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
Liked by annointed2008, pdilly, TuJaded (Holly S.), tomdemonte3 ... see all
Hi pdilly,
I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis about 3 months ago. The symptoms I had were slight vomiting, stomach pain and a lot of bloating. I had a gastric emptying study which showed very slow emptying of the contents. The diagnosis was based on the study and the results of an endoscopy. The endoscopy showed undigested food from 4 days prior. I went for a follow up endoscopy 4 weeks later (after following a low-fiber Gastroparesis diet). The doc found that the pyloric sphincter was narrowed quite a bit. This too would cause delayed emptying. He used a baloon to stretch it open. Since then, my only symptoms have been slight bloating and constipation. I am on ocycodone for severe cronic back pain (which of course would cause the constipation), but I’m also not getting much fiber either because of pmy diet.
My whole point of this is that I don’t know if I truly have Gastroparesis or if my issues were caused by a small pyloric sphincter. I have another follow up with the GI doc in a couple of weeks. Hopefully he will be able to determine the cause of my problem.
I’m not suggesting that your situation is the same as mine. I just wanted to share in hopes that it may be of some help to you.
Liked by pdilly
I have mild gastroparesis hasn't been bothering me but now I have so much pain across stomach and back even when I do by ear it goes on for hours at a time my blood work is abnormal so don't even know if this is gasteoparesis but I get dizziness didn't know this disease causes dizziness but u said u back He it I wonder why if u find out kat me know I didn't think GP causes abnormal blood count either does anyone else have this. Don't know if I answered u r question.
I'm sorry for the delay as I wasn't feeling well the past several days. Thank you so much for your opinion and advice on the GI doctors at Mayo. I called them last week and got established and a doctor has requested my medical charts to be faxed over. I was happy that they started the process so quickly and hope to get set up with an appointment as soon as possible. Thank you again!
If you use the search option up above this post.. looks like a magnifying glass, and type in gastroparesis you will find many with this condition. Dietary tips are throughout those post. Every person is different. It is recommended to have a lower fiber diet. I find for me.. being I also have diverticulosis throughout my colon, which requires a high fiber diet.. that I have to hit a medium. I avoid veggies and fruits that are very fibrous. I will eat broccoli flowerets well cooked and avoid the stems that are fibrous. I love asparagus and eat it much like broccoli.. making sure I avoid the fibrous stem. Most veggies I just cook Southern Style.. cooked to death.. looks like baby food if smashed with a fork. Summer squash I peel, cut in half and scoop the seeds out with a spoon. I avoid stringy green beans, black-eyed peas field peas and greens like kale, lettuce, collard and mustard greens. For some reason I can eat the creamed spinach my husband cooks. I can eat Bush's canned baked beans, but no other brand.
I also have achalasia and Barrett's esophagus… swallowing problems and food feels like it gets stuck with plenty of chest pain. Only fruits I eat raw are very ripe bananas and satsumas (a type of tangerine.I cut the fruit in half and run knife around the edges and between the sections and scoop out the sections leaving the fibrous parts behind.) I eat canned fruit and I cook apple slices without the peal. I can sometimes eat homemade granola bars…. a few finely chopped roasted nuts, finely chopped dried fruits with local honey and brown sugar mixed with toasted oatmeal. Sometimes I eat a few roasted pecans or peanuts .. chewing well.
Only cracker I can eat is Ritz. Bread is hit and miss. So I eat very little bread. I eat very little white potatoes. Even mashed they are difficult to swallow. I do better with sweet potatoes, but not by much.
Meat… ground beef is my best bet. Chicken is most difficult for me. Sometimes I puree up some pouch tuna fish with a bit of mayo and eat with crackers. I have eaten so many eggs I cannot stand them anymore.
Mostly a diet is trial and error. What works for one may not work for another.
Best of luck,
Zaroga
Liked by sickirishlass
@sickirishlass It may vary from device to device as to where the search box is. You are misspelling gastroparesis . Try again. I'm not a great speller either. I had to put it in Google for it to correct my spelling of it. 😁
Liked by JK, Alumna Mentor
This is the main post I believe o the subject. https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/gastroparesis/?utm_campaign=search
As you can tell it goes back a few years, but you can change the option to the most recent post first.
Hi @sickirishlass,
I’d like to add my welcome, and also let you know that I moved your message and combined it with this existing discussion. As @fourof5zs mentioned, I thought it would be beneficial for you to be introduced to the many members who are discussing much of what you are experiencing.
If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.
Feel free to post your concerns and tag members in these discussions as well, about Barett’s esophagus:
– Barrett’s esophagus https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/barretts-esophagus-1/
– Barrett's esophagus to Esophageal cancer https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/barretts-esophagus-to-esophageal-cancer/
May I ask if you could share a few more details, @sickirishlass? How are you coping and managing your symptoms at present?
I put myself on a liquid/soft food diet, & still getting Severe nausea and upset even throwing up. My hemoglobin keeps going low because the ulcers in my esophagus tend to bleed , my hemoglobin went to 4.3 at the beginning of the month while getting blood I had a heart attack . All the gastrologist I saw tell me there’s not much more they can do for me. I am on a lot of medications. I will be going to the Mayo Clinic on Tuesday & hopefully I’ll get some answers. I have a constant tummy-ache , with bloating and nausea ,
I am a 39 year old female that was diagnosed with Gastroparesis last year after a decade of "issues". It never bothered me before this past year but the symptoms have drastically worsened. I am seeing several GI Specialists in my area and one at the UW Wisconsin Hospital in Madison. They have had no real answers for me in regards to treatment, management, dietary, etc… I suffer from severe constipation with excessive flatulence (farting), bloating, pain and distention. Even Miralax and Milk of Magnesia daily hasn't helped. It has taken over my life. I am a very active outdoors woman and have little to NO energy now. I don't have the vomiting like most. Just the other symptoms of constipation listed above. I also developed some Hemmorrhoids which have been difficult to manage as well.
Since I haven't had much help or testing done this past year, I am looking to going to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN and was curious to here about others opinions and experiences with the specialists there and in general of how you're living with this disease and the complications and health issues that accompany it. It has greatly affected my mental health but go to therapy weekly.
Thank you anyone who might be able to offer advice or suggestions! Much love to all of you going through this or similar health issues.
Liked by JK, Alumna Mentor
@ethanmcconkey
Hi @susanpsg and welcome to Connect. You may have noticed I moved your post to this existing discussion on gastroparesis so that you can meet others who may have similar discussion. Simply click VIEW & REPLY to find your post and read what others have said about their lives with gastroparesis.
I also wanted to introduce you to fellow Connect members, @suemer, @ktracyf and @donnak142 as they have experience with gastroparesis and may be able to offer you support and share their experiences.
Back to you @susanpsg how has your doctor suggested you be treated at this time? Is there anything you can do to lessen the pain at this time?