Slow stomach emptying is a condition called gastroparesis - I have learned about this only yesterday, and I thought I should share it with other people. You might be thinking I am the kind of person who gets paranoid when hear too much about illnesses or diseases, and I have to tell you I am just curious to know MORE so I can not only help myself when I am in trouble but also help others who might be at a crossroad as well.
I think doctors knowledge is limited by their academic background, I don´t generalize, but I´ve been to many doctors who seemed to be "experiencing" new drugs or treatments on me - they really didn´t know how to treat that problem or condition.
And also, I lived long enough to realize I CAN and I AM successful being proactive and therapeutic with my own health issues without the need of a medic or nurse who have never seen me before or known my body as well as I do.
Now, back to gastroparesis. It´s a condition that is caused by nerve damage, particularly the vagus nerve (the one controlling smooth muscle activity). If you are not familiar with smooth muscle function, I´ll tell you it´s the kind of muscle groups in your body in charge of involuntary movements (heartbeat, gastric/bowel movements, blood flow and so on.
Your stomach needs contractions in order to move the food you eat through the gastrointestinal tract and promote digestion. When this process is compromised by gastroparesis, you have a feeling of early satiety, meaning you "feel so full" right after a few bites. And if you are like me, you will even feel it´s hard to breathe.
Some causes of gastroparesis include:
- surgery on the stomach or vagus nerve
- viral infections
- anorexia nervosa or bulimia
- medications—anticholinergics and narcotics—that slow contractions in the intestine
- gastroesophageal reflux disease
- smooth muscle disorders, such as amyloidosis and scleroderma
- nervous system diseases, including abdominal migraine and Parkinson's disease
- metabolic disorders, including hypothyroidism
And some causes remain UNKNOWN, (idiopathic gastroparesis) and cannot be found even after medical tests.
Surprised? Me too. And with the modern trend of eating healthy, lots of fiber, vegetables, fruit... Guess what - if you are experiencing gastroparesis, that would make you feel worse. That´s why I like information. That´s what I like to be curious.
It´s so frustrating when you go from doctor to doctor, take all the kinds of medicine you are prescribed - and still get stuck with same problem over and over again.
This is transcribed from Wikipedia on Gastroparesis:
What are the symptoms of gastroparesis?
Signs and symptoms of gastroparesis are
- heartburn
- pain in the upper abdomen
- nausea
- vomiting of undigested food—sometimes several hours after a meal
- early feeling of fullness after only a few bites of food
- weight loss due to poor absorption of nutrients or low calorie intake
- abdominal bloating
- high and low blood glucose levels
- lack of appetite
- gastroesophageal reflux
- spasms in the stomach area
Eating solid foods, high-fiber foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, fatty foods, or drinks high in fat or carbonation may contribute to these symptoms.
The symptoms of gastroparesis may be mild or severe, depending on the person. Symptoms can happen frequently in some people and less often in others. Many people with gastroparesis experience a wide range of symptoms, and sometimes the disorder is difficult for the physician to diagnose.
There are ways to treat, but according to this information the condition is cronic (there is no cure). I don´t believe in "no cure", though - I have seen people with the deadliest types of cancer, and other severe conditions being cured. I believe Medicine is not the last word.
If you are interested in the subject you can "google" it for more or go to the link I used to type this blog:
Let´s get informed and healthier!
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