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Hello! My name is Julie. I am preparing for a possible total gastrectomy. I have had gastroparesis since 2003- that's when my symptoms started. It took until 2005 to get a diagnosis. Then it took till 2007 to get a gastric pacemaker placed. It helped for awhile. I had constant nausea and vomitting from 2003 until I got the pacemaker. After the pacemaker I was better for awhile. Then, the pacemaker began to rub the nerves in my stomach and had to be moved. Then it quit helping with the nause so the dr turned it up to a higher setting. All the while I am still overweight. Then the battery died so it had to be changed. That was in August of 2016. It is no longer helping with the nausea, and it is again hurting me. The new dr (the other one retired) informed me we are out of options and thinks a total gastrectomy is my last option. I know it is a rough surgery. It will be a lifestyle change. I'm so ready to be done with this gastric pacemaker! With the pain it causes me daily. But I'm also scared! For the record he is the second dr to suggest it. So this decision is not one I'm taking lightly. I'm just looking for other people that have had it done, and some advice, some support - some of my friends aren't so supportive! Thanks!

Hi dear, no personal experience with what you are going through, but it sounds horrible. You seem to have given this decision a lot of thought and discussed it with more than one doctor before deciding that this is the right step for you. It is a very difficult decision and you are very brave to have decided on it. I wish you good health and a speedy recovery.

I have seen two other people on here that have needed total gastrectomies. The one either hadn't had it yet, or just got it. The other was a while ago, and he did really well.

A stomach cancer board will have more people with the experience too.

[Hugs] what a long road but hopefully things will be much better for you!

Thank you both for replying. I will see my dr Friday to mak our final decision!