The first important fact you should know during gastroparesis awareness month is that there can be multiple causes for the symptoms connected to this uncomfortable digestive disorder. Discovering the underlying reason for the symptoms is the only way to diagnose gastroparesis properly and treat what is triggering the symptoms accordingly.
Know What Gastroparesis Is
Gastroparesis is a disorder in which proper digestion is impaired. Instead of the muscles in the stomach contracting normally to crush the food we eat and move that food into the small intestine for digestion, that process is impeded. If the food is not ground up into small enough pieces, the stomach does not fully empty.
In addition, when someone has gastroparesis their body is not able to absorb the nutrients it needs due to incomplete digestion.
Know The Symptoms Of Gastroparesis
Someone with gastroparesis has many tell-tale symptoms. They become satisfied and feel full almost immediately when they begin to eat. Other typical symptoms include:
- Bloating
- Nausea
- Regurgitation of undigested food even hours later
- Heartburn
- Epigastric pain (pain in the upper abdomen)
- Weight loss
Know The Possible Causes Of Gastroparesis
Diabetes is the most common known cause of gastroparesis. There are a number of causes that may trigger gastroparesis OR trigger the same symptoms.
One such cause involves damage to the vagus nerve which controls the stomach’s ability to contract and spontaneously propel food. If this nerve is damaged due to stomach surgery or from diabetes, it cannot send the normal signal to empty the stomach. Complications from diabetes and poor sugar control may make gastroparesis worse.
Certain medications like opioids, antidepressants, allergy and high blood pressure meds can slow down the process of digestion causing the same symptoms. If someone already has gastroparesis, these medications may make the symptoms even worse.
Hypothyroidism, inflammations, autoimmune diseases, eating disorders, cancer and even some neuromuscular conditions like MS and Parkinson’s Disease can also lead to gastroparesis.
Ulcers or other obstructions in the digestive tract can cause similar symptoms.
In many cases no cause is ever found for gastroparesis.
Know The Possible Complications Of Gastroparesis
There are some serious complications that can result from gastroparesis such as the following:
- Frequent vomiting can precipitate severe dehydration.
- The lack of proper nutrition and needed calories can lead to malnutrition.
- Frequent changes in the rate and amount of food passing into the bowels can cause inconsistent changes in blood sugar levels exacerbating diabetes.
- Food that is undigested in the stomach can harden into one solid mass called a bezoar. This mass can be life threatening if it prevents food from passing into the small intestine.
- Continued symptoms and flare ups can lead to a decreased quality of life.
Know How To Relieve The Symptoms Of Gastroparesis
It is possible to manage the symptoms of this disorder. First and foremost maintaining proper nutrition will help to treat the symptoms. Avoid fatty foods which are more difficult and take longer to digest and chew food thoroughly, especially fibrous vegetables and fruits. Cooking your foods until they are soft will assist in digestion. You can also add puddings and nutritious drinks into your diet.
Know Why You Have The Symptoms Of Gastroparesis
If you have any of the symptoms of gastroparesis, there are tests which can give you answers.
The only way to know for sure if someone has gastroparesis or is mirroring the symptoms due to another issue is to see Dr. Kolachalam for tests and a proper diagnosis. Contact us today to get your appointment scheduled, call us today at (248) 662-4272.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/symptoms-causes/syc-20355787
https://www.medicinenet.com/gastroparesis/article.htm
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/gastroparesis