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I've was just told I have gastroparesis



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What's that? Where you fart a lot or something?

I wish it was that simple, its where your stomach cannot process the food and you end up throwing everything up, its way different than being stuck.

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Gastroparesis is basically paralysis of the stomach. food just sits there, causing pain, nausea and vomiting. It can come on after a viral infection, upper abdominal surgery. Often, the cause is unknown. Surgery, such as WLS or gallbladder surgery is often cited as a cause due to damage to the vagus nerve during those procedures. It is standard of care to protect the vagus nerve when doing surgery, but sometimes in isolating it and "protecting" it, it is injured.

I have mild gastroparesis and achalasia (esophageal disease). Both are uncomfortable and require lots of lifestyle changes, including eating a low Fiber, low residue diet (complete opposite of the Lapband diet). I find that green tea with essential peppermint oil, about 10 drops, helps with the spasms that can occur with these disorders.

I hope you find some relief soon. Best of luck to you.

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Bummer' date=' what are they doing for you on that?[/quote']

I'm seeing a specialist, a doctor who has pioneered many surgical techniques involving the upper GI tract, this coming Thursday. My regular GI doctor is concerned that more surgery could = more nerve damage. He, along with my PCP and a good friend who is a doc, recommended this doctor. He and his associates also do bariatric surgery, since achalasia sometimes is treated with a modified rny procedure. My band has to come out, but I want the best available medical care to ensure the best possible outcome.

The last year has been such a learning curve...never dreamed I could be dealing with such a difficult situation.

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I'm seeing a specialist' date=' a doctor who has pioneered many surgical techniques involving the upper GI tract, this coming Thursday. My regular GI doctor is concerned that more surgery could = more nerve damage. He, along with my PCP and a good friend who is a doc, recommended this doctor. He and his associates also do bariatric surgery, since achalasia sometimes is treated with a modified rny procedure. My band has to come out, but I want the best available medical care to ensure the best possible outcome.

The last year has been such a learning curve...never dreamed I could be dealing with such a difficult situation.[/quote']

Did this happen right after your surgery or later?

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Gastroparesis is basically paralysis of the stomach. food just sits there, causing pain, nausea and vomiting. It can come on after a viral infection, upper abdominal surgery. Often, the cause is unknown. Surgery, such as WLS or gallbladder surgery is often cited as a cause due to damage to the vagus nerve during those procedures. It is standard of care to protect the vagus nerve when doing surgery, but sometimes in isolating it and "protecting" it, it is injured.

I have mild gastroparesis and achalasia (esophageal disease). Both are uncomfortable and require lots of lifestyle changes, including eating a low Fiber, low residue diet (complete opposite of the Lapband diet). I find that green tea with essential peppermint oil, about 10 drops, helps with the spasms that can occur with these disorders.

I hope you find some relief soon. Best of luck to you.

thank you so much, appreciate the good information. Will start looking into that right now.

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Did this happen right after your surgery or later?

The symptoms of GI problems started about 15 months after. The pain presented like cardiac problems at first, but after my gallbladder removal, they dramatically increased. The achalasia came after my unfill last June.

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