Do gastroparesis symptoms slowly creep up on everyone?

@brewnews, sorry for your troubles. I also have major clinical depression. Also am a type 2 diabetic and am in stage 3b chronic kidney disease as well as a diagnosis of gastroparesis which my physicians think was caused or at least contributed to by my diabetes. In my case, depression exacerbates my chronic illnesses and vice versa. The symptoms you describe are similar to my GP symptoms so if you haven't already done so you might want to be tested for GP. It's not curable but there are ways to manage it well with a special diet with low fiber and well-cooked food, little or nothing raw, several small meals a day instead of 3, etc. There are other gastroparesis threads on Connect which might also be helpful. Hope you feel better soon and can find some answers.

Thank you @kamama94 ! I’ve been tested and diagnosed with GP. I’m slowly learning which dietary changes work for me. Waiting on an endoscopy to check for ulcers in addition to the GP. Thank you again for your kind words.
I’ve been looking for GP discussions but haven’t found them yet.

Hi, you pretty much described how my gastroparesis started. In 2020, I just seemed to lose my appetite, then the weight began falling off. I was first tested and diagnosed with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, which usually includes diarrhea. My problem was constipation. So I was tested for GP, and 41% of the radioactive eggs had not emptied from my stomach after 4 hours. I am fortunate that I don’t vomit, but do have severe nausea. I had a RNY gastric bypass 23 years ago, and several abdominal surgeries since. That may be the cause of all this. I do not have diabetes. Like you, I am still learning to manage my diet. Fairlife Protein Shakes are good, and bananas are one of my safe foods.

@brewnews

Here's a link to a list of GP discussions. Hope the link works. If it doesn't, you can go to the Mayo Connect Home Page and type gastroparesis in the search bar and aybe that will pull up the list of gastro discussions.
https://connect.mayoclinic.org/group/digestive-gastrointestinal-problems/?search=gastroparesis#discussion-listview

Hi There:
sorry to hear about your GP. Sounds like you already had a gastric emptying test which is the "gold standard" to diagnosis this. The #1 thing to "manage this" is lifestyle changes. my diet has become more and more and more restrictive over the years to where now I am on 80% liquids/pureed type foods and I do not eat anything solid after 2 p.m. (the latest) otherwise I am up all night with "gas pain" from the food just "sitting" there. It is important to find a physician who specializes in this. Most GI specialists don't know the first thing about treating it. There are some motility agents you can try - but they are either very very expensive (insurance doesn't cover much of the newer ones) or they might not work for you - which they did not for me - they made my symptoms worse because they make the stomach contract but the food could not get out - so the pain was worse. I am having the pyloroplasty procedure in a few months - it is 90% effective for gastroparesis. Again - find a "digestive specialty center" near you . I went to a bunch of gastroenterologists and rather ran refer me they told me to "drink Ensure" - useless information! I do not have diabetes either - they think it was from a surgery I had years and years ago that damaged the vagus nerve. it has been a gradual thing - worsening gradually over many years...

forgot to mention. I survive on protein shakes (Maxpro vanilla icecream is very good) - you can change the flavor by blending in different frozen fruit - frozen bannana, pineapple, berries etc. Also Power crunch bars are the best protein bar I can find (i tried them all since I cannot eat any type of animal protein) They are light and crunchy and the "after taste" is minimal compared to all the rest. Vanilla and smores are my favorite. I slice them up and keep them in the freezer - makes them more crunchy and practically no after taste when frozen 🙂 especially if you have it with tea or something to drink 🙂 they bars and the shake each have 30 g of protein - so that is enough for the day!

Thanks for your post; your story is nearly identical to mine. I’m 70, but while I can eat a good solid (vegan) breakfast, I dare not snack in-between that & my (at largest) 2-3 pm
lunch; no dinner. I’m not restricted to purée foods yet, but when I mis-eat by a fraction, it’s gas that’ll keep me up, sometimes til dawn. Even my old charcoal w/water & stomach massaging doesn’t work as well . My Kaiser gastro doc refuses to confirm gastroparesis (!!) due to stomach emptying test (in AM only, when I’m in better shape to digest). I’ve tried 2 motility drugs (albeit for IBS) which also didn’t work. He doesn’t put much stock in SIBO (though thru an ND I tested twice very abnormal methane levels). As I struggle to get enough food & protein (since too much at wrong time will affect me all night), I’ve lost weight. And his only suggestion is
also to drink Ensure. Your frustration with western medicine gastro docs (I’ve been to a few) is right on.

it is a shame you belong to Kaiser and do not have better choices. I had to switch my insurance to go to a doctor who specializes in gastro motility issues. my last insurance (which was HMO) did not have any GI docs who knew anything about gastroparesis - i asked for a referral to a dietician and again was told to "drink Ensure" I guess you have seen the "latest news" about Ozempic causing gastroparesis. i feel badly for all those people who won't know what to eat and will get no useful advice from their GI specialist. I figured it out over years and years - just gradually eliminating one food at a time so that i could sleep at night and not have "gas pain" all night long..

which state do you live in?? you might research a "digestive health institute" near you - or doctors specializing in gastroparesis - and consider switching insurance just to get the proper treatment.

also you might want to try Gas-X - sometimes it helps me - you take it with meals and also before bedtime - breaks up gas bubbles. However, i find if i stick to safe foods and don't eat solids after 2 p.m. i can manage without it