... over a month. I have non-stop pain along my sides, my rib area, mid chest feels like someone is stabbing me all the time. I have back pain and nausea non stop. When I say my sides I literally mean my sides not my abdomen. Are these symptoms others have with GP? I went to the ER twice and they blew me off, as well as several other doctors that blew me off! One GI Dr. I went to even had the nerve to tell me that she just met me, but I seem like a depressed person. And if she had 5 kids at home she'd be depressed too (I have 5 kids from 7-1)! And said that my pain was NOT GI related but psychological! And I do suffer from depression but am on meds for it and ACTUALLY I am not depressed at all. I was ready to give up when I left her office b/c I was thinking that all Dr.'s were going to think that b/c I'm on antidepressants I'm not really in pain.Then I finally found a Dr. that would listen to me. HE ordered a bunch of test and I had an endoscopy on the 7th and that is when he diagnosed me with GP. I am overweight and not loosing weight. Is there anyone else out there like this? I do not have diabetes either. I have been trying to research this disease but don't find much information on it-except that most people loose a lot of weight fast. I have not lost a pound? Could I be misdiagnosed? I just feel so lost and don't know where to turn? Thanks for reading sorry it's so long:)
Gastroparesis - HI! I was just diagnosed with GP on the 7th of this month! I have been in misery for
Question posted by mamasings on 15 Aug 2012
Last updated on 19 January 2020
3 Answers
The best test for GP is the Gastro emptying test. The gold standard is four hours. It determines how long it takes food to get thru your system. I’m on an experimental drug as I’m in a four year study at MDAnderson. Finally my nausea has stopped. I take meds three times a day before meals. It’s made a difference. I did lose weight in the beginning because I couldn’t finish any thing I tried to eat. Now I’m more normal.
What drug are they giving you that made your nausea stop?
Domperidone. You must be in a study to be able to obtain it.
Hello Mamasings, i was messaged by msfino that you are looking for help with gastroparesis. Altho Im flattered she feels so, I dont consider myself an expert. I was diagnosed with GP in July 2011. I had srarted losing weight. Then I felt like I was having a heart attack. It turned out after all tge endoscopies, I had the egg test. I had GP. I had numerous severe stomach attacks . My case became critical and i was given a gastrovelectronic stimulator to force my stomach to work.
Yes the pains can be intense. You may not lose weight but you must watch your diet. That can create more gastric problems. Follow your GI doctor's advice to the letter. There soome specific meds that would help. Bentyl, Zofran for nausea,and Omeprazole. This combo has worked the best. Your doc will set you up with a routine you should follow completely. If you like.. friend me and we can talk more. I hope this has helped you some. If you have any more questions, dont hesitate to ask. I wish you luck
Peace,
Tee
See, I KNEW that you would know more than me :-)
Thanks for your response! I also feel like I am having a heart attack a lot of days! Although I know I am not! My GI Dr. has not really given me any advice, he just gave me 2 kinds of antacids to take one in the morning and one in the evening. Although they are helping with the acid reflux, they are not helping with any of my other issues. I do have Zofran from one of my visits to the ER, but my problem with taking it is, it constipates me. Which in turn makes my stomach hurt even more! So I'm not sure what to do? I have started vomiting every so often the past couple of days as well. Will the Zofran stop that? Thanks for your help ladies I really appreciate it!
I am a 59 yr old female diagnosed in 2001 with GP. My episodes come and go seemingly without reason and are anywhere from mild to sever. Like you, I am overweight and usually do not lose weight during my bouts of GP, regardless of the decrease in food consumption. I can also sympathized with the other things you mentioned, from side and chest pain, to many experiences with cruel doctors claiming depression is the cause. Like you, I know this is untrue. Finding a good doctor and treatment are paramount, just as ( in my unprofessional opinion,) learning your unique triggers and comforts regarding GP.
In my case it has taken over 10 years for doctors to begin to realize that I suffer with a difficult to understand auto-immune disorder and dysfunctional autonomic nervous system. They are still trying to figure out why i have this condition and how to treat it. I have been prescribed numerous medications most which do not help. The most effective was Domperidone ordered from a Canadian lab, by a doctor now retired.
Many other things have been tested for and tried such as allergy testing, looking for pinched nerve, etc. I have been dairy free for about 8 years. Recently I went 3 months on a gluten free diet with no success. Other helps for me are exercise and supplementation. It is all trial and error. When in GP distress, maintaining a strict GP diet is important, as is staying hydrated. I also, use a product called InflammX plus, that soothes the digestive track and helps maintain nutrition. A sister product Ultrameal is a great meal replacer too.
I think my side and other body pain are due to muscle spasms. Hot showers and whirlpool baths are very helpful, brisk toweling off, as well massaging torso and limbs with essential oils. Listening to guided meditation and soothing spa type music aid in for relaxation and help induce sleep. Exercise when I am sick is very hard, but warm water pools and aerobic workouts work best for me. On good days I prefer full contact water jogging followed by hot showers. Even after all this work and tim, I still find myself in occasional GP distress.
It is good to know we are not alone. Stay positive and hang in there!
I am newly diagnosed also. My md said no to bentyl because it is a smooth muscle relaxer and stops stomach movement.
I am sorry to hear you have GP but are glad you are reaching out and seeking advice. There is no doubt everyone here would want to give you a sympathetic hug, cuz we know this is no joy ride. What we all learn in this and other medical disorders, is that we are all unique. Our body chemistry differs as does the reason we contracted this problem. So finding answers often come slowly.
I agree with the logic your doctor used regarding Bentyl due to, it's relaxing the smooth muscles, like the stomach. But for someone who finds their stomach is all in knots (almost literally) that little bit of relaxation might be necessary in order to allow the food to pass along the digestive track as it should. So it is defiantly a work in progress until we find the magic combo ( and doctor.)
I think the idea here is that we share our ups and downs as well as helpful suggestions. This way, we can lean on each other and learn from each other too. I was personally with a GP support group years ago, when GP was less well known and there were fewer drugs available, being tried out for GP, or researched. The support we got and gave each other was sometimes the only medicine there was. And believe me, that support was tremendous, just a listening ear, and knowing we were not alone. Lots of good suggestions have been already posted on this site. I suggest you sit down with a pen and paper ( yes I know techies,) and write a list of those ideas and suggestions you might consider. Then try things, but slowly, so you can see any changes pro or con.
Along with all our suggestions it is important to look really closely at your lifestyle. Food allergies, according to doctors and most GPers are often the biggest culprit. The most common of these being dairy, dense meats, greasy and spicy hot foods. Eating fast food and on the run are other bad boys. We can only do so much, but trying to live a low stress lifestyle is necessary too.
Last year my Gastro Dr put me on Linzess. While it got me out of my total Gastro Shut Down session, it was not the full time RX for me. Soon it felt like Draino going thru my system. This year he put me on Amitiza. Can you see me doing my happy dance? Amitiza, has been wonderful in its moderation to just keep things moving. As long as I don't give into to a slice of pizza or such, this has become the best medication my GP and only one I currently take.
I have to remind myself that it is not only medication I need to keep my Digestion working but moving my body. When we feel bad we tend to want to curl up and go to bed. When GP hits if you can get out and take a walk, a good walk not just to the mailbox, you might be surprised in the results.
Have you considered trying some soothing essential oils like Lavender or Frankincense? Make sure to use quality products along with a carrier oil like almond or grape seed oil. To massage your abdomen, gently go in a counter clockwise motion. As you slowly move your fingers around, gently begin to in and out, like doing tiny bye-bye movements. This can help relax the tightness while also encouraging the food to move along. Warmth like a hot water bottle or moist low heat- heating pad, can assist in relaxing tightness too. Ginger is also a wonderful natural aid. Ginger tea ( hot or cold), Ginger in capsule supplements, or candies like Ginger Chews are all good for nausea, digestive distress and pain, even body pain. Or try Ginger Crystals, which come in little packets you can sprinkle into bottled water, a cup of hot water to sip, whether at home or traveling.
Again, I am really sorry you are having such a hard time. I hope you find some answers and really soon; both thru your doctors and personal experience. My Pain Specialist used to pooh pooh my GP experiences, until he had his own GP situation come up. Sadly this is a disorder that is still not well understood, but in the 12 years since my diagnosis more information and treatment has come forth. Often the biggest help and understanding comes from those who really know. Until this disease can be cured, let's all keep sharing our our situations and good advice.
Best Wishes,
Smilenhappy
I was diagnosed with this gasrto thing and yes I had the egg test I don't think either that an endoscopy would find that problem. Its a horrible sickness to have I have lost 40 lbs so far in a few months. I get this horrible pain in the middle of my stomach just whenever and it hurts ! And I get really bad stomach aches oh man its bad !!! Since I can't eat much I can't have a bm very often ... well maybe once in 2 wks . I usually eat a yoplait yogurt for dinner that doesn't bother me thank god cuz everything else does sometime even water . Anyone else have the same symptoms ?
Did you have the egg test? That seems to be the gold standard of diagnosing GP. GP can be very debilitating, but just because you are not losing weight, doesn't mean that you don't have it. They have to check your stomach emptying times, and they do that with a radioactive egg. First, eggs make me sick to begin with, so you can imagine how I fared on the test. After 90 minutes, I STILL hadn't emptied out that darn egg, and I just wanted to vomit. The doctor gave me antibiotics to take daily, and some other medication, but honestly, neither one ever helped me, and I just deal with the problem. sometimes just understanding what is wrong with you, is enough to handle the illness. Also, it can be VERY painful, and I do know several people who have to take pain meds just to deal with the pain. You might want to ask your gastro about that.
Since I am in chronic pain already, I already have to take pain meds, and perhaps that is why I can handle the condition easier. I don't know. I will ask someone on the site for you who is an expert at GP. She might have a better answer for you.
Best of luck to you!!
I did not have the egg test. I just had an endoscopy and that is what the Dr. told me I had when he was done. I also had a polyp on my stomach. I am due to have a colonoscopy on the 27th of this month. I will ask him about the egg test then! Thanks for your help:)
I would question your doctor. There is no other way to diagnose GP without the egg test. It is a nuclear test that follows how fast you digest an egg that was filled with something nuclear. It times how fast your body moves it out of your stomach. You can't have an endoscopy or a colonoscopy and diagnose this. It seems that maybe your doctor has missed something important that is causing you all this pain. Best of luck to you!!!
Sorry to be so blunt, but doctors have to graduate at the bottom of their classes too, if you understand what I am saying.
Ive been very sick for over a month with nausea. Plus excessive weight gain swollen stomach severe acid reflux starving feelings and very low vitamin D levels I go for my stomach empty test next week I have no diabetes but i do have Multiple Sclerosis wich would damage my vulgus nerve I already am most definitely possitive i have it
You definitely need the stomach emptying test. That’s the most accurate test for gastroparesis. I’m taking domperidone which has made a tremendous difference. I’m in a controlled study at MDAnderson which is how I can obtain the drug. You can be helped. Go for another opinion.
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gastroparesis, pain, nausea/vomiting, back pain
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