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Gastro pacemaker-type device to help with gastroparesis?
I am a care giver for my wife who is a diabetic 1.5 because of 3 stomach surgeries that damaged her vegas nerve. She also developed gastrio perisis (Spell).
We have a terrible time with her diabetes as her stomach does not digest food as it should. She had a gastro test done at Mayo. It required eating and then waiting 4 hours to have scan done. It revealed after 4 hours her stomach only had digested 40% of the food she ate.
It now only affects her diabetes but many other things. She was having another test and had to have breathing tube put in as xray or CT showed food in her stomach even though she had fasted for 12 hours. They were worried about nausea and getting into lungs.
I had read about a new device like a pace maker that can be placed in stomach that stimulates stomach muscles to facilitate digestion. If we are ever going to be able to control her diabetes and not have tremendous swings in lows and highs we need to find a way to improved digestion of food.
Anyone have that procedure done and can provide information on it. If you had it did it help.
Even if you did not have procedure and have similiar issues what worked for you? I am trying to help my wife who is not a person who will go on support groups so reaching out. She is under the care of an endoctrologist, gastro doctor, gastro surgeon, dietician.
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Hi @jc76.
I was reading just today about a pacemaker for the gut. What an interesting topic!
I am not sure where your wife is with testing at Mayo. They may be just the place to answer your questions. A referral to Dr. Oblizajek sounds like it he may be a good option.
“Dr. Oblizajek's clinical expertise is in general gastroenterology and gastrointestinal motility including gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia, chronic constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome and other disorders of gut-brain interaction. His research interests involve the intersection of bioelectronic medicine with gastrointestinal symptom diagnostics and management.”
https://www.mayoclinic.org/biographies/oblizajek-nicholas-r-m-d/bio-20550222
What the result of your wife’s testing, has their been follow up? Dr. Oblizajek is located in Rochester and I believe you are in Florida? isn’t If you don’t go the referral route, perhaps you could request an appointment for a virtual consultation with him. http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63
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3 Reactions@jlharsh
Very helpful will read the link and share with wife. Yes we are at Mayo Jacksonville.
It seems we get more and more test and get more pills. The main issue now with dumping and or constipation. Both these cause real issues with her diabetes.
I had read somewhere probably on Mayo newsletter about the pace maker and mentioned it to her so we could move away from so many pills. I think she said she read something too as she mentioned having to change the battery out once a year.
The more serious problem with this is that her diabetes caused damage to a nerve in the left eye. Prism classes did not work so surgery was scheduled. However had to be cancelled as her A1C was 9 and had to be under 8 for them to do surgery.
But we can't control her digestion so that her insulin works from her auto pump based on he stomach and digestive system putting that food into her body. So we get wild swings in her glucose and I mean wild swings. Her highs can go up 500 and her lows down in 30s. Many times I have had to give her a glucose shot as in coma. We purchased a device where that we use both in bedroom and living room that gives me a digital readout of her glucose level. I can then wake her up or advise her even though her device would be screamiing at her also. Probelm is when you glucose gets so low it is like being drunk and you ability to do anything for yourself.
I am going to provide your information here and she can get with her gastro doctors. She has two. One is general and the other a surgeon (who did 3 surgeries, one heinal hernia, othes to improve stomach).
I am not opposed to flying to Rochester to get the implant if it will help her get the surgery she needs and back to somewhat again being able to have a decent life style. I am getting use ot her wearing a patch over one eye as she developed double vision about 6 months ago.