Digestive Health Series - Part 3

Gastroparesis:

A growing number of teenage girls and women in their 20s complain about Gastroparesis. It is a mysterious stomach disorder in which the stomach cannot empty normally due to the partial paralysis of the stomach.

"When the stomach doesn’t do its job of grinding up food, you don't get nutrition out of it, and if food sits there too long, it typically comes back up through vomiting, explains " Gastroenterologist, Michael Cline, DO, of Cleveland Clinic’s Gastroparesis Clinic.

Symptoms: The most common symptoms of Gastroparesis are nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, feeling full, bloating. However, Dr. Cline says, one main problem in properly diagnosing gastroparesis is that an EGG (electrogastrogram) test alone isn’t enough to confirm it.

Diagnosis: Doctors use several tests to help diagnose gastroparesis and rule out conditions that may cause similar symptoms. Tests may include: Gastric emptying study, Upper gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopy, ultrasound, or a smart pill.

Swallowing a smart pill (not medicated) a painless diagnostic tool helps your doctor to pinpoint the cause of your problem from the data gathered by the smart pill, as it moves through your GI tract. The SmartPill can also help a physician rule out other gastric issues that can cause problems in your small intestine or colon.

Treatment: Treating gastroparesis begins with identifying and treating the underlying condition. Dietary changes are the first step in managing this condition. A dietitian might advice you to eat smaller meals more frequently, chew food thoroughly, eat well-cooked fruits and vegetables rather than raw fruits and vegetables et al.

The treatment may also include medication to stimulate the stomach muscles and to control nausea and vomiting. Surgical treatment may be advised for some people with gastroparesis who are unable to tolerate any type of food or liquids.

Talk to your gastroenterologist and follow his/her advice accordingly.