Well, I just found out that the possible cause of my year long nausea could in fact be gastroparesis. This is when the stomach doesn't empty fast enough and the food sits in your stomach causing you to be nauseas, full quickly, etc.

Does anyone have any experience with this? I feel like I am flying blind because my doctor's office had the nurse call and tell me of the results, and only offered a new medication (that's not approved in the US yes, but they can get it). They haven't told me about changing my diet, or anything like that. So, I feel like I am flying blind.

Any advice?

Thanks!

My 79 yr old mother has been dealing with this for almost a year! She has lost almost 40 pounds (way too thin!) and is as weak as a kitten. They told her it was from undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes. She has had 4 dietician appts. and been hospitalized 4 times! Her understanding is that it is very difficult and long to get cured! Good luck to you-sounds like you are doing better than my mom.

Wow polyhymnia23, that sounds serious - what kind of testing have they done? Personally, I think it's pretty crappy that the nurse called you with a diagnosis. Are you seeing a gastroenterologist? What is the name of the medication?

I'm interested because:

A: I have Crohn's disease, so I have a lot of experience and knowledge of digestive disorders

B: I have several databases with gastroenterologists, so I could maybe find a good one in your area, if you don't have one already

C: My sister is a pharmacist, and she can research the medication they want to prescribe

D: I'm just a caring person by nature

You are too sweet. Thank you for caring enough to write back. It is a chronic illness and frankly, living with it is going to be a very big challenge for me. I am seeing a gastroenterologist. I just figured out (by looking at an old prescription) that I have had the nausea for over a year and we are JUST now getting the diagnosis. My doctor is wonderful, don't get me wrong, I just think she was looking everywhere other than where we needed to look.

The test was a gastric emptying study. I haven't seen the actual results yet, so I don't know HOW bad it is, I just know that the nurse called with the results and told me I have it. The medication she wanted to put me on is called "Domperidone". It's not approved in the US unless you get FDA approval. The biggest problem here is that I would have to figure out how to get an ekg done and be paid for by my county health plan. (I'm a law student without real health insurance). They won't prescribe the meds without the ekg to make sure my heart is okay. On top of that, it's not cheap, like $40 a month.

I'm going in for a colonoscopy (yes, at the age of 29) next week, and hopefully that will go well. If anything comes up from that, then the combined results will probably help me start on a road to feeling better. I also have PCOS, so it doesn't help at all!

I will see my gastro briefly after my colonoscopy next week, but I am not sure she will have time to really discuss what I'm supposed to do. I contacted the office and left a message telling them I would rather have a doctor's opinion than having to fend for myself online...I don't have an appointment with the gastro until December, so it looks like it's possible I will be suffering at least until then...

Thank you again for checking things out for me--I'm not sure about the meds. I was/am on Regaln 10mg @ 4 per day and it doesn't work. I'm terrified of staying on this med because of the possibility of facial tremors as a side effect. Other than that, I'm not sure what else to do.

Thanks again...

Melissa

Gee, sorry you're going through all of this. I was diagnosed with Crohn's at 31 (also a chronic illness), so I understand a bit what you have to endure. I've had 20+ colonoscopies, so don't be too concerned - it's not so bad. The prep isn't any fun though, and that's the worst part. Someone should be with you at the procedure, so give them a list of questions to ask, and have them write down the answers. Chances are, you won't remember, even if you do ask questions.

I would try to see if you can get an earlier appointment with her - make sure you tell them you are suffering and you need to be able to have a decent quality of life - now. Not a month from now, not next year.

I know you're a student, and finances are probably tough, but $40 per month is pretty inexpensive, as far as medications go. The staff at the doctor's office should be working with the insurance company with you to get the EKG covered - make a fuss if they don't. Squeaky wheel and all.

BTW, has she done an upper GI? You know, where you drink the icky milkshake, and they keep taking x-rays?

Another thing - with the Reglan, are you taking tablets or a liquid? Just curious, as you may absorb the liquid better than digesting a tablet.

Yeah, I know, I just gave you more questions to ask, but the biggest thing in your favor is knowledge and information - that way you can make intelligent decisions about your own health and take control.


Keep in mind I am just a person on a message board, I don't know you, nor do I know everything about medicine. Just keep asking questions, and it's wise get a second opinion too.

Good luck, Melissa!

Thank you for the info and those are definately questions I wouldn't have thought to ask--especially about reglan. I wasn't aware that they had a liquid form. I seem to be getting worse, so I'm going to talk to my doctor Wednesday before the procedure--I'll keep you updated. A second opinion is going to be in the works if they don't kick themselves into high gear

I have gastroparesis I can only keep one meal down a day need to know what I can drink as a liquid meal so that I can lose weight. My body stores everything as fat because of only keeping one meal down a day!!!!




Sherry

Wow, Sherry, I feel for you. I just looked it up after reading your post, because I didn't know what gastroparesis was. Sounds miserable.

I'm sure you know what you are doing, but the article I read did suggest 6 small meals a day. Have you tried small meals? The one meal you have a day, is it small or a good sized meal?

Also said keep to a lowfat diet, as well as low fiber. Ugh. Do you have diabetes? I know that it would be very hard to keep blood sugar low if you are eating a low fat/fiber diet. Fat takes longer to digest, as does fiber, so that's why. (sure you know this!)

Well, I don't know what to suggest for liquid meals, other than trying to liquify solid foods. I mean, there are probably healthy shakes you can buy at health food stores, but for long term that would be boring as well as lacking I'd think.

Since you are supposed to keep fiber to a minimum, that rather limits fruits and veggies.

What does your doctor suggest?

Whatever you do eat/drink, you should try to do it at regular intervals through the day, to try to increase your metabolism.

I hope someone else can give you some suggestions, although this seems like something a doctor should help you with, or a registerd dietician. I mean, you need to be getting essential vitamins and minerals and protein daily. I'd hate to recommend some diet shake that might not be safe over time. How much weight do you have to lose?

Well, although you can make a lot of foods into liquid, I do have plain/FF yogurt daily with whey protein and blueberries. You can put it into the blender. I wouldn't recommend adding juice of any kind, because that adds so much sugar.

Berries do have a lot of fiber, so I would sub a banana or something else.

Man, you poor thing. Bad enough you have to have liquid meals, but the low or no fiber makes it so much harder. Also, not having many fruits and veggies limits the vitamins you are getting. Take a good multi!

Maybe someone else here has the same condition and can help.

Once again though, I'd talk to your doctor.

Not sure if you ever tried Reliv or anything like that, but it's worth a shot. And yeah, talk to you doctor for recommendations.

I absolutely would not recommend anything like Boost or Ensure - too much sugar.

I have found it SO difficult to eat several times a day. When I get up in the morning I am too nauseas to eat anything until like 10:30 and by then, I eat yogurt or something like that. I've been trying to drink some of the all natural smoothies, too. Lots of protein and not too much fiber. It is so very hard to eat when you have this disorder, it really is.

It's a good think I could stand to lose 60 pounds, but losing it this way is not good for me. I am taking a good multivitamin and frankly, I can't eliminate vegetables from my diet--its impossible. I have found that mashed potatoes sit well with me...which is good.

Low fiber and low fat are hard to do, especially since you have been trained to eat low fat HIGH fiber for so long. I've completely adapted to eating only whole grains and eliminating processed foods because they make me sick--but now what, ya know?

I'll keep you all posted after my visit to the doc in two weeks. Until then, keep your chins up--

Reglan is very good for people that have gastroparesis I take it. It helps with movement per my doctor. It is very hard to eat alot of people just understand. Mash potatoes are very good. I lived on mashed potatoes and gravy for 18 months. Icouldn't keep much down!!!

Yeah, mashed potatoes seem to be my friend, for sure! If I'm feeling crappy, that's what I eat and it always sits well. I'm supposed to be getting the domperidone soon--so they say...

One medium. it doesn't matter ifit isa small meal if I eat more than one time a day it comes back up. lowfat yes low fiber no. It is boring t&you where I don't like eating. doctor sugguested eating one meal a day so that I can keep it down so that I don't mess up my stomach more. My doctor has me take fiber because it helps it move through my interstine. Use to do alot of milk shakes.
Take duet prenatal vitamin. I would like to lost about 70 pounds. have seen doctor's and dietician not much help!!!!

Hi there!

I too just got diagnosed with gastroparesis and should be receiving my domperdone any day. I'm a little worried to take the medicine as side effects are strange. Milk production?

I've had a seigmoidoscopy (sp?), gastric emptying study and last week had an endoscopy. I've also been nasueous for a year and Zofran to cope. I've completely changed my diet to wheat and gluten free. I've switche dto mainly liquid meals and when I absolutley need something substantial I'll eat quinoea, brown rice pasta or brown rice chips. It's really hard waking up everyday feeling awful.

I just called my doctor to have a second opinion b/c I don't think I'm getting all the answers to my questions. How long does this last? Is it forever?

I feel your pain and please keep updating any new info your doctor supplies. I'm 33 with 2 small kids, working full time and the time I have at home with my kids seems to always sound like "Mommy's belly hurts". Feel good.

I just got home from a week in the hospital with diverticulosis. PAINFUL!!!!!

I got it from years of meds for my disability & age. Wow I wanted to die I was in so much pain.

Good luck finding relief!

What type of exercises would I benefit from with this disorder that makes me nauseous all the time and drains me physically.

I was very active until a few months ago where now I have trouble eating or keeping food down. I'm always bloated and have been asked several times when am I due.

Do you have any suggestions on what to do?

Thanks
Liz