Gastroparesis

Our Approach

• Changes to your diet
• Drinking more water with meals
• Taking medication to stimulate the stomach muscle or control nausea and vomiting

In serious cases, your doctor may recommend a feeding tube to treat gastroparesis.

How is gastroparesis diagnosed?

Your doctor can diagnose gastroparesis with an exam and tests such as:

• Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: This procedure uses a small camera on the end of a long, flexible tube to look at your esophagus, stomach and small intestine. Learn more about endoscopy.
• Imaging scans: CT scan, MRI and X-rays taken after you have a chalky drink may show blockage in the stomach or intestines.
• Gastric-emptying study: This test helps doctors watch how quickly a small meal moves through the stomach.

Other tests may be needed to measure the strength of stomach contractions or the action of stomach nerves.

What is gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis (also known as delayed gastric emptying) happens when nerves in the stomach are damaged or stop working. When the nerves aren't working normally, the normal movement of stomach muscles slows down. This process slows or stops the movement of food through the stomach.

Gastroparesis can interrupt normal digestion. Flare-ups can make it difficult to work or function. It can also cause:

• Changes in blood sugar levels
• Dehydration
• Hardening of undigested food in your stomach
• Malnutrition
• Nausea
• Vomiting

What causes gastroparesis?

Gastroparesis often occurs in people who have type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Some people develop gastroparesis after surgery. Young and middle-aged women are also more likely to develop gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis can also be caused by:

• Anorexia nervosa
• Certain medications, such as narcotics
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Hypothyroidism
• Parkinson's disease
• Radiation treatments

Gastroparesis symptoms

Signs of gastroparesis include:

• Abdominal bloating
• Abdominal pain
• Changes in blood sugar levels
• Heartburn
• Feeling full after eating only a few bites
• Nausea
• No appetite
• Twitching of the stomach wall
• Reflux
• Vomiting undigested food
• Weight loss