Gastroparesis worse after Ozempic

I don’t have gastroparesis, but I have POTS which contributes to slowed motility. It sounds like you have a balanced diet and are incorporating fruits and vegetables, but I was surprised to see you mention you eat raw vegetables and cabbage. Those can be hard to digest, because of the texture, or the higher fiber foods like oatmeal and apples can also be slow to empty from the stomach.

My dietician taught me that with my slowed motility, to consider smaller meals, and also to think about texture and fiber. i.e. If you can break down foods before you get them into your body, it’s less work for your gut to do if it’s already struggling to get it through your system.

For example: Apple sauce instead of apples, smoothies or puréed soups, cooked vegetables and easier to digest fruits/vegetables like baby spinach, tomatoes, zucchini, melons—basically things that are softer. She also said the “baby” versions of vegetables can be less fibrous like micro-greens, baby bok choy, broccolini.

Have you thought about working with a registered dietician? They might be able to help you find foods you enjoy that still work with your symptoms. I work with a GI dietician, so she works with patients who have IBS, GERD, gastroparesis, etc. There’s a high risk of developing food anxiety or malnutrition (both happened to me).

When I had gastroparesis, my dr. put me on a liquid diet. Said that was all my stomach could handle. I only lost 40 pounds. Good to lose the weight, but not the way to do it. Right?

Yeah, that’s kind of the problem…everyone praises losing weight, but if it’s because you’re ill or not getting enough to eat because of a health condition, or mental health gets affected (suddenly I found myself having disordered thoughts about eating because of all the restrictions) it’s not actually a good thing.

Hello @kaybear1317 and welcome to the Digestive Health Support Group on Mayo Connect. I'm glad that you found this forum as we have several discussions on the topic of Gastroparesis. Here is a link where you can read what others have discussed. As you read their posts you can hit the "Reply" button and either ask questions or make a comment.

I see that @lindamks already responded to your post. While I don't have the diagnosis of gastroparesis, I have a similar problem due to several surgeries of the digestive tract. I have found that a low residue diet works well for me. Here is some information about a low residue diet
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/low-fiber-diet/art-20048511

As a result of the low residue diet, I have a lot of soups, where the vegetables are cooked well. I also make smoothies with different fruits, and I use Kefir in the smoothies, which adds probiotics.

Have you ever met with a pelvic floor therapist? They can be quite helpful.

I look forward to hearing from you again as you deal with this difficult digestive tract issue.

Thank you for so much information. I greatly appreciate it. I've never even heard of a pelvic flood specialist. The only doctor I've seen to potentially treat my stomach issues in a Gastrointestinal Doctor. I was referred to one when my Gastroparesis got worse most likely due to ozempic and I had surgical procedure to clean up my bedsores (in a wheelchair since I was 13, now 36) so my doctors think I suffered shock and trauma from increased pain. I honestly wish I had never took ozempic because the last year has been a nightmare. It worked great, but not worth the added side effects. I will look into the information you gave me.

At one point my GI doctor thought about a liquid diet, but became worried about it due to the possibility I may have side effects because I'm diabetic and my sugar may become too low. My sugars are normally well controlled (50-120 in the morning and 90-200 at bedtime) I use to take Metformin 1000mg 2x a day, Glipizide 10mg 2x a day, Januvia 100mg bedtime, Humalog 0-45 units 4x a day, Levemir 80 units 2x a day, and 3mg Trulicity weekly. My endocrinologist changed me to Ozempic 0.5 units weekly instead of Trulicity. After a couple months being on Ozempic I only took Ozempic, Metformin, and Glipizide. I no longer needed Januvia, Humalog and Levemir. The only "insulin" I used was ozempic. After all the side effects ozempic gave me (worsened Gastroparesis, almost daily nausea and vomiting) my primary doctor took over and took me off ozempic. I stopped ozempic February 7, 2024 and since I haven't had the need for insulin, but I'm still on Metformin, Glipizide, and got Januvia added back.
I never took ozempic for weight loss. At my highest weight of 415lbs in 2020 I ended up in ICU due to a septic infection and after I began to drop weight over the last 4 years. Now at 270lbs. To be honest Ozempic didn't really help much with that. Took it for a year and only lost about 15-20lbs. I was put on it because it was "safer" for my heart than Trulicity was.
I'll look into a liquid diet that can also support my sugars and see if it helps because I'm tired of my stomach being in so much pain.
I appreciate your response and help.

I look forward to hearing from you again, @kaybear1317. Will you post again and let me know how you are doing?

I will definitely do my best to post again with an update. I think being in these post and learning (I love learning new things) will be amazing and beneficial for me. Thank you for helping and being concerned about my well being.

I’ve had great success with a pelvic floor PT—they can often help with constipation and altered motility, whether it’s due to a health condition or surgery. That’s a great suggestion I somehow forgot about. I’ve honestly gotten more help from my pelvic PT and. GI-trained dietician than from my gastro doctors (once they ruled out other conditions).

I can certainly understand and relate to the trauma with the aftermath of medical interventions, and I’m sorry that happened to you. Wishing you all the best.

Have you ever taken a medicine called raglan and have you ever had the emptying gas study where . Were you eat as scrambled egg it's radioactive and they watch it go down into your stomach and see how long it takes to empty your stomach. I have gastroparesis and raw vegetables are in no no you should eat like stuff like watermelon cantaloupe bananas no oranges no a grapefruit. No lettuce pork is really bad for gospel Priuses I have gastroparesis and pork hurts my stomach or I throw it up that's a big No-No fresh chicken should be really soft or really tender. A small throughout the day a small snacks throughout the day maybe you should try cream of wheat or or creamer rice instead of oatmeal oatmeal is really hard because that's really hard on me you should probably tried cream of rice. try to walk a little bit afterwards. Maybe drink more water. I drink more water. No fatty foods cut out the fat or degrees. Cook your vegetables no broccoli no cabbage no spinach or asparagus. Do you like peas or green beans. Hope this helps. 🤢🤢