1. < Digestive Health
Profile picture for paarak

Gastroparesis with severe symptoms!

Posted by paarak @paarak, Jul 17, 2011

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.

Profile picture for parrotlady
parrotlady | @parrotlady | Jan 8, 2024
In reply to @sophiageld "Hi. I have GASTROPARESIS and have the same symptoms. It means delayed stomach emptying. There's no..." + (show)
Profile picture for sophiageld @sophiageld

Hi.
I have GASTROPARESIS and have the same symptoms. It means delayed stomach emptying. There's no cure. I am also clueless as to what to do about it because it affects my quality of life signafficantly

Jump to this post

I have gastroparesis also. I had surgery for hiatal hernia and the surgeon injured my vagus nerve. My entire life has changed for the worse.

REPLY
Profile picture for rosiet1976
rosiet1976 | @rosiet1976 | Jan 9, 2024
In reply to @pfbacon "Do any of you have paralysis of muscles that move food from stomach to intestines? I..." + (show)
Profile picture for pfbacon @pfbacon

Do any of you have paralysis of muscles that move food from stomach to intestines?
I can't remember what it is called but I have it.
My gastroenterologist diagnosed it about 20 years ago.
I was put into the clinical trials for dexloxiglumide. It worked but FDA did not approve it.
I took another medicine that worked well for 2 years, then the FDA pulled it.
The gastro changed me to amitiza and it has been expensive but I had to pay or die.
Generic amitiza became available a couple of years ago and it works just as well.
I can ask my gastroenterologist what my condition is called (it isn't IBS or Chrohn's), but she might wonder if I am getting senile ... I'm not, it's just been a very long time and it's 2 very long words.
In my state, doctors are required to report to the DMV if they suspect that any patient is getting senile and of course the DMV revokes your driver's license immediately and you have to go through months of tests and sworn statements and reviews before you can get it back.
I'm sure other people have this condition - there wouldn't be medicine and generic medicine for it if I was the only one.

Thank you and Happy New Year! Peggy

Jump to this post

Hi, I have gastroparesis too. It is the worst thing I’ve ever had cause it’s constant. I regurgitate my food but mostly liquids come back up. I also have dysphasia, alchalasia, jackhammer esophagus, hiatal hernia, GERD, etc. I just went for an egd with Bravo PH but when I woke up they said they couldn’t do anything because I am completely inflamed everywhere. I have an ulcer, gastritis, reflux esophagitis Grade D , a tortuous esophagus. Sometimes I can’t speak cause my voice is raspy. I can’t clear my throat. I get severe pain in my stomach constantly. Nothing helps. Is anyone else this severely sick? Now my gastro said I have to wait 8-10 weeks to heal, wait for biopsies to come back and have another egd to make sure everything is healed. If it is healed I will be having a procedure called a TIF. Is there anyone out there who has had a TIF? It’s so frustrating that I have these symptoms cause I can never make plans to do anything because idk how I’m going to feel. I also think I might have esophageal cancer. Every symptom I have all points to esophageal cancer. I’m only 47. How did this happen? Thank you for listening. I would appreciate any advise. Rosemarie

REPLY
Profile picture for penelope52
penelope52 | @penelope52 | Jan 9, 2024
In reply to @hopeful33250 "Hello @sophiageld and welcome to the Digestive Health support group on Mayo Connect. So many can..." + (show)
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor @hopeful33250

Hello @sophiageld and welcome to the Digestive Health support group on Mayo Connect. So many can empathize with the feeling that our digestive system is sluggish and moves way too slow for our comfort level. Mine seems to be caused by several surgeries of the upper digestive tract. I've found that a low residue diet has worked well for me.

As this is your first post on Connect, I look forward to getting to know you better. Please share, as you are comfortable doing so, what your doctors believe may attribute to your sluggish digestive tract. For example, have you had surgeries, do you have a disorder like diabetes or a neurological disorder such as MS or PD? What medications or lifestyle changes have been suggested to you to help with this problem?

Jump to this post

What is a "low residue" diet??

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for sheilagreen
sheilagreen | @sheilagreen | Jan 9, 2024
In reply to @marshae "Please advise what the "answer" is? I take restoralax every day plus two prescriptions." + (show)
Profile picture for marshae @marshae

Please advise what the "answer" is? I take restoralax every day plus two prescriptions.

Jump to this post

A spoonful of Inulin and a spoonful of flaxseeds, bio cultures on cereal daily, I sometimes add the inulin to coffee if I feel the need, and I have changed my diet to gluten free 👍.. Ive never experienced such normality on a regular basis before. Hope it helps you …
Sheila x

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for sheilagreen
sheilagreen | @sheilagreen | Jan 9, 2024
In reply to @sheilagreen "A spoonful of Inulin and a spoonful of flaxseeds, bio cultures on cereal daily, I sometimes..." + (show)
Profile picture for sheilagreen @sheilagreen

A spoonful of Inulin and a spoonful of flaxseeds, bio cultures on cereal daily, I sometimes add the inulin to coffee if I feel the need, and I have changed my diet to gluten free 👍.. Ive never experienced such normality on a regular basis before. Hope it helps you …
Sheila x

Jump to this post

Oh and Kefir yogurt…

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for sheilagreen
sheilagreen | @sheilagreen | Jan 9, 2024
In reply to @sheilagreen "Oh and Kefir yogurt…" + (show)
Profile picture for sheilagreen @sheilagreen

Oh and Kefir yogurt…

Jump to this post

Sorry I forgot to mention a sachet of cosmocol.
I know it sounds like a few things but it’s just a matter of forming a habit with it ..

REPLY
Profile picture for Teresa, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Teresa, Volunteer Mentor | @hopeful33250 | Jan 9, 2024
In reply to @penelope52 "What is a "low residue" diet??" + (show)
Profile picture for penelope52 @penelope52

What is a "low residue" diet??

Jump to this post

@penelope52,

A low residue diet is basically a low-fiber earing plan. It is not helpful for every type of digestive tract problem but has helped many. Here is a link to some information about it.
--Low Residue Diet,
https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/low-fiber-diet/art-20048511
As you can see, this eating plan for people with certain types of digestive problems.

REPLY
Profile picture for palladio1500
palladio1500 | @palladio1500 | Jan 9, 2024
In reply to @sheilagreen "Not paralysis, but for me long and torturous colon , which causes constipation and slow passage..." + (show)
Profile picture for sheilagreen @sheilagreen

Not paralysis, but for me long and torturous colon , which causes constipation and slow passage of food .
However I have after 60 years of constipation finally found the answer. 😀🙃
Sheila .x

Jump to this post

So what is the solution?

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for sheilagreen
sheilagreen | @sheilagreen | Jan 10, 2024
In reply to @palladio1500 "So what is the solution?" + (show)
Profile picture for palladio1500 @palladio1500

So what is the solution?

Jump to this post

Have posted 3 responses above.
Hope this helps 🤞

REPLY
Profile picture for christyann715
christyann715 | @christyann715 | Jan 10, 2024
In reply to @pfbacon "Do any of you have paralysis of muscles that move food from stomach to intestines? I..." + (show)
Profile picture for pfbacon @pfbacon

Do any of you have paralysis of muscles that move food from stomach to intestines?
I can't remember what it is called but I have it.
My gastroenterologist diagnosed it about 20 years ago.
I was put into the clinical trials for dexloxiglumide. It worked but FDA did not approve it.
I took another medicine that worked well for 2 years, then the FDA pulled it.
The gastro changed me to amitiza and it has been expensive but I had to pay or die.
Generic amitiza became available a couple of years ago and it works just as well.
I can ask my gastroenterologist what my condition is called (it isn't IBS or Chrohn's), but she might wonder if I am getting senile ... I'm not, it's just been a very long time and it's 2 very long words.
In my state, doctors are required to report to the DMV if they suspect that any patient is getting senile and of course the DMV revokes your driver's license immediately and you have to go through months of tests and sworn statements and reviews before you can get it back.
I'm sure other people have this condition - there wouldn't be medicine and generic medicine for it if I was the only one.

Thank you and Happy New Year! Peggy

Jump to this post

Coukd it be dysmotility? My son has colonic dysmotility. His muscles don’t work in 8 inches of his colon…they are paralyzed. That’s how it was explained to us.

REPLY
View MoreView Less
Please sign in or register to post a reply.