Trying to undrstand Gastroparesis

I am 67 yrs old.  I have recently been diagnosed with Gastroparesis While in Fl this past winter I saw a Gastroenterologist.for symptoms of epigastric pain sometimes across the whole upper abdomen with frequent bouts of nausea and frequent belching for two to three months.   I had pain on swallowing, as the food hit my stomach I felt a sharp pain, not severe but definitely there..

He ordered an ultasound of the abdomen which was negative.
The EGD showed the stomach to be

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) I'm not sure how the diagnosis of gastroparesis is made in light of the normal gastric emptying study.  Although possible, Prevacid uncommonly increases the gastric emptying time.  Repeating the gastric emptying scan off the medication can be considered.

2) I am not aware of Tambocor (flecainide) or Norvasc leading to gastroparesis of the stomach.

3) Depending on the cause, it may be possible for gastroparesis to spread to the rest of the digestive tract.  This can be seen specifically in various neurological diseases.

4) Taking gastric enzymes has not shown to be effective in the treatment of gastroparesis.

5) Medications like erythromycin or Reglan normally start working within 4 weeks of taking the medication - sometimes sooner.

6) It is difficult to give specific recommendations regarding this without reviewing your studies.  Again, I question the diagnosis of gastroparesis in light of the normal gastric emptying scan.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_b

[Duchess47]

I feel your pain!  I too have recently been diagnosed with Gastroparesis and have been told almost exactly the same as you.  I have not started the Reglan for the same reason and my Gastroenterologist is not happy about that.  He feels that the Gastroparesis may be casued by something else or is in addition to something else such as Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction, (as I have no gallbladder).  So, it's trial and error.  If the Reglan helps then so be it.  But if not, then we need to try other things. I had the gastric emptying scan which confirmed gastroparesis.  The doctor told me to eat small meals, not drink  a lot of liquids all at once, stay away from fiber (which is confusing because I also have IBS), no sugar or fat.  I have to use laxatives and suppositories to get me going so to speak.  The information on the websites can be scary.  I will be interested in seeing the answer to your post, which will answer some of my questions also.

[yoshi]

fiber from raw fruit and vegetable is hard to digest for the stomach.
Have you tried not sitting so much,especially after a meal?
Also standing and moving around seem to help moving the food from stomach to duodenum,I found out doing aerobic sure help my case!!

[alana miller]

Just to let you know, I experience the same problems the upper abdominal pains, chest pains, freq belching and air in stomach, nasea, sometimes I even feel the pain in my chest and shoulder blade area. The doc's told me basically the same as you, I still take fiber though, and I do take digestive enzymes, Try the enzymes and let me know if it helps you, It has made some improvement in me, although I still have some trouble, certainly not as severe. Take care!

[yoshi]

After age 40,our stomach produces less acid,so taking prevacid is not going to help your digestion.
If food is not well digested and medication such as Reglan moves the partially digested food from the stomach to the small intestines,it would just create other problems.

[Niki156]

A related discussion, Confused was started.