HI, I am fairly new at this gastroparesis game. I have only been diagnosed for about 6 months and at this point, I have idiopathic gp. Last month, I lost the urge to have a bowel movement. I feel light pressure but no urge. Then when I do go, it is very small. Is this constipation or is it something else? Is there anything I can do about it? Finally, does GP progress? At this point, I am lucky b/c I have the bloating and some nasea but I am not vomiting. I have acid reflux that is somewhat controlled. I can not take Reglan or Domperidone b/c of severe reactions to them. At this point, I am doing digestive enzymes only. I eat very small meals and supplement with Ensure. Is there anything else I can do to avoid getting worse? Thank you,
Lee Ann
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Gets Worse?
- By Lpp12
- Posted February 18, 2009 at 12:56 pm · 9 replies
- In Dealing with the fear
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
MiraLax Surgery Constipation Acid reflux Diabetes Gastroparesis Reglan
9 replies
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- By Kristin_F
- Posted February 18, 2009 at 8:39 pm
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GP is a confusing, and poorly understood disease. For some people it continues to progress and get worse, for others it stays the same, and for yet others the GP resolves itself over time. Unfortunatlly no 2 cases seem to be exactly the same. What foods effect me, may not effect you at all. Other medical problems you have that may be contributing to the GP are the only things I know of that you can control to maintain or improve function. For example poor blood sugar control in diabetes makes GP worse, as it is a cause for the problem to begin with. Otherwise from what I understand, you will either get worse, better, or stay the same it will be up to your body to decide.
As far as the bowel movements...does it feel like constipation? If not it could be as simple as you can only put out as much as you are putting in. If you only eat a little bit everyday, your bowel movements aren't going to be as large as they were before. There are some other medical possibilities, but there's a good chance if your food intake has dropped, so will your body's output. If you are concerned, or it becomes persistant or painful I would check with your GI Dr. It's always better to be safe then sorry.
Good Luck, and let us know if you have more ques. We don't always have the answers, but from what I've seen, I often get more info on here, then I do from my Drs.
- By NancyL
- Posted February 19, 2009 at 6:53 am
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Hi Lee Ann,
As Kristin said what happens to one of us doesn't happen to everyone. As far as getting better or worse, I get better sometimes and then I get worse again.
In my case I have no motility at all in my colon. My system works entirely on gravity. And because our colons are like a giant bowl of speggetti; it is not as simple as what goes in - just comes out. If I eat solids- especially fiber- I get blocked and stop going at all. I feel the pressure- but never have the urge to go. Sometimes terrible pressure for days. For my body to function, I have to stick to liquids and that doesn't mean purreed foods. And I need to use miralax andflax seed oil caps and dulcolax to keep everthing working. I have heard others here talk about pelvic retraining. Perhaps that is all you need. I hope that you can find a doctor to help you discover what will work for you. But as Kristin said -I got the most helpful information right here from trying what other people have found to work for them and listening to my body.
Nancy
- By Lpp12
- Posted February 19, 2009 at 9:48 am
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Hi Nancy,
Thanks so much for your reply. Is the only reason you stick to liquids because of the constipation/inability to go? Or do you have other issues that come with your gp such as naseua and vomiting. After I eat, I feel fine except I have terrible acid reflux. Then as the day goes on, I feel bloated until I finally go as the result of senna laxatives. Thanks again for your support
- By Lpp12
- Posted February 19, 2009 at 9:50 am
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Dear Kristin,
Thanks so much for your reply. I do feel so much better knowing that there is this resource that I can access. Other people's knowledge is so valuable. Thanks again.
Lee Ann
- By NancyL
- Posted February 19, 2009 at 10:24 am
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I had acid reflux before my surgery. as part of the surgery I had a nisson proceedure. The surgen flipped my stomach upside down and wrapped it around my esophagus. When the stomach fills it swells and cuts off the esophagus so no acid backs in the esophagus.
I rarely have nausea and accept constant painful vommiting immediately after the surgery for about 6 months, I have not vommited since.
I stick to liquids because fiber needs the constanty motility (movement) that is normal for a colon to work to pass. The peristalsis is a series of contractions that squeeze and move the fiber along. Without that movement- water may pass around that fiber but the fiber doesn't move forward. Some people here have the same type of issue with thier stomachs. When I was eating normally the fiber would block me up right passed my stomach and then food wouldn't leave my stomach for days. Think of how you felt years ago at Thanksgiving when you were totally stuffed from pigging out. Only after a few hours of your stomach being stretched it gets really sore and starts to hurt. Alot. That is what happens if I eat solids a couple of days in a row.
Nancy
- By Lpp12
- Posted February 19, 2009 at 11:07 am
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What kind of liquids do you ingest in order to get your nutritional needs? Do you supplement with vitamins? Thanks again for your knowledge and time.
- By busyteacher
- Posted February 19, 2009 at 5:37 pm
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If you are eating a mostly liquid or low-bulk diet, you will lose the urge to have bowel movements, since there's not much there to....move. When that happens, crackers and cheap carbs can help.
For some people it gets worse, for some it stays the same, and, especially those identified with a viral cause, it goes away.
I have gotten a ton of information here, too. I am new to the site--and needed to find some alternatives to eat/drink and maintain nutrition. Also, I have felt more "normal" dealing openly with other people about things you just don't normally talk about. Most doctors aren't helpful because they have so few patients with this. GI's disengage because they can't cure it.
But...the good news is that the people here are tremendously helpful and generous about sharing what they know.
- By Novagrad
- Posted February 19, 2009 at 7:17 pm
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Lee Ann:
If you have GP, it's important that you don't take a lot of fiber or consume a lot of fat. You also may have dysmotility throughout your system since you have it in your stomach. I have almost no colonic motility at all. I can't have a bowel movement unless I take a colon prep (I was taking phosphosoda before it was off the market). It takes two weeks at least for me to be uncomfortable from not having a bowel movement. That's when I take something.
GP can change frequently - sometimes it might not be bad while other times it might be quite bad. That's kind of the nature of the disease. Good luck in finding a resoution!
Mimi
- By Kristin_F
- Posted February 19, 2009 at 10:45 pm
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My GI Dr. had me drinking Boost before I had the feeding tube placed because it has a lot of nutrition. I was also taking prenatal vitamins for extra vitamins, but I was recently switched to a prescription iron pill, and alphabetic vitamins. I also mix whey protien powder with water. I couldn't drink enough of the Boost because of my diabetes to get the nutrition I needed, but until Oct. 08 I didn't show signs of malnutrition in my labwork. So that was 15 months after my GP was diagnosed, so the Boost and vitamins must have done some good.
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