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484160 tn?1343397921

Gastro paresis

My sister is a 53 diabetic.  She has not had medical insurance for many years and so has not had her diabetes under control as well as she should/could have.  She has developed what they are calling diabetic stomach.  I have done some research and I have some issues wit her current medical care.  First, they diagnosed her with a heart attack.  Then they took out her gallbladder on the 10th of this month.  Now they are calling it diabetic stomach (gastroparesis).  She has been throwing up uncontrollably off and on for 2 years. She went in on the 10th and they removed her gallbladder.  She went home from that and was back in the hospital on the 14th or 15th.  They kept her until last night, sent her home and she is headed back to the hospital this morning, still throwing up.  They are talking about inserting a feeding tube into her small intestine to bypass her stomach.  It is my understanding that there is a devise that can be implanted to take of the job of the vagus nerve.  It seems to me this would be the optimal treatment to allow her to have the best quality of life.  Has anyone gone thru this and if so, what was your treatment and how effective was it?
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484160 tn?1343397921
She is now in intensive care.  The doctors are saying it is the worst case they have ever seen.  Her blood sugar was 348 today, her blood pressure is through the roof.  Yesterday morning they thought she'd had a stroke.  She couldn't speak.  She can't stop shaking. They have her on IV morphine, demerol and something else for pain, plus medication for nausea and she isn't even allowed a sip of water.  This has been non-stop for three weeks now and I don't know how she is holding on.  To add insult to injury, her granddaughter was born 2 days ago and she still hasn't seen her.  From what the doctors have told us, diabetic stomach and gastroparesis are the same  thing.  The doctors were discussing whether to use a botulism treatment, but it on
ly lasts for 3 months.
Helpful - 0
141598 tn?1355671763
I was doing research on liver and diabetes and came across an article on Diabetic Gastrophy, a neuromuscular dysfunction of the stomach similar to gastroparesis. Do a Google search on Diabetic Gastrophy, look for the link The Diabetic Stomach - Management Strategies for Clinicians and... read the article as it may pertain to your sister.
Helpful - 0
141598 tn?1355671763
The treatment for ketoacidosis is to correct the high blood glucose level by giving more insulin, including extra fluid to prevent dehydration.

I don't know what you mean by "the pacemaker thing for the stomach?", can only assume it is a stomach pump to empty its contents caused by gastroparesis.

Have you talked with your sisters doctor/s? Or the lead nurse? They have first hand knowledge of your sisters test results and medical records and would know the next step/s in her treatment for recovery not anyone on a health forum. Hopefully someone with a nursing background will come along to provide further assistance.
Helpful - 0
484160 tn?1343397921
My sister is going downhill rapidly.  I don't know what to do for her.  She has been hospitalized 4 or 5 times this month for diabetes related problems.  She was diagnosed with gastroparesis earlier this month, and they admitted her to the hospital again last night, and now they are saying she has ketoacidosis, which, from what I understand, is rare with type II diabetes.  Does anyone have any info as to the effectiveness of the pacemaker thing for the stomach?  I am trying to gather as much info as I can for her.  She is sick and scared and desperate and I am scared and desperate as well.  Please someone tell me what your experience has been.
Helpful - 0
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