Gastroparesis - A Challenge to Control

Due to damage to the vagus nerve, which controls the digestive system, Gastroparesis is a condition in which the stomach is unable to digest food normally.

Due to damage to the vagus nerve, which controls the digestive system, the muscles in the stomach and intestines work improperly and with this damage keep the food from flowing properly to the gastrointestinal system.

With this disorder no evidence of obstruction or other obstruction can lead to the elimination of delayed food content.

Gastroparesis is caused by uncontrolled diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, or gastric bypass surgery on the vagus nerve. However, in about 60% of cases, there is no definitive cause of Gastroparesis.

Heartburn, GERD, nausea, vomiting, vague abdominal pain, flatulence, weight loss, vomiting of food that is not contaminated and eating fast when eating just a few bites are major symptoms of Gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis is a chronic condition and current treatment usually does not cure the disease.

However, there are several options to help you better manage this situation. Gastroparesis treatment is dependent on the severity and impact of life on symptoms.

Easy to perform treatment options include changing the diet of eating smaller meals daily compared to three large meals that allow your stomach to empty smaller meals faster. In addition, nutrition should be lower in fiber, fat and coarse. Often liquid or soft foods are better than solid foods for those with Gastroparesis.

Certain medications can also be used to help clear the stomach. One of the most commonly used drugs is metoclopramide or Reglan®. However, medications often have side effects that limit doses that may cause the patient to decide to stop taking them for a few seconds.

Another drug, Erythromycin, an antibiotic, is also used to speed up an empty stomach. Anti-emetic designed to control nausea and vomiting associated with Gastroparesis can also be used.

These chronic conditions make it difficult to manage and control symptoms. Working closely with healthcare providers is key to finding the right combination of treatments that will work.

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