Gastroparesis What is one to do?

  I have had gastroparesis for a few years with no hope of finding help. I have tried many medications, but all have given me bad side-effects. What kinds of treatments are available for people with gastroparesis who cannot tolerate medication?
  Carol
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Dear Carol:
Generally, patients with gastroparesis should be treated initially by conservative measures with motility-enhancing medications.  Some physicians will add cholinergic agonists to get a greater muscle effect.  Gastric pacing has also been tried with questionable benefit.
When all the available medication failed to improve gastric emptying or patients unable to tolerate the treatment medications, then a percutaneous feeding tube could be placed into the small intestines (percutaneous jejunostomy) either by a gastroenterologist or a surgeon. In this way, patients can receive adequate nutrition while avoiding direct feeding into the stomach. Most of the surgically placed jejunostomy tubes also contains an extra tube opens in the stomach for decompression (suctioning of the stomach
This information is for educational purpose only. Always consult your doctor for your medical problems.
HFHSM.D.-jg
*keywords: gastroparesis
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