RSD/GASTROPARESIS/PREGNANCY?

[painallthetime]

I was looking online for some info about "Gastroparesis and Pregnancy".  I have not found that much on the baby thing.  
I am 27 and I have been having lots of problems with my stomach and both my legs.  Then comes all the rest that goes along with it like backpain not sleeping trying every sort of medicine on the market and living on SOUP is not my idea of a good meal. I can't seem to ever feel really full!!  I know that my stomach is not working very well so the food just seems to hang out for ever.  I have been seen by soooooooo many doctors that they almost feel like FAMILY.  I always get the "unsure look" when they find out what is going on with me. Chronic Pain is the Worst...  Anyway, I have something called RSD and I have had it for about 2 years now.  I have had back surgery, knee surgery and a Medtronic Spinal Stimulator implanted twice already. Now I have this Gastroparesis thing and it is making me crazy not being able to eat anything other than SOUP...  I miss steak and salad.  If anyone has info on how to get through this and just to think of being ok enough to have a baby sometime it would be great.  I am on bedrest more times than not so I can get through that.  I just want to make sure that I am ok enough to make it through.

[gastricpacemakercure]

I don't know if you are still looking for an answer, but I suffered from non-diabetic gastroparesis for 8 years and I know what you've been going through.  I know all about the soup and the fasting and the dehydration and the pain.  Just this past year I developed paresis in the gallbladder as well, but this time there was an answer not only for the gallbladder but for the stomach.  Gastric pacemakers are now being implanted in patients with severe gastroparesis.  I was the first patient to have the surgery at John Hopkins University, and for me the surgery was a cure.  For 8 years I couldn't eat fruits, vegetables, or meats, and now I can eat almost everything.  I was vomiting 3-4 times a day on a good day, and I haven't thrown up at all since the surgery.  Before the surgery the doctors said I couldn't survive a pregnancy, but now I'm expecting and have every reason to expect a healthly baby.  If you are still fighting gastroparesis, look in to the pacemaker.  For the longest time, I was told by every doctor I saw that nothing could be done, but that's not the case anymore.  Don't give up hope.

[maestra1]

I too have gastroparesis and am not a diabetic.  I also have no known cause for it, which is becoming more and more common for young people.  Gastroparesis can come in several degrees of severity.  I don't know how bad yours is, but mine is helped tremendously by a steady prescription of prilosec and an occassional pepto-bismo dose.  I also eat at constant intervals.  Every time my stomach starts to burn (which is on regular hourly intervals), I try to eat something small.  I have managed my discomfort that way.  Some days are pretty symptom free.  Other days, I have continual discomfort in my stomach. I just sort of accept it and deal with it.  Like I said though, your case may be more severe than mine. Now, I am pregnant and I'm unsure which condition is bothering my stomach the most.  I'm currently researching that to see what I can find.  I'm so sorry that you have two chronic health conditions that are causing you pain.  I am not sure if any of this input will help you at all, but I thought I'd add my two cents.  Good luck.  My prayers are with you.

Sincerely,
Tiffany M.

[painallthetime]

Thanks so very much!!  I just wanted to say that I am not a Diabetic, on that note I can't seem to find anything on this Gastroparesis unless I am on a site for diabetes.  This is not the thing to have when a person is already being faced with so many other medical things (but this is when they happen).  The RSD is Reflex Symthetic Distraphy it involves the nevers in the limbs.  I have it in both of my legs following a knee injury that happened to me while working.  I just wanted to say thank you again for sending me what you know about all this.  Any help too me is Good help.  On the baby thing I guess being so young and longing to be a "mom" I always hope that I know before the new doctors say anything about the one thing I want  so bad.

[JDRF-Team-LRS]

Dear PainAllTheTime,
Your screen name says it all and my heart goes out to you.  As you probably know, we're all volunteers here and so you need to check out any good ideas with your doctors (it's not all bad that they feel like family!).

I'm not certain what RSD, altho' I found a few medical references on something with those initials.  Is RSD related to having diabetes?

Gastro is the unkindest of the diabetes complications.  It takes tremendous patience to manage the very simple diet and still function.  I have read/heard about some very new surgery where a stimulator is placed somewhere in the stomach to get things moving more normally.  Apparently, docs have performed this surgery for a few years, but I don't know what the criteria are to be a candidate for it.  Seems that you've had plenty of surgeries already.

Lack of sleep likely makes everything during day more difficult, too.  Perhaps your docs have some better ideas on sleep-enhancing meds?  For many of us, we can handle more of life's ups 'n' downs after a reasonable night's sleep than we can handle when we're chronically exhausted from lack of good rest.

While I know very little about Eastern medicine like accupuncture, chinese medicine, yoga, etc. I do know folks who have had had difficult problems eased with these techniques.  It's also tough to separate quacks from skilled practitioners adn their advertising doesn't help us.  Try asking your docs, family members, pals, folks from church if they can recommend someone.

As to whether you'll be healthy enough to endure a pregnancy, I don't know.  Whether you'll be healthy enough to raise a baby, however, is a different question.  Many folks with chronic diseases choose to adopt babies instead of passing along their own genetics.  If you have love to give a child, there are few greater gifts than to open your heart to a child who has no one in this life ... and to give them the miracle of second chance to be loved.

Good luck -- I hope that some of this has been helpful for you and that before long, you'll feel better.