Gastroparesis
Gastroparesis is a disorder in which the stomach takes too long to empty after eating. The delay is caused by damage to the stomach nerves and results in bloating, heartburn, and possibly serious symptoms because digestion is altered.
Diabetes is the most common cause of gastroparesis. Other causes include some disorders of the nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease and stroke, and some medicines, such as tricyclic antidepressants, calcium channel blockers, and opioids.
The most common symptoms of gastroparesis are:
- A feeling of fullness after only a few bites of food.
- Nausea.
- Vomiting.
- Food coming back up your throat, without nausea or vomiting.
Symptoms range from mild to severe. Severe symptoms of gastroparesis may improve with treatment using medicines that help with nausea and vomiting (antiemetics) and medicines that help the stomach empty more quickly (motility agents). In very severe cases, a feeding tube placed in the small intestine may be needed.
Symptoms
What are the symptoms of gastroparesis?\n\t
\n\tThe most common symptoms of gastroparesis are:
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- A feeling of fullness after only a few bites of food.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t
- Nausea.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t
- Vomiting.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t
- Belly pain.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t
- Bloating.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t
Gastroparesis may be suspected in a person with diabetes who has upper digestive tract symptoms or has blood sugar levels that are hard to control.
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Causes
What causes gastroparesis?
\n\tGastroparesis occurs when the nerves or muscles to the stomach are damaged or don't work. Diabetes is one of the most common causes. Other causes include some disorders of the nervous system, such as Parkinson's disease and stroke, and some medicines, such as tricyclic antidepressants, calcium channel blockers, and opioid pain relievers. This condition can also be a complication of gastric surgery.
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Diagnosis
How is gastroparesis diagnosed?
Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and will do a physical exam. Your doctor may also need to do tests to check your stomach and digestion and to rule out other problems that may be causing your symptoms. Tests that may be done include:
- Gastric emptying scan. This test can show how quickly food leaves your stomach. A radioactive substance is included in a solid meal that you eat. It does not include enough radiation to harm you. This substance shows up on a special image, allowing a doctor to see food in your stomach and watch how quickly it leaves your stomach.
- Gastric or duodenal manometry. Manometry is a test that measures the strength and pattern of muscle contractions. This test may be done in the stomach (gastric manometry) or in the first part of the intestines (duodenal manometry).
- Upper gastrointestinal series.
- Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
- Wireless motility capsule study. In a capsule study, a special capsule is taken with a solid meal. The capsule can measure the time it takes for food to move through your digestive system as it passes out of your body.
- Breath test. This test may also be used for people who can't have the gastric emptying scan. In a breath test, a special supplement is taken with a solid meal. It is absorbed in the digestive system and part of it is exhaled. Breath tests taken at different times after the meal show how fast food moves through your digestive system.
- Blood tests.
Treatment
How is gastroparesis treated?\n\t
\n\tChanges to diet and medicines help most people who have gastroparesis. If you need help making changes to your diet, ask your doctor or a dietitian for help.\n\t\t
\n\t\tMedicines that can help with gastroparesis include:
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- Medicine to help with nausea and vomiting (antiemetics).\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t
- Medicine to help the stomach empty more quickly (motility agents). These include metoclopramide (for example, Reglan) and erythromycin.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t
If changes to your diet and medicine don't work, your doctor may have to try something else. At first, you may need to try a different medicine or take more than one medicine. Surgery to place a feeding tube in the small intestine may be needed for severe gastroparesis.
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Self-care
How can you care for gastroparesis?
\n\tTry changing how you eat. Or you can take medicine to help with symptoms.
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- Eat several small meals each day rather than three large meals.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t
- Eat foods that are low in fiber and fat.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t
- If your doctor suggests it, take medicines that help the stomach empty more quickly. These are called motility agents.\n\t\t\t \n\t\t
Copyrighted material adapted with permission from Healthwise, Incorporated. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor.