Gastroparesis A.K.A. Delayed Gastric Emptying...

[Queen In Me 36]

Hey you guys...I hope someone has been or is currently in my situation and can shead some light on my current situation. My surgeon is sending me to do a Gastric Emptying Study to see if I have Gastroparesis or better known as Delayed Gastic Emptying? Now with that being said, he is not canceling my surgery that is suppose to be 1/3/13 but he said that most people who struggle with Gastroparesis do better with the Gastric Bypass (which I do not want). I would like to know if anyone has Delayed Gastric Emptying and has been sleeved and how are you doing with your sleeve? For those who havent been sleeved yet, is your surgeon ok with sleeving you knowing you have Gastroparesis? Has anyone surgery been delayed because of your Gastroparesis?

[iggychic 1,405]

I don't have the syndrome but my son does. In a conversation with my surgeon his issues came up and my surgeon said that I was lucky I didn't have that issue because if I did they wouldn't do a sleeve. I found that interesting thinking that the sleeve wouldn't have an effect and asked why. He explained that initially you would find the swelling combined with the syndrome would make it nearly impossible to get more than a bite down and that this feeling would likely continue for months if not forever because you already have restriction.

I don't know what it feels like on a normal day for you, but for my son, when he's full up, one tiny sip or bite more means it all comes back up in spades. The sleeve kind of does that for you as well. Combined might be too much. That said, I don't understand why a bypass is better, but then maybe it bypasses your syndrome issues so that they become a nonissue?

[Queen In Me 36]

I haven't the slightest why the doc said that gastroparesis would work better with the Gastric because more people throw up more often with the Gastric bypass. My doctor said he don't really have any studies about this sydrome and the sleeve. But i'm sure he's going to do some digging. He also said that what we could do if I do have gastroparesis is try a sleeve and if for some reason my symptoms becomes worse that we would do an revision. I just hope my testing goes well and comes back negative...

[jennifer4444 34]

When I had my preop upper gi, they found slow emptying. Surprise to me since I had no symptoms like food getting stuck or anything like that. They did a study where they put a tube down my nose into my esophagus and stomach to check the muscle tone etc. I guess anything 60% or greater is within normal limits. I was right at 60. Doc preferred bypass over sleeve for this reason as well as some reflux (which was also found in this study despite very little symptoms). I was still ok for sleeve knowing there was a 50/50shot of needing a revision to bypass if things got worse. 8 weeks out now and knock on wood --no issues.

[Queen In Me 36]

Well that makes me feel a little better! I'm just nervous about my surgery getting delayed or even yet cancelled...ugh.

[iggychic 1,405]

That's interesting. I do find that many docs don''t know much about my son's syndrome so I have to say you have a good doc if he's admitted that and is studying the issue instead of guessing If it were me I'd like the idea of sleeve first and the full bypass worries me long term. I mean it's possible, but there are so many issues with it I didn't want to deal with nutrition wise so I can see your concern.

I'm sorry I wasn't much help. I have to admit that curiosity made me reply as I have never run into an adult who has this syndrome (my son is 7 and his is a condition of prematurity that is getting better with age). I will continue to read incase you get other answers (or any is better I guess) but I want to thank you for putting up with my curiosity I wish you the best whatever works for you and I hope that you find you just have a case of reflux verses the syndrome (the two are often confused). Good luck!

[jennifer4444 34]

I hear ya! The study was finished while I was on like day 4 of 2 week liquid preop. When they called with the results all I could think was am I having a steak or a shake for dinner! Hang in there and good luck! The doc did tell me that the bypass (not sure how or why)would cure it if I had a problem. I was just so set on the sleeve I figured it was worth the risk.

[Queen In Me 36]

@iggychic I appreciate you responding...I google the issues and found a few studies that are being done for people who have GP and are getting bariatric surgery rather its GB or VSG. If I read your last posting you said your son was born premature? If so, the funny thing is I was too...really got my wheels turning now...lol. And you was very help with your information.

@jennifer4444 I appreciate your information too...it gives me alot of hope.

I will keep you both posted with my testing and results

[iggychic 1,405]

How premie were you? The sexual organs are sort of the last to develop and right before that is the internal gastric system, from the neck to the umm bottom (inside stuff). It's there earlier but not refined enough to work on it's own until the end. My son was 7 weeks premie. Delayed gastric emptying is not uncommon among babies who are premature. Most grow out of it entirely but some don't ever see relief. Sadly it's not diagnosed and these babies are considered to be extra fussy or colic'y etc. It's a very badly diagnosed syndrome. My son's issues were studied closer because he was fail to thrive and vomited as well as had horrific diarrhea and malabsorption (hence my fear of bypass). We saw some pretty high level specialists for the diagnosis. I learned later how often it's missed and often discuss this with preemie mom's who have "difficult" babies. It's also confused with reflux rather often. You have to do the test to really get to the clue (which is easy by the way...much harder when you have an infant who refuses to eat the dye LOL). But knowing if it's one or the other is key to future feeding issues...and as an adult to issues you have with food (ie pain with many types, difficulty swallowing, feeling overly full or never full). It's a bizarre syndrome and challenging to those who deal with it. So I feel for you!

I can see that if they take the upper most portion of the feeding system out of wack (which happens with gastric bypass) it might actually cure you. It does make sense as the part that causes the delay is also what is worked on with bypass and not effected in sleeve. I'll be closely following your story. I hope it's a great one, whichever way they go!!

[Queen In Me 36]

I'm not sure how many weeks early I was, I was born in mid march, and wasn't suppose to come until mid may. So you could say I was probley about 7 weeks early. I've always had issues with my digestive system as a kid but believe it or not it has gotten better as an adult even though I do struggle with getting sick to my stomach on a weekly bases. I do have a good doctor because of all the people i've gone to about my stomach issues, he is the first to ever send me out for this type of test. So I do value his opinion, so if it does come back positive, I will start off with the sleeve and see what happens. My testing is first thing in the morning tomorrow, so i'm sure I will hear something back by next Thursday at the most.

[Queen In Me 36]

I got my results from my testing and I was told that everything came back normal (thank God). It doesn't explain my constant upset stomach or etc but hopefully it won't be much of an issue in the future!

[2013isit 19]

I hope you feel better soon! My 4-yr-old daughter has it. She was full term but was so fussy her first year that I'm not sure how I survived it. We too were told it was reflux, but she had the test last year and has full blown gastroparesis. I look back on her infancy and feel so guilty. I wish you all the best.

[iggychic 1,405]

Do you then maybe have reflux?? GERD is the term for long term reflux which causes those symptoms as well. The test of that is probably different for an adult than it was my baby so I can't help much there, but they do have testing to determine if you have it. The thing is, it can cause long term damage, which can lead to cancer so it's important to get it under control. That can be done during the surgery actually if they find a hernia in your esophagus (which happens a lot with these surgeries). Talk to your doc about it. One thing you'll definitely want is a prescription for prevacid after this surgery. Either way you can have issues and my docs both handed it out to all patients for the first 90 days. I needed it for three months and have just discontinued it, but it might be a god send for you.

[Dobeigh 69]

My husband gets a constant upset stomach if he eats Tomato products. It is too acidic. Are you allergic to anything?

[Queen In Me 36]

As far as I know, I don't have food allergies but that is a thought too...