1. < Digestive Health

Gastroparesis or slow modility colon

Posted by teresabarton @teresabarton, May 19, 2023

I was diagnosed with gastroparesis with one doctor and he sent me to a bigger university for a pacemaker.
The next university said it was not gastroparesis. This doctor had me do a Sitz Marker Test and after 7 days, I still had 58 markers left in my upper colon. He diagnosed me with a slow modility colon.
For the past 9 months I have (and getting worse) severe abdomen bloating, cramps, pain, nausea, and now lower back pain. I have been on a gastroparesis diet for 6 months with no relief. I only eat frozen yogurt and cracker for lunch. I wait to eat a more bland diet when I get home from work, knowing the bloating and nausea will get worse.
I now can only wear dresses, no pants, due to the extreme bloating and then discomfort of anything tight around my abdomen. Now I have gained 5 pounds in the last week with the same diet I have been on for 9 months.
My doctor now has me on miralax and apple juice. (During the last 6 months I have been with him, I have developed constipation in the past 3 months. Something I have never had in my 60 years of age.) I can't drink apple juice or anything except water due to the fact it also makes me nauseas.
I have tried Reglan, which made me suicidal, and erythromycin, which did not help.
Anyone have these same symptoms or and suggestions of what to do next. The doctor said I may just have to live like this. I am a very upbeat, positive person, but I can't imagine there is not something wrong to start the symptoms just in the last 9 months. I will take any help! Thank you so much.

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pb50 | @pb50 | Jan 13 7:02pm
In reply to @celia16 "Ok. I’ll get a second opinion. Right now there are 3 gastroenterologists at Duke who are..." + (show)
@celia16

Ok. I’ll get a second opinion. Right now there are 3 gastroenterologists at Duke who are monitoring me, including the surgeon who was examining my hemorrhoid, regular gastroenterologist who I saw for constipation and the gastroenterologist who did my colonoscopy in 2020. They all have followed my care. I’ve been PMing them through the portal. They told me to take take the Metamucil and Miralax, as well as the Lubiprostone. I have stopped the Lubiprostone for now, since I had no rectal pain until I started taking it. Not sure if there’s a connection. But, if I don’t take the Metamucil and Miralax, I won’t go….and I fear that a lot, due to a thrombosed external hemorrhoid I got last year! It was HORRIFIC.

Thanks for your insight. I’ll see if my insurance will cover another opinion. Also, most gastroenterologists require a referral. Will my primary give me another referral? Idk. I also have health anxiety. I’m being treated for that too with talk therapy.

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@celia16
I just read your Gastro is on the Duke system. So is mine - as well as my Rheumatologist and my Primary care. I access Duke in Burlington through Kernodle clinic. Where are you plugging into Duke Health?

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1 reply
celia16 | @celia16 | Jan 13 7:20pm
In reply to @pb50 "@celia16 I just read your Gastro is on the Duke system. So is mine - as..." + (show)
@pb50

@celia16
I just read your Gastro is on the Duke system. So is mine - as well as my Rheumatologist and my Primary care. I access Duke in Burlington through Kernodle clinic. Where are you plugging into Duke Health?

Jump to this post

Alright! I think I’ve seen all Duke Gastro at big Duke clinic in Durham, except my colonoscopy, which I had at Duke Raleigh hospital in Raleigh.

I see Duke Dermatology at Patterson Place, Durham, including Moh’s surgery at Dr. Cook’s office. ENT at big Duke, Endocrinology big Duke, as well as Duke Ophthalmology. I can’t recall where Ivsaw Duke Orthopedic. I’ve been busy. Lol

My first appointment with Rheumatology isn’t until August, but I think it’s at big Duke.

My primary is not Duke affiliated.

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1 reply
pb50 | @pb50 | Jan 13 8:40pm
In reply to @celia16 "Alright! I think I’ve seen all Duke Gastro at big Duke clinic in Durham, except my..." + (show)
@celia16

Alright! I think I’ve seen all Duke Gastro at big Duke clinic in Durham, except my colonoscopy, which I had at Duke Raleigh hospital in Raleigh.

I see Duke Dermatology at Patterson Place, Durham, including Moh’s surgery at Dr. Cook’s office. ENT at big Duke, Endocrinology big Duke, as well as Duke Ophthalmology. I can’t recall where Ivsaw Duke Orthopedic. I’ve been busy. Lol

My first appointment with Rheumatology isn’t until August, but I think it’s at big Duke.

My primary is not Duke affiliated.

Jump to this post

Here in Burlington some are Duke affiliated and some are Moses Cone - a Greensboro organization.

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