NeuroTalk Support Groups - Anybody have Gastroparesis?

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Anybody have Gastroparesis?

I got sick in the middle of the night a couple of days after Thanksgiving. Seems to be a pattern -- throwing up hours after eating something rich and yummy!

Uh............excuse the following description, please!! I've already mentioned (at some time or other) that WHEN I vomit food comes out my nose and mouth. What I haven't discussed is that this food is usually undigested or partially digested -- 8 or 9 hours after eating. I mean I can SEE corn, peas, carrots and other stuff in the toilet. I've even blown my nose and had these foods come out! Digusting, right?

This last episode was HORRIBLE! The pain at/around my belly button was EXCRUCIATING! I threw up FOUR separate times (each time involve several hurling/gagging episodes). After about 3 hours of misery, my stomach was empty and I was able to return to sleep. (I knew it wasn't appendicitis -- no tenderness in that area.)

Anyway, did my internet "research" the following day -- and it appears that I have gastroparesis. I've done this throwing up undigested food since I was a child -- never realized this was "odd".

In case you aren't familiar with gastroparesis:

throwing up undigested food 6 or more hours after a meal (some sources say 4 hours)
intense pain at or near navel
can be associated with migraines
foods high in fat stay in the stomach longer, so rich foods can set off an episode

So, my question.......are MGers more likely to have gastroparesis? Do these symptoms "ring a bell" with any members of this forum?

I have severe dysmotility. Have you been checked for small bacterial overgrowth? It can be a complication of many disease that affect the nerves/muscles. A patient w a positive SIBO test can have methane producing bacteria, hydrogen producing or both. Methane is often associated w extreme constipation and sometimes gastroparesis. I also have early satiety.

So sorry. I know how "unfun" it can be:(
Maybe a visit w your GI will lend some more insight?
Good luck!!:hug:

WOW!! I learn something almost daily from other MGers! Thanks!

Had to look up the small bacterial overgrowth. Definitely sounds possible! I have had a problem with candida overgrowth (too many antibiotics as a child) and have been taking ONE Nystatin pill daily. Will cut that out for awhile to see if yeast can "rebalance" the bacteria. I also WAS on Topamax for migraines -- it turns your system acid -- and messed with my stomach. My BMI has dropped in the past year to 21.

You are SO RIGHT about how "unfun" this is. I find myself thinking TOO MUCH about where restrooms are (in public venues).

Again, thanks SO MUCH for this info.......I will be better informed when I see the doc!

:hug:

Jana, I think you need to see your primary doctor and/or a gastroenterologist. Food shouldn't come out in the same condition it went in. ;)

I understand the GI tract pretty well, since I had achlorhydria (no stomach acid) for years before it got diagnosed. I had increased infections, reactive hypoglycemia from undigested food "dumping" into my small intestines, etc. That lead to my B12 deficiency and then, finally, figuring out what caused it all.

Peristalsis is how food moves through the GI tract. Gastroparesis is when the stomach doesn't empty food right away. Both can be affected by MG. But I suspect that's not the only problem.

Undigested food on "the other end" means that you aren't digesting your food on the front end. It doesn't have to do with how fast it moves through the GI tract but how it's being digested. It usually happens when you don't have enough stomach acid. You can have hypochlorydria (not enough stomach acid) or achlorhydria (ay-klor-high-dree-ah). You may be lacking in certain enzymes too, which is even more complex.

Achlorhydria is compounded by food sitting in the GI tract, undigested, and putrefying. All of this can lead to leaky gut, infections, inflammation and more autoimmune problems.

I could drone on and on about this topic, so I'll stop there. :cool:

Do you feel bloated after eating a meal? Do you ever feel hungry within a half an hour to an hour and a half after eating? Does food move through quickly or slowly (from start to finish). It would help to keep a journal of how you feel from when you eat to, well, when it's flushed.

Other things that significantly affect how food moves through are being hydrated enough and having enough fiber.

What I found most interesting when I researched this back in 1999 was that you need acetylcholine to make stomach acid (and gastrin and histamine). I found an entry in an old encyclopedia that listed something called "Myasthenia Gastrica." I guess no one pays attention to it anymore because it's not really talked about.

"Myasthenia Gas´trica: weakness and loss of tone in the muscular coats of the stomach; atony of the stomach."

Whatever is going on is not normal. Do you need an expensive and invasive upper endoscopy to figure it all out? Not necessarily! What did our ancestors do before electricity and machinery? :rolleyes: Maybe do some research and then talk to your primary doctor.

What I take to digest my food - which I don't recommend taking until you have that talk - is Betaine HCL. It's a mild acid, usually made from sugar beets. When people hear "acid" they often think of battery acid or other very dangerous things. ;) If you don't have acid or not enough of it, this is not a dangerous thing to take but a very good and useful thing. If you find out you have this, we can always go on ad infinitum about it later.

:hug:
Annie

And I'm so worn out that I didn't even bring up pancreatitis. If you have that, it's serious. My dog Teddy had it. I highly suggest seeing a doctor right away. What Teddy had to do was have pancreatic enzymes on his food and have a high fiber/low fat diet. Again, you have to figure what's going on first. There could be more than one thing.

I have stomach issues (of course I don't have a firm diagnosis)... but I had bad gastroparesis when I was pregnant.. i threw up the ENTIRE 9 months with my daughter.. I would be so excited I made it 8 hours without throwing up and then my last meal (totally undigested- sorry tmi).. would all come back up.. it was awful!
My pregnancy with my son I also had the same issues , though not quite as bad.. and then when this whole thing really got bad, i had major GI issues (malabsorption).. I lost a ton of weight due to this, i was soooo scary thin.. I had a full GI workup - gastritis and esophagitis, otherwise normal.. it was presumed I had celiac.. now If I go too long without IVIG not only do the rest of my symptoms get worse, but so do my GI symptoms (they return)... very odd.. I am gluten free x 2 years now.. it seems to really help

Quote:

Originally Posted by AnnieB3 (Post 935042)

Jana, I think you need to see your primary doctor and/or a gastroenterologist. Food shouldn't come out in the same condition it went in. ;)

Yeah, I'm gonna have to see a doc. Will go with my GP, first. It takes AGES to see a gastro around here -- they are soooooo busy doing colonoscopies.

I understand the GI tract pretty well, since I had achlorhydria (no stomach acid) for years before it got diagnosed. I had increased infections, reactive hypoglycemia from undigested food "dumping" into my small intestines, etc. That lead to my B12 deficiency and then, finally, figuring out what caused it all.

Annie, I thought about your lack of stomach acid WHILE I was throwing up. I think mine's ok -- no other symptoms. BUT, I am slightly anemic, now -- found that at my last GP appointment. I took iron for a couple of days -- made my stomach worse (apparently this is common). Now I'm eating every iron rich food I can find.

Peristalsis is how food moves through the GI tract. Gastroparesis is when the stomach doesn't empty food right away. Both can be affected by MG. But I suspect that's not the only problem.

Undigested food on "the other end" means that you aren't digesting your food on the front end. It doesn't have to do with how fast it moves through the GI tract but how it's being digested. It usually happens when you don't have enough stomach acid. You can have hypochlorydria (not enough stomach acid) or achlorhydria (ay-klor-high-dree-ah). You may be lacking in certain enzymes too, which is even more complex.

My food appears to be digested "in the toilet". (Can't believe I'm being this discriptive!) It only looks undigested when I vomit.

Achlorhydria is compounded by food sitting in the GI tract, undigested, and putrefying. All of this can lead to leaky gut, infections, inflammation and more autoimmune problems.

I could drone on and on about this topic, so I'll stop there. :cool:

Do you feel bloated after eating a meal? Do you ever feel hungry within a half an hour to an hour and a half after eating? Does food move through quickly or slowly (from start to finish). It would help to keep a journal of how you feel from when you eat to, well, when it's flushed.

Nope, I don't feel bloated.....but, Topamax killed my appetite so I don't eat very much. I feel hungry at meal times, more or less. I have noticed that it can take a couple of days before food I eat "comes out". (The iron pills made my movements very dark -- and it was a couple of days after the first pill before I noticed the color change.) Apparently, my entire GI tract is "lazy". :rolleyes:

Other things that significantly affect how food moves through are being hydrated enough and having enough fiber.

I have been constipated ALL of my life -- until Mestinon. I am the QUEEN of fiber -- I search for fiber-rich foods. I also hydrate more than anyone I know -- in excess of 80 oz per day.

What I found most interesting when I researched this back in 1999 was that you need acetylcholine to make stomach acid (and gastrin and histamine). I found an entry in an old encyclopedia that listed something called "Myasthenia Gastrica." I guess no one pays attention to it anymore because it's not really talked about.

"Myasthenia Gas´trica: weakness and loss of tone in the muscular coats of the stomach; atony of the stomach."

Whatever is going on is not normal. Do you need an expensive and invasive upper endoscopy to figure it all out? Not necessarily! What did our ancestors do before electricity and machinery? :rolleyes: Maybe do some research and then talk to your primary doctor.

I read about the endoscopy -- and sort of FREAKED. With my swallowing issues (you are usually awake) and the dangers of anesthesia in MG.............I agree -- having this all in my head BEFORE I see a doc is THE way to go!!

What I take to digest my food - which I don't recommend taking until you have that talk - is Betaine HCL. It's a mild acid, usually made from sugar beets. When people hear "acid" they often think of battery acid or other very dangerous things. ;) If you don't have acid or not enough of it, this is not a dangerous thing to take but a very good and useful thing. If you find out you have this, we can always go on ad infinitum about it later.

:hug:
Annie

And I'm so worn out that I didn't even bring up pancreatitis. If you have that, it's serious. My dog Teddy had it. I highly suggest seeing a doctor right away. What Teddy had to do was have pancreatic enzymes on his food and have a high fiber/low fat diet. Again, you have to figure what's going on first. There could be more than one thing.

I know -- pancreatitis crossed my mind. My dad died from pancreatic cancer, so it is always "lurking" in my brain.

Thanks SOOOO much, Annie. I feel better just "talking" about it. Waking up in the middle of the night with stomach aches........so distressing. I don't have this problem all the time -- it seems to go in cycles. I had even thought about Crohns.

I've upped my Mesty the past couple of days -- after reading that it is sometimes used for Gastroparesis. I do think I'm a little better.

Again, THANKS Annie!
:hug:

Quote:

Originally Posted by bny806 (Post 935067)

Bless your heart!! I cannot imagine throwing up for 9 MONTHS!!

VERY interesting about the IVIG! I can't take the regular infusions -- will ask my neuro about the subcutaneous version at my next appt.

Thanks so much for the info!!

:hug:

Cute way to respond, Jana! ;) It's like how a friend of mine responds in emails.

So, I think you'd better get thee to a doctor to have them visually check your pancreas. I didn't know your Dad died of pancreatic cancer. I'm so sorry. But then you know it tends to run in families.

I gagged so hard during my endoscopy that I got petechiae all over my face. If they drug you up enough, it's really fast. Yeah, you might have issues afterwards but probably more from the drugs. But I think they will probably want to "image" you.

I want to swear now. Fudge bucket. I hope you're ok.

:grouphug:
Annie

I had that twilight sedation during mine and didn;t have much of a problem, if I gagged, I sure don't remember it!

Does anesthesia affect MG?? When I had my epidural they almost had to intubate me.. I couldn't breath, and I had slurred speech and my muscles and hands wouldn;'t work.. I couldn't hold my son for a few hours after the epidural.. all of my pictures show me with droopy eyelids, a snarl and funny hands that didn't work! I thought it was the strangest thing at the time.. do epidural drugs also affect MG?

Jana- what happens when you get IV ivig?

Yes, those lovely sedating drugs all can affect MG. ;) An epidural might make MG temporarily worse. Puking for 9 months I can't really consider a "blessing," even if the end result is!

Jana, I was in the middle of something so I wasn't as verbose as I normally am. :cool: I've known a few people who have had pancreatic cancer. That one really ticks me off. I've wondered for awhile if taking pancreatic enzymes could ease whatever process is going on before the cancer sets in. If maybe a lack of enzymes and an inflammation in the stomach/pancreas area could lead to the cancer - since that does happen with cancer in general. I haven't done a load of research on that but it might be worthwhile if you would look into it.

My family has a history of both achlorhydria and adenocarcinoma (GI/colon+ cancer). After doing tons of research, I found that those two are related. Cancer is an "immune disease" too. Inflammation/Infection/Cancer can be on a spectrum and so it's very important to reduce those risks to keep cancer at bay. Do you drink green tea or chlorella tea?

I've also wondered if those electromagnetic field (EMF) attracting underwires in women's bras might lead to breast cancer, since EMF's can cause cancer (i.e., cell phones). I think if there's any family history of cancer, all risks should be reduced. And since the pancreas lies fairly close to that bra line . . .

It also might be worth your time to see a cancer geneticist. I don't know the statistics on whether males pass pancreatic cancer along to only males, etc. I know factors for it might include toxins but it's worth looking at it from all angles.

Sometimes, a gall stone can get stuck in one of the ducts and cause problems like puking. I would bet if you even mention your family history, those colonoscopies will have to wait and you'll get in soon. You can handle an endoscopy! But that won't show the pancreas.

Anyway, whatever is going on, it's doing damage to your esophagus and throat. That causes inflammation and, well, you know where I would go with that train of thought. :hug:

Annie