Here’s some raw information. I’ve struggled with constipation since I was about ten years old. (Thanks, Ehler’s Danlos) The vegan diet is the only time I didn’t struggle with it, but still didn’t go to the bathroom often enough. This year, my conditions worsened to the point of needing attention and I finally received diagnoses. All of which are connected. One that is still being tested is Gastroparesis. I’ve been pushing for the testing since June, but I saw a THIRD gastroenterologist once I started vomiting undigested food.
What is Gastroparesis?
For one, it means “stomach paralysis. “It is a disease wherein the stomach cannot empty its contents efficiently. This is due, primarily, to nerve damage to the vagus nerve. Or lack of messages via the vagus nerve like in POTS patients. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting undigested food, heartburn, abdominal pain, poor appetite, weight loss, early satiety, bloating, poor blood sugar control. Some of the risks of this condition are dehydration, malnutrition, bezoars, and bacterial growth due to fermentation of the food sitting in the stomach.
How do you test for gastroparesis?
The primary way is a gastric emptying study. I will share more on that after I have my own next week. In short, you eat some food with radioactive dye and then the food is watched as it travels through the digestive system via a machine for four hours. Another way my doctor informed me of is an electrical test of the stomach. Sort of like an ECG, but for the stomach. Evidently, one can experience tachygastro or bradygastro. Slow muscular stimulation or fast muscular stimulation. Both of which are ineffective.
My doctors are pretty sure I have the condition, but need to do the testing first. Regardless of what is wrong. My day to day life is hard. I want to eat, but know I will experience pain, nausea, possible vomiting, belching and bloating. My appetite is poor and due to possible Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, I can’t eat fresh produce. So, I’m in this catch 22. Eat a burger (because I have to eat SOMETHING) and feel awful for 3 days or eat nothing and feel awful, probably faint, and end up dehydrated. Honestly, I’m to the point where I often choose the latter because of how painful eating is for me and the fear of vomiting. Because it isn’t just vomiting. It’s deep stomach projectile retching that is excruciating, causes a tremor, and leaves me weak and with a migraine.
I miss being able to enjoy food. Especially fruits. Resting with this problem is hard. I find myself in tears most days and frustrated. I lean in though. I can look at it as frequent fasting. Which I hear has great benefits. I take comfort in the fact that I’m close to an answer and that there are lots of medical options out there. I’m sure a feeding tube would beat the physical misery I’m experiencing now. I’ll write more about my gastric study next week.
Inhale. Exhale. My lungs, bladder, kidneys, and liver work wonderfully.
Resources:
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