[Megan]

Following months of stomach problems, a Gastroscopy I had last month revealed two hernias. One was a normal 'sliding' Hiatus Hernia and the other a more dangerous Para-oesophageal Hernia....so my surgeon wanted me to have a barium swallow to elicit size of the POH and its exact position before surgery on the 9th January! (For the last two weeks I have been on a totally liquid diet prior to the barium swallow).

So I had the barium meal yesterday and there was no indication of either of these two hernias present. So my surgeon says he needs to do another Gastroscopy (he didn't do the last one) to see what he finds! The surgery for the 9th is now obviously off.

However he said an alternative diagnosis for the stomach issues I have been having is "something called Gastroparesis". Of course I then said well that's interesting and I reminded him of the onset of PN in the past 15 months. He now also wants to do a nuclear gastric emptying scan (scintigraphy) to assess whether I have Gastroparesis.

I admit my heart sank when he said that, knowing that at least for the hernias, a surgical option often 'fixes' something but when he said gastroparesis I could only think of the chronic and often debilitating nature of it.

The surgeon said he will contact my neurologist now and will also follow up with the gastroenterologist who did my gastroscopy who ???misdiagnosed something he saw!

We thought we were getting some answers which explained the dreadful cough I've had for eight months and the stomach problems but alas - no! So frustrating!

More waiting and testing!

[mrsD]

You know, Megan... I have a severe hiatal hernia.
It was found during my last upper GI. ( I have had 3 over the last 40 yrs).

During it, the doctor got animated and made me drink a second
cup of that awful stuff..the barium.

When I got the results at my doctor's office she also was excited.
She said it is pretty rare for hiatal hernias to show up on Xray.
Less than 10% do. Mine did. They made me swallow crystals of like BromoSeltzer dry... to blow up my stomach with air. I can say it was NOT PLEASANT.

I have this congenital twisted GI tract that I was born with.
I had never had a hiatal diagnosis before. But with those crystals, the radiologist saw my stomach move up. So he had me lie on my right side, sort of on my stomach during the Xray, and I had to suck up the second cup thru a straw and swallow when he said to. (my stomach is twisted 90 degrees and empties in my back not in front like most other people).

My doctor thought my hiatal hernia may be part of the birth defect. But then she said all the vomiting I have had to do (sorry but it is graphic) over the decades could have torn it as well. Here in the states, they do not recommend mesh repairs any more. So do research that if you are offered. She told me at this time not to have any surgery, and just live a conservative life style which I do anyway.

What are your symptoms? I'll tell you, I've had a bundle of them over the decades of my life. Right now I have not had a spell of vomiting for several years. Going gluten free for 3 yrs helped and now I am fructose free and even BETTER.

I have to avoid all gaseous foods (cabbage is a killer for me), and rarely drink any carbonated drinks. I might have one here and there, and I let most of the bubbles go away. I use Beano for every meal with vegetables. And Lactaid milk or lactase tablets for regular milk or ice cream. That has helped too.
GAS is a killer! at least for me.

Kmeb can help you with gastroparesis issues. But be sure you really have that. Sounds to me like they don't know. Not a good place to be in any case.

[BEGLET]

Megan, at least your doc knows about gastroparesis (GP) - with meds and controlling your diet you can be helped greatly if that is your diganosis.... you need to see a "motility sepcialist" and the fact they want you to do a nuclear gastric empty study sounds like your doc is really on the ball... that test can however, as with all tests, be deceiving if your having a good stomach day - but usually will show if you have issues the first time... you eat some "radio-active" food and they x-ray the food in your stomach for the next several hours to see how much digests or how fast your stomach empties, etc... compared to a "normal person".

If that test doesnt show abnomalities, there are other tests - but this one is the easiest and least unpleasant..... you are then given a diet that is usually fiber free, as low in fat as possible, etc.... and meds like motility meds to increase your stomach contractions and push food through, and also anti-nausea meds... I've had this for 9 years - and have seen people have it for short periods, respond completely differently to treatments, and usually have to try different combinations of meds and diet to find what works for them.... mine is caused by pretty severe nerve damage (autonomic neuropathy) so I have to control by constant meds and liquids only - but again, others are all affected very differently.....

I belong to a good on-line support group for this - please just pm me if you would like the url...

Hang in there....