In healthy people, when the stomach is functioning normally, contractions of the stomach help to crush ingested food and then propel the pulverized food into the small intestine where further digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs.

Symptoms

Symptoms include fullness after meals, pain, nausea, vomiting, weight loss, belching and bloating. Certain foods like fatty foods, or carbonation may cause symptoms. The feeling of fullness after starting a meal is very common. Weight loss may also occur.

Causes

Diabetes is one of the more common causes. Gastroparesis may also occur after stomach surgery. Other causes include bacterial and viral infections. Narcotics, antidepressants and other medications which delay stomach emptying may also cause gastroparesis. There are a group of patients with gastroparesis where there is no obvious cause.

Treatment

Importance of Nutrition as Treatment in Gastroparesis

The initial treatment in patients with gastroparesis is to create a diet that will improve the symptoms. Your physician may recommend eating frequent small meals and to avoid fatty, spicy, acidy and high fiber foods. Your physician may also recommend soups or more liquid containing meals.

In addition, we always want to make sure our patients are well hydrated.

Those patients with diabetes should have good control of their sugars.

Medicines that delay stomach emptying should be avoided if possible.

An endoscopy is a test that is performed after giving intravenous sedation. A small tube is inserted in the stomach where the surgery occurs.

Patients should ask if their stomach is emptying correctly, what medications are available, and what treatments suit their nutritional needs. Seek medical attention for significant weight loss or dehydration.

Important Reminder: This information is intended only to provide general guidance. It does not provide definitive medical advice. It is very important that you consult your doctor about your specific condition.

Gastroparesis | ACG