DEAR DR. GOTT: I have been unable to find any information on gastroparesis. My wife suffers with this ailment. Is there nothing that will help her?
DEAR READER: Gastroparesis is a condition in which the stomach fails to empty normally. In a healthy individual, muscular contractions propel food through the digestive tract. In the case of an individual with gastroparesis, those muscles work inefficiently or not at all and the stomach is unable to empty properly. This results in an inability to digest foods properly, causes difficulties with blood sugar levels and nutrition in general, and causes both nausea and vomiting. Other symptoms might include heartburn, reflux, bloating, weight loss, and a feeling of fullness following even a few bites of food.
Testing by a physician might include an upper GI series, an esophagogastroduodenoscopy (otherwise known as an EGD), or a gastric emptying study which measures the emptying of food from the stomach. The latter is the most common method for diagnosis of your wife’s condition.
Treatment initially begins with identifying and treating the underlying cause. In addition, diet changes may be beneficial and include eating more frequent, smaller meals, consuming low-fiber, low-fat foods, increasing water intake during meals, and gently exercise after meals. If liquids are easier, consider soups, well cooked, soft vegetables, and pureed foods. Medications to control nausea and vomiting and/or stimulate the stomach muscles may be recommended. In severe cases, a feeding tube may need to be placed in the small intestine. This is a temporary situation; however. If these steps fail, surgery to bypass the stomach or staple the lower proportion of it may be considered.
With this diagnosis, less is better — less food, that is. The stomach empties faster when there is less food to contend with. Therefore, smaller, more frequent meals are recommended. Soft foods will pass through the system easier, while fatty foods will cause the release of hormones that slow the emptying process of the stomach. Therefore, your wife should consume low-fat meals, avoid fibrous fruits and vegetables such as oranges and broccoli, and drink water with meals. Mild exercise such as walking around the block is also recommended.
Readers who would like related information can order my Health Reports “Irritable Bowel Syndrome“, and “Hiatal Hernia, Acid Reflux & Indigestion” by sending a self-addressed, stamped number 10 envelope and $2 US for each report ordered to Dr. Peter Gott, PO Box 433, Lakeville, CT 06039. Be sure to mention the title when writing or print out an order form from my website www.AskDrGottMD.com.
