What are the causes of gastroparesis?

It may not always be clear what the causes are. In some cases, it may be damage to the vagus nerve that controls the stomach muscles. A damaged vagus nerve cannot send signals to the stomach muscles to contract. This allows food to remain longer in the stomach, rather than move into the small intestine to be digested. The vagus nerve can be damaged by Diabetes or due to surgery to the stomach or small intestine.

What are the major 2 symptoms of gastroparesis?

Nausea, vomiting, bloating of the abdomen, abdominal pain, the feeling of fullness just after chewing a few bites, vomiting undigested food consumed earlier, weight loss, malnutrition, lack of appetite, acid reflux, changes in blood glucose levels are the common symptoms.

What are the risk factors for gastroparesis?

Diabetes, surgery on the stomach or esophagus, medications that slow down stomach emptying like narcotic pain medications, less active thyroid, Parkinson’s disease and scleroderma are a few risk factors. Women develop more gastroparesis than men.

What are the complications of gastroparesis?

It can lead to dehydration. It leads to malnutrition and deficiency of many nutrients. In diabetics, it can lead to unpredictable blood glucose levels. It changes your quality of life and you cannot attend to your responsibilities adequately.

What are the tests done to diagnose gastroparesis?

Scintigraphy is an important

test. Scintigraphy involves eating a light meal with a small amount of radioactive material. A scanner on your abdomen detects the movement of food in your stomach and assesses the gastric emptying time. Certain breath tests are available that calculate the amount of food in your breath and detect the gastric emptying time.

What about endoscopy and ultrasound?

Peptic ulcers, obstruction in the distal stomach that is the pylorus can have similar symptoms to gastroparesis. Endoscopy visualizes your food pipe, stomach and beginning of the small intestine. Ultrasound will pick up pathologies in the gall bladder or kidneys. These organs if diseased may have similar symptoms.

What about diet in gastroparesis?

Frequent smaller feeds,

food to be chewed thoroughly, eat well-cooked fruits and vegetables rather than raw fruits and vegetables. Drink about 1.5 litres of water per day. Avoid carbonated drinks, alcohol, and smoking. Avoid lying down for 2 hours after a meal. Fruit juices, milk, curds, boiled vegetables, eggs, rice, simple dal, and soups are suggested.

What are the medications that are suggested?

Medications that stimulate stomach muscles include Metoclopramide, Erythromycin, and Risperidone. Medications to control nausea and vomiting include diphenhydramine/ Benadryl, and prochlorperazine if nausea
and vomiting persists.