots of bread/toast and shakes - main thing I eat. Can you eat stewed fruit (boiled and then pureed) - I find that a "nice treat" and sometimes warm it up and have it with frozen yogurt - very delish (since we cannot enjoy much!). that is a procedure I would consider if my condition deteriorates further. I am thankful right now I can eat what I can eat. Please let me know how you do once you recover. They did that procedure endoscopically - right? Did you have the botox injections into the pyloric valve first - to see if it was going to work? Just wondering .... Did your GP happen "all of a sudden" or did it happen gradually over many years? that was my original question - I am trying to find out how it progresses (or if it does). I definitely think mine is worsening. Another question - how many hours before you lay down to go to bed at night do you stop eating? that is one of my main issues. I cannot eat anything after 2 p.m. other than liquid otherwise the minute I lay down I get pain and nausea. Also - did you go to a specialty center to get the surgery done and if so where? Sorry for all the questions but I am trying to get some answers here and not many people seem to answer the questions I have....

Thanks for your reply, Brenda. Sorry you still are not feeling well. Your description of the procedure sounds 'confusing" I am in the medical field so I know quite about about surgeries, endoscopies etc. when you have an endoscopy they go in through your mouth with a tube (like an upper GI examination - which I am sure you have had many of) and they do the surgery through that tube (no incisions in the abdomen) it sounds like you have both? is the pyloroplasty all they did or did you have some other procedure like a hernia repair or something as well?

Anyhow - that is interesting that you can eat right up until an hour before you go to bed. That is my biggest problem - laying down with food in my stomach - it causes major pain/pressure/gas/nausea. I stop eating at 2 p.m. and only have liquids after that - soup with no chunks or thin purees - and I don't even eat any of that after 5-6 p.m.

I live in California - I was hoping the doc who did your surgery was nearby! Is he just a "regular GI doc" or did you go to a Gastroparesis "specialty" doctor?? There is one place near me that specializes in it - but its about 30 miles away and my insurance will not cover it unfortunately. I would very much like to know if the pyloroplasty helps you (once you are healed) and if you are able to eat normally again - or at least "better" and more different foods other than purees and toast!!

Hi! I know I’m late to this thread but I was wondering the same thing- if gastroparesis is progressive.
This is how it started for - Well so I have colonic inertia for sure and possibly gastroparesis (according to dietitian) About 6 years ago I had suddenly felt something had switched off in my stomach, turned out that was the beginning of my chronic constipation issues. So For about 6 months I self treated with colonics. I'm assuming that could've possibly made my situation worse but it was temporary relief at least as I could easily go two wks, if not possibly longer without passing any stool at all.SORRY FOR THE TMI! Finally after 6 months my Gastroenterologist put me on 290mg linzess with 17 mg of miralax .. luckily it worked for me. Anyways, fast forward to 3 years after being diagnosed with colonic inertia - I got pregnant and suddenly start having acid reflux and vomiting every single morning. I figured this was temporary but no... it's now been 4 years since I had my daughter and I still have acid reflux (not vomiting thank goodness ) and for awhile I also had early satiety, nausea, and just this overall feeling of feeling like dreadful. I searched for a nutritionist and that helped me a bit, she taught me about macros and slowly increasing them so I was able to increase my calorie intake bc I was def malnourished even tho I was heavier than normal bc I was always bloated ... then after no more results came from that I switched to a dietitian- and she was able to get me off linzess and miralax and swapped it for magnesium- since then i haven’t had bloating. She also suggested some bitters for acid reflux and some enzymes to breakdown my fats, proteins and carbs- which I’ve been taking . My dietitian is now telling me she suspects I have gastroparesis which really upsets me bc I def didn't have the symptoms of it years ago when I was first diagnosed with colonic inertia which leads me to think I developed gastroparesis from having colonic inertia for so long and prob sped up with being pregnant maybe even the linzess was a contributing factor? The reason she thinks I have it bc I had a setback about 3 wks ago where my bowel movements weren’t feeling complete and I was having early satiety again and a lot of acid reflux. My concern is also whether or not gastroparesis (which we assume for now till I get tested is what I have) is progressive or can my diet maintenance and workout help keep it at bay? Rn I’m back on mostly liquids and very soft textured foods, low fiber and low fat in hopes that’ll clear me up and get me back to some regular healthy bowel movements. I would say that mine has progressed sorta.. improved since pregnancy but being pregnant caused so many other issues afterwards as I mentioned. I’m just scared up to how far I’ll progress one day.. I’m sure most ppl on here share that fear :/

Also since I haven’t seen this mentioned anywhere yet, There’s an article on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov -( can’t post the link )
suggesting that gastroparesis also causes smooth muscle atrophy so it’s been suggested to me by my dietitian to continue working out (I do weight lifting) to prevent or slow down the deterioration of my muscles. So just some info for everyone in case they can try and get a workout in.. hopefully it’ll help slow down progression of muscle atrophy.

Hi! I know I’m late to this thread but I was wondering the same thing- if gastroparesis is progressive.
This is how it started for - Well so I have colonic inertia for sure and possibly gastroparesis (according to dietitian) About 6 years ago I had suddenly felt something had switched off in my stomach, turned out that was the beginning of my chronic constipation issues. So For about 6 months I self treated with colonics. I'm assuming that could've possibly made my situation worse but it was temporary relief at least as I could easily go two wks, if not possibly longer without passing any stool at all.SORRY FOR THE TMI! Finally after 6 months my Gastroenterologist put me on 290mg linzess with 17 mg of miralax .. luckily it worked for me. Anyways, fast forward to 3 years after being diagnosed with colonic inertia - I got pregnant and suddenly start having acid reflux and vomiting every single morning. I figured this was temporary but no... it's now been 4 years since I had my daughter and I still have acid reflux (not vomiting thank goodness ) and for awhile I also had early satiety, nausea, and just this overall feeling of feeling like dreadful. I searched for a nutritionist and that helped me a bit, she taught me about macros and slowly increasing them so I was able to increase my calorie intake bc I was def malnourished even tho I was heavier than normal bc I was always bloated ... then after no more results came from that I switched to a dietitian- and she was able to get me off linzess and miralax and swapped it for magnesium- since then i haven’t had bloating. She also suggested some bitters for acid reflux and some enzymes to breakdown my fats, proteins and carbs- which I’ve been taking . My dietitian is now telling me she suspects I have gastroparesis which really upsets me bc I def didn't have the symptoms of it years ago when I was first diagnosed with colonic inertia which leads me to think I developed gastroparesis from having colonic inertia for so long and prob sped up with being pregnant maybe even the linzess was a contributing factor? The reason she thinks I have it bc I had a setback about 3 wks ago where my bowel movements weren’t feeling complete and I was having early satiety again and a lot of acid reflux. My concern is also whether or not gastroparesis (which we assume for now till I get tested is what I have) is progressive or can my diet maintenance and workout help keep it at bay? Rn I’m back on mostly liquids and very soft textured foods, low fiber and low fat in hopes that’ll clear me up and get me back to some regular healthy bowel movements. I would say that mine has progressed sorta.. improved since pregnancy but being pregnant caused so many other issues afterwards as I mentioned. I’m just scared up to how far I’ll progress one day.. I’m sure most ppl on here share that fear :/

Also since I haven’t seen this mentioned anywhere yet, There’s an article on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov -( can’t post the link )
suggesting that gastroparesis also causes smooth muscle atrophy so it’s been suggested to me by my dietitian to continue working out (I do weight lifting) to prevent or slow down the deterioration of my muscles. So just some info for everyone in case they can try and get a workout in.. hopefully it’ll help slow down progression of muscle atrophy.

Gastroparesis is separate from bowel issues/constipation. The only way to get it diagnosed is by a gastric emptying study. you need to see a gastroenterologist. You also need an upper endoscopy to rule out issues in your stomach such as a hernia which is causing the acid reflux etc etc. I wouldn't listen to a dietician - she cannot see inside your stomach nor diagnose you with gastroparesis. Normally with GP you throw up undigested food hours (i mean 6-8 hours or more) after you ate - and the food is pretty much as you ate it hours prior - completely undigested. it is not that common. Again - you need the gastric emptying test to confirm that is what it is - but usually they will start with an upper scope and then move onto the gastric emptying study afterwards.

Hi, I can write a book, I’ll try to e brief. Severe motility small and large bowel. Scheduled 2021 for colectomy changed my mind. Tests prior to surgery was stomach emptying and small bowel fluoroscopy. Had to pass to perform surgery. Had tried prior EVERYTHING to prevent surgery then just said no. When I was going to do it, they asked if I would consider Covid vaccine,wasn’t vaccinated. Surgery was scheduled September 2021. July and August received vaccines and then never did surgery. Fast forward to about 7 months ago and Gastro doc decided to start repeating tests done late 2020, third Gastro. First, did stomach emptying because not vomiting but eating smallest amount felt like huge meal and I couldn’t eat rest of day. Stomach emptying time was 17 hours yet in 2021 normal. I think vaccine because no med changes and no diet change. No sugar, no dairy and no gluten for over 2 years. Then did small bowel and it had a delay as well. All so disappointing. So I’m on erythromycin liquid, three small doses after each meal, lots of liquid vitamins including potassium prescription, every other night Philips milk of mag and amitiza that I hate because for about 3 hours I suffer labored breathing and is any of this helping no. So Friday night two capfuls Philips, Saturday morning 2 more and a day of only fluids. I’ll pass brown water all day and repeat next Friday. Another colonoscopy this May because so booked. It’s so endlessly disappointing. I have no answers except searching a forth Gastro with hope. I don’t know what else to do. I’m not removing my colon to only begin creating a knew problem. I’m 68 and I’m not doing it. I don’t have cancer slickly severe motility and gastroparesis. Wish you well…Joanne