Question 1

what is gastroparesis?

Accepted Answer

See below: Gastroparesis is a dysfunctional movement dysorder caused by diseases of the nerves and/or muscles of the GI tract.

Question 2

how common is gastroparesis?

Accepted Answer

See below:: Only one single study has assessed the prevalence of gastroparesis. Based on clinical records, about 30 per 100, 000 persons will have sought medical attention for gastroparesis with an increasing prevalence with age.
H.-k. Jung, r. S. Choung, g. R. Locke iii et al., “the incidence, prevalence, and outcomes of patients with gastroparesis in olmsted county, minnesota, from 1996 to 2006, ” gastroenter.

Question 3

how is gastroparesis treated?

Accepted Answer

Dietary first: Unfortunately there is no great treatment for gastroparesis, if there is an underlying cause, such as diabetes blood glucose control may help.  Best management options would be dietary changes. Medications are limited by poor efficacy and side effects (i.e. Reglan). Occasionally a gastric pacemaker can be placed, but this is a new technology so limited experience.

Question 4

can gastroparesis come and go?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Or patients with at least symptomatic gastroparesis may have periods of being asymptomatic and other times have symptoms.

Question 5

how can i treat gastroparesis?

Accepted Answer

Treat Gastroparesis: Gastroparesis means a slow-emptying stomach. Causes may be mechanical (obstruction, or the stomach outlet narrowed from healing of past inflammation, treated by endoscopic dilation), post-inflammatory (due to swelling of the stomach lining from ulcers, treated with acid blockers), or neurologic (as with diabetes, treated with rx that stimulates motility--domperidone, erythromycin, reglan, (metoclopramide) zelnorm).

Question 6

how is gastroparesis diagnosed?

Accepted Answer

Gastroparesis Dx: The 'gold standard' is a radiology study called a 'gastric emptying study'. That being said, certain conditions identified during upper endoscopy can be diagnostic. For example a large bezoar - a mass of undigested food (typically) is usually diagnostic.

Question 7

can you explain  gastroparesis?

Accepted Answer

Gastroparesis: Gastroparesis is a condition in which food does not progress down the GI tract. It remains undigested in the stomach where it can cause symptoms like gas, bloating, nausea, and reflux among others.

Gastroparesis can happen after surgery for a short period of time or this can be a chronic condition from having diabetes for a long time.

Question 8

how can i live with gastroparesis?

Accepted Answer

Small meals: small frequent meals, low in fat.
if you are diabetic, control you sugars.
medications are available to alleviate symptoms

Question 9

how to know if i have gastroparesis?

Accepted Answer

See a doctor: you will need testing, either an upper endoscopy or a radiology test, called gastric emptying study

Question 10

can gastroparesis go away on its own?

Accepted Answer

Typically not: Usually requires medical or surgical treatment. Many cases are due to effects of diabetes. Some are 'idiopathic.' in any event, it does not usually resolve spontaneously.

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