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@fourof5zs

@terrijwright

As far as I know there is no cure for gastroparesis. I have heard some success with a gastric stimulator implant.

I had some help with gastoparesis symptoms with taking a probiotic .. tried different ones and Align helped the most. Also just watching your diet.

I had a gastric bypass in 2014. My stomach (pouch) is about the size of a large egg .. because I lost bits of my stomach with Nissen .. repair .. and take down of the Nissen. It has not expanded much .. the surgeon told me it would not. I can eat at most .. depending on what it is … 1 1/2 cups of food. I eat often to keep my weight up.

Constipation is still a problem at times. I cannot eat raw foods .. except ripe banana and I can eat dried fruits .. and eat fruit and veggies cooked tender and canned ones. For my higher fiber I can eat Bush's baked beans. They are tender and give me very little gas. I sometimes eat canned kidney and black beans .. like in chili or soups. Just one meal in a day and a big break before next bean dinner. I get full and can't eat much … it takes a bit to digest higher fiber foods. I eat meats but avoid stringy, tough meats.

There are risk with gastric bypass … I had complications and mine was done at the Mayo Clinic Jacksonville. Nothing the surgeon did .. just my body acting up. 1% chance my esophagus would shorten. It did. It brought up 1 loop of my intestines and shredded part of my diaphragm where they attached the hernia to. They repaired what they could during that surgery but I was too weak for it all. I was put on a feeding tube .. after a time I could eat by mouth, but still needed the tube to survive. About 6 months later two more loops of my intestines came up into chest (I cannot explain how that felt) and I had more surgery. It had to be open and had to be done .. or I would have a slow death. My intestines had pushed against my left lung and collapsed the lung. During this repair surgery they had to get my lung off my ribs. The lower portion of my lung is still collapsed, but I breathe fine. I was on the feeding tube just a little over a year. Not great to go through, but kept me alive.

Don't let this scare you from having the surgery. My esophagus was messed up pretty bad from acid reflux before the surgery. So the damage from reflux is stopped. Because of the last surgery I still have chest pains. .. and achalasia is still there from before to cause chest pains. (I don't think any real cure for it either .. just a little relief from a couple of types of surgery). I burp just as much and sometimes bad bloating if I was bad and ate too much high fiber. You may be able to eat higher fiber .. everyone is different. Sometimes I take a stool softener or laxative.

I don't have as much symptoms of gastroparesis now. I had dumping syndrome with it and I still have it, but not as often and usually solid bowel movements.

I suggest talking more with a surgeon before having the bypass. Write your questions and concerns down. Read all you can .. but don't trust Dr Google. .. it can lead you to quack sites .. stick with the major hospital sites.

ZeeGee

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Replies to "@terrijwright As far as I know there is no cure for gastroparesis. I have heard some..."

I had a repair for a hiatal hernia and during the surgery my vagus nerve was injured causing gastroparesis. Also got c-diff and them SIBO. I wouldn’t recognize any surgery unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Thank you so much for your very thoughtful response.
I have extensively talked with my gastroenterologist, at MD Anderson. He referred me to my surgeon, who is at Houston Methodist. Im lucky that I have two great doctors and trust them. My gastro doc has expressed that I “have” to do something, due to (like you) the extensive damage to my esophagus.
I know this is not really a “fix”; hence the quotations. I also know that I will still have to be very cautious about food. Im already having to do that; I cant eat so many things and can only eat a small amount at a time already. I am just hoping it will give me some relief in terms of the nausea, bloating and pain.
Thank you again for your great response. I appreciate you taking the time.