Gastroparesis with severe symptoms!
Does anyone have gastroparesis (low stomach emptying) and what are you doing to manage the problem. I was finally diagnoised with this condition this year after at least 3plus years of unexplained illness. Most of my symtoms were related to pain in the chest; deep back shoulder pain; lightheaded/dizzyness; I always felt like I was having a heart attack. But each time I went to the ER all the heart test came back fine and was told it was just acid reflux. I have been to cardiology; neuralogy; gastrology. I have had heart test; stress test;;thryrod; diabectic test; all kinds of blood test (only showed low vit D) MRI of brain; spinal tap. Finally had stomach emptying test in March - which showed 85% food still in stomach after 3 hours. I have had to switch to a no fat; low fiber diet - pretty much all liquid; soft (babyfood like) foods. If I do experiment and eat something that doesn't move through - then I end up with the deep shoulder pain; lighthed/dizziness;; numbness in the arms/fingers and over all wekness. In order to overcome this feeling - It seems to work by drinking just water /gator aid for at least a day. I just don't know if this all started by a nerve damage issue or if it is reverserble. I have done a lot of internet reading and there doesn't seem to be anything to do except eating habit changes. And no one else seems to associate the pain I have with the stomach - I never seem to have stomach pain - Only fullness; nausea; bloating/gas. I also am not diabetic. Which my understanding is a reason for this condition. If you have this condition - what are your symtoms and how are you managing? Thanks
Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.
Hello,
I feel for you. I'm going through the same thing for years I have been hospitalized, multiple surgeries on my stomach and colon with no answers.
I was diagnosed 2 weeks ago.
I do exactly the same things as you. I vomit after every meal and my food just sits on my stomach and ferments, then I get extremely nauseas.
I had a gastric emptying study by they couldn't complete it bc I threw up the oatmeal.
I have had 15 colonoscopies, 8 endoscopies all in the last 2 years.
I'm am being sent to the Mayo clinic to see what they can do.
Please reply back to me..
Thanks
@brandywine8875 Mayo MN diagnosed my post operative gastroparesis the 1st day there.. so as not to vomit every meal ..I told the GI doc there of my selective vomiting.. I had eaten a small bit of chicken, then broccoli... the chicken stayed down.. the broccoli came up... Dr. Halland said that I would not have to eat broccoli again.. cut back on the quantity a lot.. It may take an hour or more just to eat breakfast... and so on.. have vitamin and protein rich snacks that are small.. Gravity needs to act on the food in your stomach ... so after eating stay vertical.. walk about..
That's very good advice. Should I even go to the Mayo clinic? Is it a waste of time?
What is domperidone?
@brandywine8875 I went to Mayo MN ... My Medicare and Gap insurance paid for it.. My local GP referred me.. Yes, the time and effort was really worth it.. the Local (fairly big Clinic with over 100 doctors) couldn't do diagnose it.. and when they started to prescribe Non-FDA approved drugs I would have to get in Canada or Europe.... that was enough for me.. I had lost 50#... and I was slender and trim to begin with.. I have been to Mayo MN since for Kidney Stones, Urology, GI, Prostate Cancer and Hearing... All were conclusive trips that settled the Issues.. Ken
@1950 Domperidone is a medication to help the stomach empty. It had too many side effects for me, but is worth a try. It helps many people. I had my prescription filled at a local compounding pharmacy... I live in a small town. I cannot remember the cost.. it was several years ago. I only got two week's worth to try. Here is more in-depth about the drug. https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/domperidone-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20063481?p=1
Thanks for the info! A couple drugs I take are on the do not go with list.
Domperidone is what I call my illegal drug from Canada! It helps with stomach emptying. It’s worked wonderfully for me. I take one in the morning and one at bedtime. It costs about $90 for 200 tablets.
Domperidone has too many side effects, warnings and interactions with other drugs for me to be comfortable taking it - arrhythmias specifically.
@pdilly @1950 @fourof5zs ... When the local GI doc told me about that drug (Domperidone) that was not FDA approved, I first called a friend who was a radiologist in Sweden.. she said, "don't take that"... so I asked my Primary Care Physician to refer me to Mayo MN... That was a life changing day in my life.. 6 years ago and now doing pretty good even though I am 84..
"Domperidone has been banned in the United States for years because of fatal cardiac arrhythmias among cancer patients who had been prescribed the drug to prevent nausea and vomiting. ... "Unfortunately the different uses of the medication have been tied into the one outcome - fatal cardiac arrhythmia." Nov 11, 2014..
https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/domperidone-oral-route/side-effects/drg-20063481?p=1#:~:text=Domperidone%20is%20a%20medicine%20that,immediate%20supervision%20of%20your%20doctor.