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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You need a new dr, a motility specialist. You need medications to increase the motility of your gi tract. Miralax will help draw fluid into your colon but won’t speed it up. Not sure why the antibiotic. Run far and fast from any dr that tells you to learn to live with such severe and disabling symptoms, especially with such few initial interventions. There is help, you just need to search a little further. Good luck!

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Did anyone discuss diet with you? I can’t eat gluten and dairy, bloating and constipation occurs when I do. Apples constipate me so I wonder if juice would do the same. How much water are you drinking a day? I have to drink 1/2 my body weight in grams or things slow down. And NO fiber supplements for me. Fiber has to come from food sources. Oatmeal will even constipate me. Exercise is VERY important. Walk some
Every day. You DONT have to live with this. You just have to find the right doctor (mine was a functional medicine doctor) to help you through this. Thoughts and hugs .

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Hello @teresabarton and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I can understand your frustration. Having one doctor giving you a diagnosis of gastroparesis and then another doctor not agreeing with that must be confusing. As mentioned by @sallyw133, another opinion might be a good plan. Also, as @cpd54 mentioned diet, liquids and exercise are important things to add to your daily routine.

I have what's called, slow transit constipation. I have many (but not all) of the symptoms you mentioned. After reading many of the comments of others who have gastroparesis, I've discovered that a low residue diet has worked well for me. In addition to a low residue diet, I also have a probiotic daily, and take Miralax, twice daily and a Colace at night.

Slow motility can be caused by many factors such as neurological conditions, surgeries of the digestive tract, diabetes, etc. My problems resulted from several surgeries of the digestive tract. Do you know the cause of your motility problems?

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Get another doctor's opinion, but don't tell that doctor what the other doctors said. You want a new opinion. Wishing you the best.

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Thank you everyone! You all make me feel better. I have a phone appointment with Mayo early July and visit with them right after. So I'm praying to get answers there.
I do drink lots of water and do not take any fiber supplements. Also, I do take probiotics everyday.
My husband and I are very active. We have a mowing business, and love kayaking, etc. We don't sit inside much.
The low residue diet was interesting and I going to compare that to the gastroparesis diet that I am on.
I have no clue why this motility started, and no answers from doctors either. If I have missed something, please remind me. I'm open for any suggestions.
Thanks again for helping me out. It is nice to know I'm not in this alone. This has definitely been a life changer for my husband and me. We have always been so active and healthy, but praying God will help us through.

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I also have slow colonic motility, diagnosed via the same method as you, about 1 year ago. A GI dietician recommended that I ask my GI doctor to do the study as I was having constipation issues despite having acquired short bowel syndrome (SBS) just over 2 years ago. I have always struggled with constipation prior to my SBS. The specialized dietician really helped me more than anyone, we did all of our appointments via Zoom, I would highly recommend you connect with someone as they can individualize your diet. Since my slow colonic motility diagnosis I was started on Linzess, which works on small intestine motility but has helped some. I also take Miralax , Senna-S, a magnesium supplement, and Citrucel twice a day. I was very resistant to being on that many meds, even if most were OTC, but I am at peace with it now. A great option also is bisacodyl, 1 to 3 tablets as a one time dose,, to help clear things out as it works on the small and large intestine. I take it right before bedtime and usually it would do its job in the morning but sometimes it works faster and I would be waken up in the middle of the night. I have not had to use it since being put on the Linzess and adding in the Senna-S scheduled. Best wishes to you, hopefully your appointment in July will be fruitful!

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I think my methadone is the cause of my issues . I’m trying to get off & have gone down a lot & am only at 30 mg now but I’m struggling bad . My stomach constantly hurts & feel tight & full even when I haven’t ate anything .. idk what to do anymore the drs don’t care about me I’ve been to so many & they don’t even try to figure out what it is . Imma get some miralax today & I’m really hoping that helps .

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@silver99

I think my methadone is the cause of my issues . I’m trying to get off & have gone down a lot & am only at 30 mg now but I’m struggling bad . My stomach constantly hurts & feel tight & full even when I haven’t ate anything .. idk what to do anymore the drs don’t care about me I’ve been to so many & they don’t even try to figure out what it is . Imma get some miralax today & I’m really hoping that helps .

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Also I’ve been having stomach issues for 2 years now & it’s causing me severe anxiety & derealization

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@maxine50

Get another doctor's opinion, but don't tell that doctor what the other doctors said. You want a new opinion. Wishing you the best.

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Most gastros require a referral for a second opinion before they will even make an appointment with you!

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I’m so sorry I understand completely. I had part of my large intestine removed when I was in my thirties. Since then in 2012 I had an ileostomy and rectum removal. I now at age 78 again am having swelling after eating and bearing down pain in my (gone) but rectum area. So much pain and frustration. I felt like my ileostomy saved my like and now am having issues again. Also with eating I do drink an incredible amount of water and drink Orgain drinks ( vegan due to being milk intolerant). I’m back at Mayo Clinic. Having many tests including a gastric emptying test that showed problems. I think it helps to talk to others but feel terrible knowing so many people are dealing with these issues. I’m hoping we all find the doctors that are willing to help us live a better life with these difficult circumstances!

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