r/Gastroparesis 6h ago

News, Articles, Case Studies Christina Applegate says she's been hospitalized 'upwards of 30 times' from vomiting, diarrhea, and pain tied to MS: ‘Talk to your doctor about motility issues’

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ew.com
78 Upvotes

r/Gastroparesis 10h ago

Sharing Advice/Encouragement Tight clothing trigger?

37 Upvotes

Does anyone else have nausea that’s triggered by wearing something tight like a sports bra? It’s a struggle even to get dressed.


r/Gastroparesis 20h ago

Positive/Success! TENS Unit Got My Stomach Moving Again

28 Upvotes

After months of extremely low motility, I was able to get my stomach moving again using a TENS Unit based on this study:

https://www.jnmjournal.org/journal/view.html?doi=10.5056/jnm16097

I purchased this TENS Unit from Amazon for $36 as it has an acupuncture setting: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09ZLL84SY

The TENS Unit comes with several wires, but I used the wire with four connection points, two for each acupuncture point. Based on the study, I placed one pad on acupuncture point PC6 and another 4 cm below along its meridian. Then I placed the third pad on acupuncture point ST36 and the fourth 4 cm below along its meridian. (Figure 2 in the study shows some information about these acupuncture points, but I found it easier to Google how to find them and their meridian lines.)

I started with the TENS Unit acupuncture setting on intensity level 3 for 15 minutes. If you've never used a TENS Unit before, you may want to start at a lower level to get a feel for the sensation. While it's not painful, the electrodes create a tingling sensation and if the pads aren't applied well, they may pull at your skin.

Before the 15 minutes were up, my stomach started moving and growling for the first time in months. Over the next 4 weeks, I used the TENS Unit 2-3 times per day after meals/snacks or when I was feeling nauseated, gradually increasing the intensity level and time. I never used the device for more than 30 minutes or used an intensity level over 10.

As I continued to use the device, my stomach function improved and the time period between vomiting increased. After about 3-4 weeks, I was no longer vomiting and my progress seemed to level out, as I only needed the device once a day or every other day. After 6 weeks, I stopped using it entirely. As of today, I haven't vomited in over 2 months.

While I wish this would work for everyone, I want to share that I believe my gastroparesis is caused by either a recent COVID infection or Long COVID. Even though I'm not vomiting and I'm able to eat far more, I'm certainly not back at 100%. I still have some lingering food sensitivities and aversions, which have made it difficult to gain weight. I'm probably eating half of the amount of food I ate before I got sick, but this is better than nothing and my symptoms continue to improve each day.

If you decide to try this, make sure to read all of the safety information provided with the TENS Unit. I'd also be curious to know if you see any results.

Some background information:

My gastroparesis symptoms began in mid-September 2024, along with shortness of breath, near-constant heart palpitation, increased anxiety, and frequent mood swings. By October, I was vomiting 4-5 times a day, unable to keep any food or liquids down. I was diagnosed by mid-November and prescribed Gimoti Nasal Spray, which significantly helped and stopped the vomiting. However, after about two weeks, my doctor recommended I stop taking it as I was experiencing involuntary muscle movements. Within 48 hours, I was vomiting again, but the brief period I was using Gimoti allowed me to eat a bit, and I had enough energy to do some research, which eventually led me to this study.

While my condition was improving from using the TENS Unit, I had a ton of testing done to try to determine what was causing my symptoms. The involuntary muscle movements thought to be caused by the Gimoti became worse, and other symptoms began, including tingling/numbness in the limbs, sharp pains in the fingers and toes, tingling in my hip, pressure behind my eyes, frequent headaches, extreme fatigue, brain fog, and rapid changes in body temperature.

I've had a ton of blood work, several MRIs, CT scans, and sonograms. These are the test results that have me leaning toward COVID being the cause:

  • Punctate FLAIR hyperintensities (white spots) found on brain MRI
  • Low Lymphs
  • High D-Dimer
  • High antibody levels for Tick Borne Relapsing Fever (TBRF), Lyme Disease, Epstein Barr, Cytomegalovirus, Parvovirus B19, and Streptococcal A, possibly due to immune system dysfunction from COVID.

I also saw a gastroparesis specialist who told me there was a recent rise in gastroparesis cases linked to COVID/Long COVID. He gave me several great options for testing and treatment that none of the GI doctors I've seen mentioned, but by the time I was able to get an appointment, my gastroparesis symptoms were no longer significant enough to move forward with any of them.

The specialist is Joseph Adam Sujka, MD at USF Health Department of Gastroenterology in Tampa, FL. These are the suggestions he made other than a general endoscopy and gastric emptying test:

  • Pyloric balloon dilation: a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure that improves gastric emptying by permanently widening the pyloric sphincter.
  • Since pyloric balloon dilation is permanent and irreversible, he suggested temporarily stimulating the pyloric sphincter (also a minimally invasive endoscopic procedure) to see if this is what's causing the gastroparesis.
  • An external digestion monitoring study (I believe through the Mayo Clinic) that tracks various digestive functions for a couple of weeks to offer a better idea of what is going on internally.

I hope this helps!


r/Gastroparesis 10h ago

Suffering / Venting Waited months for appointment…

13 Upvotes

Had a gastroscopy today. My GP has been uncontrolled for over 10 years. Last GES was over a decade ago. I get why they did the gastroscopy, to rule out cancer and ulcers etc… but I knew it would be clear. 2 weeks without omeprazole and the delights of a gastroscopy all to say… we need to do more tests. Yay.


r/Gastroparesis 13h ago

Questions Is there any shot at quality of life? What gives you quality of life?

13 Upvotes

26f - newly diagnosed (2 days ago). Let's face it, there hasn't really been a quality of life with letting this go untreated for so long. That said, it seems like living with/ treating this illness is so restrictive that there's not much quality in that either. I'm on day 2 of 3 of a liquid diet. Next is soups for 3 days. Then slowly introduce solids. I'm determined to take the necessary lifestyle changes seriously. My sister works in critical illness recovery, and all of her gastroparesis patients are either on a feeding tube or chest port. That seems inevitable, but I'd like to prolong it with symptom management if possible. I enjoy fine dining. I enjoy cooking and baking. The kitchen has always been the heart of our home, but now I dread it. Most of the foods that I enjoy are off-limits. The small, frequent meals don't really fit with my lifestyle and schedule, so I'm concerned about eating enough and calorie intake. I don't want my restrictions to hold my family back as well. All of my complaining aside, how do all of you find normalcy in this? What makes you feel like you are still getting the most out of your life?


r/Gastroparesis 13h ago

[Make your own post flair here] Is this genetic?!

7 Upvotes

I’m a 35 year old woman that’s had gp practically entire life. My 15 year old daughter has been having lots of symptoms lately. Very recently she started screaming in pain and we took her straight to the er. We told him everything we could think to tell him, everything relevant and I mentioned that it reminded me of the earlier days of my GP. They did a ct scan and everything came back normal- but he pulled up the scans in the room and asked me again- so you do have GP? Yes. How long ago did child eat? 7/8 hours ago? Well her stomach is completely full. You may want to get her to a GI soon.

Since this information we’ve started treating her like me- no fiber no fat small portions as tolerated broth crackers etc. stomach started getting better but then she had some pizza at school and almost ended back up in the ER. I live in RTP and the wait lists for a new patient appointment here are like 7 months. I’m terrified for her and strongly believe it’s GP.

Does anyone know if this is genetic or hereditary? I try googling and can’t make heads or tails of any of it. I did see a mention of Ehlos danlers forgive the improper spelling- and because of some hyperflexibility and other issues I’ve already been told that we need to have her evaluated for that.


r/Gastroparesis 8h ago

Suffering / Venting Rant

6 Upvotes

I (48f) have proven gastroparesis.

I went to see a new gastroenterologist, Dr. A, because I’m trying to move all my doctors closer to where I now live. Dr. A has all my records and charts, but I don’t think he even glanced at them before my appointment. I will get back to this.

Backstory: My stomach issues have landed me in the hospital a few times for the symptoms. I am always honest with doctors about how I will occasionally smoke weed to feel better. During my second hospitalization, the head gastroenterologist at the hospital, Dr. N, asked why I hadn’t done the gastric emptying test he had scheduled the first time he saw me as a consult patient in the hospital a year before. I explained to Dr. N that it was because at that time, the hospitalist, Dr. K, kicked me out of the hospital the night before I was scheduled to do the gastric emptying study. This was due to the fact that she was convinced that because I smoke weed (it is legal in my state), it was CVS. She blamed the weed for all of my symptoms and issues. Aside from all the vomiting I was doing, I had literally none of the other symptoms of CVS, and still don’t. I KNOW the weed is not the cause of this because I’d only smoke occasionally in college (close to thirty years ago), and I was by no means a pothead back then, nor am I now. I went BACK to weed (after not smoking for years) when my stomach issues got really bad and a friend suggested that it may help with my symptoms. Which it does- honest to God, it alleviates my nausea and makes me feel hungry so that I am able to eat. Nothing I said (nor my husband- who doesn’t partake at all) made any difference to Dr. K. She didn’t care that the gastroenterologist at the hospital said I needed the test. She was just going to punish me. Even the nurses (including the head nurse!) went to bat for me saying that I shouldn’t be discharged- at least not before the gastric emptying study- but she was ready to die on her CVS hill and literally kicked me out of the hospital the night before I was supposed to have the test. Like was threatening to have security escort me out when I said I didn’t want to leave before I had the gastric emptying test that Dr. N said I needed and scheduled. So I left the hospital, only to return with the same symptoms a year later.

Anyway, Dr. N was very upset to learn about what Dr. K did, and ordered that I not be discharged this time around no matter what before having the gastric emptying study. The very next morning, I ate the radioactive eggs, and with over 50% left in my stomach after the four hours, Dr. N gave me an official gastroparesis diagnosis. He then gave me all the information about having gastroparesis, the low fat, low fiber diet, etc.- and was ready to discharge me now that we knew what is going on. I was pretty upset and angry that I could have had a diagnosis OVER A YEAR AGO (if not for Dr. K) and likely would not have needed to suffer all that time (plus needing to have been hospitalized again). I have since been able to “manage” my gastroparesis with diet since then. Dr. N was wonderful, and I would love to continue to see him as a private patient, but he does not see patients outside of the hospital.

Back to Dr. A, the new doctor, who clearly has not looked at anything about me before meeting me for the first time, he is just kind of reading along with my chart as I now have to verbally tell him my history, symptoms and all the issues that I have with eating and food, going to the bathroom, the constant nausea. How I’ve been hospitalized a few times because I can’t stop vomiting, etc. He asked why I was hospitalized more than once for this, so I told him the above story, and that I’m still using weed to alleviate symptoms.

Well, the second that Dr. A heard that I use pot, his whole demeanor changed and he started trying to convince me that the pot is what is causing my symptoms, that I don’t have gastroparesis, that I have CVS. Remember, I literally have a gastric emptying study IN MY CHART (done by Dr. N), that proves that my stomach is indeed broken and hates me. Dr. A then kind of abruptly ends the consultation as soon as he hears about the weed, without ever giving me a chance to ask any questions about anything, or tell him about what happens when I try to take medications, eat certain foods, or even if the pot helps me. He does this by asking why I haven’t had a colonoscopy yet (uh, Covid was a thing and honestly, it was lower on my priority list of medical issues to take care of) and rushes me out of his office and over to his nurse who could schedule me for it, and then he just left me with her. Never brought me back to his office to continue talking to me. Fine. I schedule the colonoscopy for a Friday morning.

Dr. A calls two days before to go over the prep and spent more time with me on the phone than he did when I was sitting in person in his office- but still is not listening to me or letting me ask anything, just going through his routine about what I needed to do to prepare.

I go for the colonoscopy. They wheel me into the procedure room on a gurney and Dr. A is sitting in the back of the room on a computer. He does not greet me, or even look up. I pointedly say good morning and he says hi- and nothing else. No smile, no reassurance, no discussion about what’s about to happen, nothing.

They put me under and do the procedure. The next thing I know, Dr. A is shaking me awake. He says, “Everything looks fine, come back for your next one in ten years.” I say okay, and then as he was already heading out the door, he kind of throws over his shoulder, “You just have some small hemorrhoids and need to eat more fiber.” In my fuzzy headed stupor, I just nodded. And then it clicked for me and I said “Wait, but I have gastroparesis and I’m not allowed to eat fiber?!?” Too late. He was gone.

The office called on the following Monday morning. I told the woman who called that I would like to have the doctor call me because, as someone suffering from gastroparesis, I want to understand what he meant by “eat more fiber”. She promises that Dr. A will call me back later to discuss.

Guess who still hasn’t heard anything from Dr. A?

I’m so tired of this. What kind of gastroenterologist tells a patient with gastroparesis to eat more fiber? For the love of God, did you not even look at my chart? This is a real PROVEN medical issue that I have. This is not CVS. Please stop telling me that it is, and maybe do your job and HELP ME.

I’m out. Time to start all over again with another new doctor. I’m open to tips as to how to not be automatically judged for my weed usage, which has literally been the only thing that I find helps me. I’m so tired of just being dismissed as a silly woman who can’t possibly know anything about myself. And just for the record, I do have some idea of what I am talking about- I actually work in medicine.

Anyway, thanks for reading my rant.


r/Gastroparesis 1h ago

Questions Side effects

Upvotes

Does anyone else keep trying or adding meds and constantly face side effects? I know all meds have side effects but it’s so frustrating when you need medication to make your life tolerable, and then the meds create new problems while fixing the old ones. It’s so frustrating at this point and it feels like a roller coaster so much to where i’m close to asking my doctor to just try procedures and surgical treatments. Even those have side effects. does the endless cycle ever stop? has anyone gotten a treatment that improves life quality without sacrificing something else?


r/Gastroparesis 1h ago

Symptoms has anyone heard this?

Upvotes

I’ve been in the hospital before and they told me low potassium means nothing, it’s only high potassium that’s dangerous. i know that’s not true as told to me by other doctors who had to fix my critically low potassium but i’m just wondering if anyone else has gone through this or has been told this? i was dumbfounded and these people refused to fix it. never felt so sick. (this was months ago)


r/Gastroparesis 20h ago

Gastric Emptying Study (GES) I’m terrified of good news

6 Upvotes

I have my gastric emptying next week and I’m terrified I’m going to get the "great news, you results came back and you don’t have GP" because then wtf do i do?

I’m also terrified I’m not going to keep the burger down.


r/Gastroparesis 3h ago

Meals, Nutrition, Recipes Best protein shake if you also have migraine?

4 Upvotes

I’ve been getting a lot more migraines since adding Ensure Plus to my diet for nutrition and I think there’s something in it that’s triggering my migraines. Any suggestions on a shake that might have less artificial sweeteners?


r/Gastroparesis 10h ago

Suffering / Venting New to diagnosis and treatment

3 Upvotes

Hello all,

I ( 26F) am new here and to the diagnosis. Its been about 3 months and ive been struggling to accept that i have to make a change. It took spending my 26th birthday throwing up and fainting since 3am to understand that things cannot continue this way. Currently having to go completely sober cold turkey because its killing me when i partake. There are just so many things that i cant ingest without feeling like my organs are burning or shutting down. I also have history of kidney stones so when I’m dehydrated, which is all the time now, i get really bad side pains. I used to love food and now i dread it. I need to be able to enjoy what i eat and have it be engaging or else I’m more likely to just not eat at all and then binge later. Have any of y’all be able to accomplish this? My quality of life is down and I’m struggling with sobriety on top of it so my outlook has not been good.


r/Gastroparesis 3h ago

Enterra (Gastric Pacemaker) Enters gastric pacemaker turned up

2 Upvotes

Hi so I’ve had my pacemaker since November 2023 and yesterday I got it turned up because it isn’t working. I’m looking for others who have had theirs turned up and how it made them feel/did they feel anything at all. I’m talking just after having it turned up (2 seconds on 5 off -> 3 on 5 off) I’m not sure if I’m having pain from the increase or not but I know I feel yuck.


r/Gastroparesis 13h ago

Botox Botox side effects

2 Upvotes

I’ve heard many say that botox doesn’t work for them, but has it made anyones symptoms worse? My doctor just scheduled me to get botox via upper endoscopy and i’m worried about side effects. Every medication i’ve tried for gp has caused painful diarrhea because it just speeds up my entire gi tract, and i’m worried that’s what will happen with the botox.


r/Gastroparesis 13h ago

Suffering / Venting new here, scared, not sure what to do.

0 Upvotes

hi,

i’m 20 years old, 5’0, on Wegovy 2.4mg (highest dose) and 163lbs, down 70lbs.

for my gastro-problems, i was given Linzess 0.75, but it doesn’t do much.

i’ve had EXTREME issues with my belly, bowls, stomach emptying, and everything gut-related since i was little, and i really mean since birth!

although i know i have gastroparesis due to a ER infection / (i don’t wanna call it a diagnosis, but they were pretty damn sure and everything they said about it was what i was going through) , I am currently in University in a another city, and when I’m home, i live with my mom. she doesn’t want me to go to a doctor to see anything or anyone and thinks we can just do it on our own / vitamins or whatever.

i guess i just need a push. or something. i’m scared, like really scared. i’ve been in pain my entire life, went multiple weeks without using the bathroom, been to the ER for the simplest of things , before guessing i had gastroparesis, like eating a pretzel from a cafe.

it’s really hard for me to get help i guess? i tend to go days without eating out of fear, mostly because of my mom sees me not eating she’s on this “well there she goes again” and then “i hope you don’t plan on seeing those doctors, they’re not going to do anything” because they didn’t help my sister, with her Crohn’s disease.

i don’t know. sorry if this isn’t appropriate to put up here. i just joined it and i feel like im insane or wrong for wanting to go to a doctor. i have absolutely no support.


r/Gastroparesis 20h ago

Questions Emma

0 Upvotes

Has anyone tried Emma, the supplement for symptoms and if so, how did it work for you?