gastroparesis?

Question

Hi there. My primary doctor told me today that I might have gastroparesis. I've had bloating/constipation and reflux. Since it takes a long time before I have any bowel, she thinks I might have gastroparesis that has been causing the refluxing, etc. What are the tests that one needs to undergo to find out if they have gastroparesis? Also, is it possible to have delayed gastric emptying without it being gastroparesis? Thanks in advance! friendlygal

Answer 1

This condition is most commonly found in people with both types of Diabetes.

Other causes are:

Postviral syndromes
Anorexia nervosa
Surgery on the stomach or vagus nerve
Medications, particularly anticholinergics and narcotics (drugs that slow contractions in the intestine)
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (rarely)
Smooth muscle disorders such as amyloidosis and scleroderma
Nervous system diseases, including abdominal migraine and Parkinson's disease
Metabolic disorders, including hypothyroidism
Connective tissue disorders like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
Idiopathic, the cause of the gastroparesis cannot be determined

The diagnosis of gastroparesis is confirmed through one or more of the following diagnosic tests:

1.A GET, or gastric emptying test, is commonly used to diagnose gastroparesis. Using a method called scintigraphy a gamma emmiting radioisotope is integrated into a selected food item, often scrambled eggs. Multi-centre clinical trials have established international standards for this test. The meal is eaten and images, utilizing a gamma camera, are taken of the stomach over a period from 2-4 hours.

2. Barium x-ray . May be perfored to look for any structral abnormalities within the stomach and upper gastrointestinal tract. After fasting for 12 hours, you will drink a thick liquid called barium, which coats the inside of the stomach, making it show up on the x ray. Normally, the stomach will be empty of all food after 12 hours of fasting. If the x ray shows food in the stomach, gastroparesis is likely. If the x ray shows an empty stomach but the doctor still suspects that you have delayed emptying, you may need to repeat the test another day. On any one day, a person with gastroparesis may digest a meal normally, giving a falsely normal test result. If you have diabetes, your doctor may have special instructions about fasting.

3. Antral duodenal manometry (also know as motility testing) is a means by which the pressure from peristaltic action inside the digestive tract can be measured. A thin tube is passed down the throat. While manometry is commonly performed on the esophagus, very few centers provide this test on the stomach and small bowel. When this test is performed on the stomach, it helps to reveal the pumping power and capabilities of the lower part of the stomach, or antrum. In gastroparesis, the function of the antrum is frequently found to be weak and inadequate. As well, during studies on the stomach, manometric measures performed on the pylorus may be helpful in demonstrating pyloro-spasm - another common problem found with delayed gastric emptying.

4. Blood tests. The doctor may also order laboratory tests to check blood counts and to measure chemical and electrolyte levels. To rule out causes of gastroparesis other than diabetes, the doctor may do an upper endoscopy or an ultrasound.

5. Upper endoscopy. After giving you a sedative, the doctor passes a long, thin tube called an endoscope through the mouth and gently guides it down the esophagus into the stomach. Through the endoscope, the doctor can look at the lining of the stomach to check for any abnormalities.

6. Ultrasound. To rule out gallbladder disease or pancreatitis as a source of the problem, you may have an ultrasound test, which uses harmless sound waves to outline and define the shape of the gallbladder and pancreas.

In me, I have double jeopardy - I take Topamax (for migraines, but this medication is used to treat for Parkinson's Disease) and I am a Type II Diabetic and have Gastroparesis. The medication either causes Gastroparesis or exacerbates it. Also, you might have your primary care physican prescribe you something for the Gastroesophageal Reflux like Protonix twice a day. I have had most of those tests that I mentioned done to determine the scope of the problem.

I would STRONGLY suguest that you get a qualified gastroenterologist who is a physician who specializies in stomach and bowel issues like these to take you to this next step in your diagnosis and impending treatment. They will work with your primary care doctor in your care.

If you are over 50, you should have him or her do the testing and while you are at it, do a baseline colonoscopy.

Answer 2

They'll probably want to do a Barium Swallow with small bowel follow-through. Your doctor also may want a GET which is a gastric emptying test. They feed you food stuff (usually a scrabled egg) laced with a radioisotope and take "pictures" over the course of a couple hours. Both tests are pretty easy, just a lot of waiting around, especially if you actually have gastroperisis or some type of disease process that slows the bowels.

I'm not personally sure what other disease processes may cause delayed emptying. In my experience the symptoms of gastroparesis lasted over the course about 6 months and subsided.

I might suggest that you start chewing gum a few times a day. I read a study recently that showed that patients that had major bowel surgery who chewed sugarless gum for 20 minutes 3 times daily were less likely to develop an ileus (bowel obstruction/slowing of the bowel after surgery) What this may suggest is that chewing gum may promote healthy bowel process. In my opinion it probably triggers something in your brain to make you think that you ARE eating and it revs up your digestive tract to do what it should have done in the first place!

Good luck. Gastroparesis is pretty annoying!

Answer 3

Delayed gastric emptying can be caused by Celiac Disease (gluten-sensitive enteropathy). This is much more common than gastroparesis. Ask your doctor to test you.
You may need a referral to a doc that specializes in Celiac D. because most docs just don't pay attention to this common, yet rarely diagnosed, disorder.

Best wishes and good luck.

Answer 4

My mom has gastroparesis. The doctor told her that she need a majority of her stomach removed. Of course she did it and now she is worse than before. She has 7 cm of her stomach left and she has had complications since. What ever you do if they tell you that it has cause your stomach to be paralyzed dont have it removed.

Answer 5

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Answer 6

Making dietary changes is your first line of defense in treating hypothyroidism. Learn here https://tr.im/dUdI2

Many people with hypothyroidism experience crippling fatigue and brain fog, which prompts reaching for non-nutritional forms of energy like sugar and caffeine. I’ve dubbed these rascals the terrible twosome, as they can burn out your thyroid (and destabilize blood sugar).

1. Just say no to the dietary bungee cord. Greatly reduce or eliminate caffeine and sugar, including refined carbohydrates like flour, which the body treats like sugar. Make grain-based carbohydrates lesser of a focus, eating non-starchy vegetables to your heart’s content.

2. Up the protein. Protein transports thyroid hormone to all your tissues and enjoying it at each meal can help normalize thyroid function. Proteins include nuts and nut butters; quinoa; hormone- and antibiotic-free animal products (organic, grass-fed meats, eggs, and sustainably-farmed fish); and legumes.

Answer 7

Stop eating foods rich in cinnamon & nutmeg powders, they freeze your stomach and slow down digestion. Also stop drinking ice cold water before, with and after meals - same effect of stomach slowing down to ensure water reaches 98 deg. F by absorbing body heat before starting digestion and emptying to duodenum. Drinking lukewarm water before meals ( with ginger ) and hot ginger tea( only Herbal tea, no caffeine or decaf tea) afterwards will always help , along with chewing some xylitol rich gum after food.

Answer 8

1

Answer 9

Get a CAT scan, they're amazying and use magnets.