Quote:
Originally Posted by Jaimy
I have an autonomic neuropathy and this has prompted me a visit to too many doctors recently, and frankly, I don't like going to the doctor- my average was a once a decade visit before this began. now it seems like a once a week.
I have been experiencing lots of nausea, worse after eating, sometimes coming in waves for no reason, and chronic indigestion. I'm assuming at this point that it is due to my AN.
Is there any reason for me to go to a gastroenterologist?
Can he actually provide a treatment or is he likely going to just validate (if that) my symptoms?
I don't need a validation and don't see the point in going if he can't do anything to help. Has anybody seen one for AN?
|
Yes, you should see a GI doc. There is plenty that can be done, both medically, and lifestyle changes.
You need to determine what is causing the GI symptoms. AN can cause gastroparesis, which is delayed stomach emptying...the nerves do not tell the stomach to contract and move food along. Best way to determine if this is the problem is a gastric empty test. You eat a small amount of scrambled eggs with contrast mixed in (you cannot taste it) and have nuclear imaging done over the next 2-3 hours to track movement through the stomach.
Now, in the US there are not many options to treat because there are no FDA approved medications for motility. I live in the US but get my medicine from Canada or the UK. There are also changes in eating that can help the symptoms...like eating small meals frequently, having larger meal in the afternoon to avoid night time complaints, not eating after 5 or 6 pm, elevating the head of your bed to help emptying at night, walk after eating, avoid raw fruits, veggies and nuts (all are notoriously hard to digest), and when symptoms are real bad you can grind up your food to aid in digestion so it's easier to move along.
If you have gastroparesis you may also have bacterial overgrowth. If this is the case then you need to avoid carbs and sugars as they can 'feed' any fermentation process going on.
There are other GI problems that may be your problem and not related to AN. You really need to be evaluated if your symptoms are bothersome and persistent.