I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis 8 yrs ago. Recently I swallowed a "Smartpill," and I would like to find others, as for comparison transit times. It is my understanding that the transit time the pill is in the stomach should average between 2 and 4 hours. The transit time for my stomach was 71 hours. Are there others who have had this length of time, as my Dr. was pretty astonished at discovering how long it took before leaving my stomach. I have no length of time for my intestines due to the fact it was still in my intestines when I returned the receiver after wearing it for 6 days. I wasn't on painkillers, nor any medicine whatsoever for 10 days prior to the test.
I am extremely interested to discover if 71 hours is an insane amount of time, or do others with Gastroparesis have comparitable times as well.
Thank you for your replies,
Shelley
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Smartpill transit times
- By sgaw
- Posted July 17, 2009 at 6:10 pm · 16 replies
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Explore topics in this discussion:
Intestinal pseudo-obstruction Gastroparesis Hypotension Gastric pacemaker Probiotics Hepatitis Pelvic floor dysfunction Reglan Asthma Dehydration Arthritis Allergies Constipation Candidiasis Leukopenia Pain Pacemaker Diarrhea Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction
16 replies
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- By mphotographer
- Posted July 17, 2009 at 10:04 pm
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Oh Shelley....3 days sounds like a long time!! But...when I was diagnosed with GP, they said my digestion rate was 1%, but I don't know what that means as far as the # of hours it took for me to digest. It's interesting to me how different the diagnoses are with people on this site. Some get told the % rate, some get told the actual hours/days it takes for you to digest your food, etc. It's all very confusing to me. And then someone else posted that your digestion rate is different every day, so when do you decide to get retested to see if you are getting better? My GI and DO wanted me to get tested again this year, but I decided to wait as my symptoms are the same (flare up when I try to eat more solid foods) and I didn't want to spend the $ right now.
You ask a good question and I hope others post responses to your question. Do you have a lot of symptoms? Nausea/vomiting? What are you able to eat? Welcome to this site. This is a wonderful group of people.
Mphotographer
- By sgaw
- Posted July 18, 2009 at 3:21 am
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Mphotographer,
I would like to begin with acknowledging that from what I have seen, this indeed has a wonderful group of people who seem so willing to help, so to all of you, "Thank you!"
On Tuesday I have an appointment with my motility Dr. and I plan on asking him about the percentage rate, perhaps that will better help me, in my endeavor. I am interested if the percentage rate you were given was for the 2 and 4 hour radioactive egg eating test, (I forget the actual name of the test, sorry) or the smartpill? I just recently took both the radioactive egg eating and the smartpill test, so I doubt my insurance will allow me to be re-tested anytime soon.
I can tell you that I definitely have days that I have no problem with digestion, (with a little help from Reglan,) and days upon days of little to no digestion. I feel blessed that I don't suffer daily from Gparesis, sometimes even a few months will go by before I am hit with the madness.
Prior to my J/G tube, which was just placed, there wasn't so much nausea, as there was vomiting. It doesn't matter, once I start, there is no end in sight, until dehydration sets in and I get hospitalized.
Constipation is another problem, 2 months ago, after just being discharged from the hospital, my home health nurse found out that it had been 12 days since I had gone, and she phoned my Internal Medicine Dr. and he wanted to see me the next day. Due to a busy schedule, he was not able to get me an appointment, so HOLD ON to your hat, prior to seeing any patients the next morning, he actually did a "house call," and in doing so, discovered I had absolutely no movement, or sounds in my intestines. He was able to admit me by phone, and away I went. They gave me any and everything known to the medical world to resolve the constipation, and it was to no avail until 3 days later.
I also get huge black circles under my eyes, and get so lethargic it takes everything I've got just to get out of bed.
When feeling good, I could probably eat just about anything, but out of FEAR I try to eat several small meals a day, that are of nutritional value. I found if I eat out at a restaurant, I suffer immediately from Montezuma's revenge.
Thank you so much for taking the time, and for showing enough interest to reply to my question, it was wonderful to see a response.
What are your symptoms, what are you able to eat, and how long have you had Gparesis? I also wanted to ask you if you have periods of what I have come to refer as "remissions," or do you suffer daily?
Thanks again, I appreciate your willingness to be of such great help, not only to myself, but for your many replies to others as well.
Regards,
Shelley
- By mphotographer
- Posted July 18, 2009 at 8:04 am
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Hi Shelley-
Thanks for your kind words. This group of amazing people have helped me more than my doctors have helped me as they have "been there, done that" and to me, that's where you get your best advice on things to try to make life easier when you are dealing with a motility disorder.
Of course, you need to follow your doctor's advice too, but...I am living a productive, happy life, living with GP and I owe most of the credit to this group. You all have helped me physically and emotionally so much. I throw in my "thank you so much" once again along with Shelley! My husband is amazed how supportive you all are and is thankful that I have a group of people that I can relate to. I wish we all weren't sick, but...it's what brought us together, so some good has come out of having these various problems.
I had the nuclear stomach emptying test done (ate the egg with radioactive material) to diagnose my GP. They thought the Smart Pill would get stuck in me also so my GI did not want to risk it. Please let us know what your doctor says about your % rate of digestion. I need to ask my GI how that correlates to the number of hours/days it takes for me to digest food.
I am so happy for you that you have days where your digestion works well. In general, I don't have many symptoms as I eat mainly a pureed diet, take daily probiotics and 2-3 digestive enzymes before every meal (about 10 a day). I still get nauseous now and then, bloated and an "icky gut", but sucking on ginger lozengers usually helps. I tried cutting back on the digestive enzymes just to see if things are changing as I have been doing so well and it didn't go well at all. My GI said that it's fine to take that many dig. enzymes over a long period so I will continue as they really help me feel better. I also take an occasional Gaviscon and that helps with the icky gut feeling.
I have had GP for over a year. Like a few other people on this site, I have never thrown up, but I have come close. My main symptoms are nausea, fullness and bloating at times and an icky gut. I don't think I have ever had a "remission". Every time I try to eat more solid food, I suffer with nausea, so....I pretty much stick to the same daily diet. I cook ground chicken breast or boil chicken breast for my meat: qunioa, couscous, millet or grits for my grain; kale, chard,spinach or carrots for my veggie (boil or steam for long periods of time). Then I puree the meat with one grain and veggie. I do a large amount at a time and then freeze my meals.
I am also able to eat a low-fat, low fiber cracker that gives me the crunch I crave. I can eat low-fat cheese sticks (one a day) and small amounts of fish (salmon or tuna). I can also eat a mashed banana in yogurt. It gets a bit boring at times, but I feel good, so I am never tempted to stray from my diet as I know how awful it will make me feel. The weirdest thing about GP for so many of us is that I could easily go all day without eating. That is so weird for most people! I eat 6 small meals a day and sometimes I have to remind myself to eat.
I am glad the J/G tube has decreased your vomiting. I feel so lucky that I have never vomited. It must be so awful. I hope that you are feeling much better with the tube. That's amazing that you actually got a house call from your doctor-that's great!! Have you found anything that helps keep you more regular? It sounds like you might also have Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. Has your doctor mentioned this, with your major constipation issue? Other people on this site have talked about this and how it affects the motility rate in the intestines.
Once again, welcome to the site. We are here for you. I have been posting a lot lately because I am not working (I work for the school district and am off for the summer), but soon I'll be back to work and won't have time to post as much. It's nice to have the time to chat with my gper friends!!
Take care Shelley and I hope today is a good tummy day for all-
Mphotographer
- By plushy
- Posted July 18, 2009 at 11:43 am
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Hi Shelley,
I have had GP for only a few months and it has been weird trying to understand it all. In the group i have read so many people who are worse off than i am and yet it feels to me as if i am just as bad.. I have never had the "Smart Pill" I had the emptying thing it took 290 minutes for 2tlbs of oatmeal to digest, and from then on i have had to eat all low fat foods, I have had some hard times as soon as i found out about GP i also have COPD. But it seems whenever i am really sick in my stomach the lungs are ok and it goes the other way around..Weird...
If it wasnt for this group i would not know what i could eat, what i could try to eat or anything about GP . The doctor gave me the test and called me at home told me what it was and said to take pills 4 times a day for pain and to eat low fat foods.. Thats it..I have not talked to him since.. Everything i know is due to everyone here.. Thank God i found this websit..
Even if you are ok with the stomach and you are just down everyone here helps and with no judgement.
Best wishes and let us know how it goes.
Marie
- By sgaw
- Posted July 18, 2009 at 12:15 pm
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Once again, thank you for your replies. I really don't believe I have pelvic floor dysfunction, as it is my understanding that obstructions are found, and I was told I had none.
What I am looking into is CIPO (Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction.) In researching CIPO, I have discovered the following:
CIPO is a neuromuscular dysfunction of the gastrointestinal tract that presents with nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal distention associated with disturbed GI motility. A puzzling attribute of the disease is the frequent occurrence of many extra-intestinal symptoms (non-GI related). While not often addressed in the literature, many CIP patients have reported incidences of Raynaud's phenomena, leukopenia, pain in the lower back or upper right quadrant, pulmonary distress, hepatitis, chronic fatigue, arthritis, headaches, recurrent septicemia, neurological deficits, parasthesias, dysesthesias, frequent candidiasis, and various autoimmune disorders. Disturbances of the autonomic nervous system function can produce orthostatic hypotension (faintness on rising); disturbances of vision, perspiration, and motility; and venous pooling. Extreme allergies are also reported.
What led me to investigate CIPO is because I have all but two of the aforementioned symptoms, Raynauds Syndrome and Arthritis. What really caught my eye was the "extreme allergies," as I am allergic to all antiobiotics that are available. I plan on bringing this information to my Drs. attention at my next appointment in two weeks. It appears that CIPO is a more defined form of Gastroparesis, and in my case, I believe it is something worth discussing with my Dr.
I did have the 4 hour "emptying test," and after the 4th hour, I had absolutely no movement in my stomach.
I am so sorry that your Dr. appears to be ignorant in Gastroparesis, and good for you for not going back to him, you deserve to be understood and listened to, not be given the brush off.
I could only wish I was as diligent as Mphotographer, when it comes to what I eat. My biggest problem is, (and as embarrassing as it is to admit,) I have never in my life eaten vegetables, other than potatoes, and have due to allegeries, very little fruit that I can eat, grapes are my only option. Vegetables have always made me gag and invaritably causing me to vomit as the end result. Chicken is my best bet in the meat department, and fish is out of the question.
By the way, if I am not in the hospital for my Gparesis, then I am in the I. C.U. for my asthma, and I too, seem to never have the two at once.
Thanks again,
Shelley
- By mphotographer
- Posted July 19, 2009 at 8:24 am
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Hi Shelley-
I am so sorry that you are so sick with a multitude of symptoms. I sure hope your doctor can finds ways to make you more comfortable. Please don't think I have this great will power as far as staying on my diet-I have tried over this last year, to eat more solid foods and every time I do, I suffer and I'd rather feel better. I did make a homemade cherry pie (yes, pitted all those cherries!) for my husband a month ago and had to have a bite. I did fine with just a bite, so....of course, if one bite is fine, a little more is better, right?? Yeah right :-)). So the next day I had a sliver (about 1/2" wide slice and suffered for the next 2 days. I won't do that again. I can eat cherries if I boil them and put them in my smoothies and that satisfies me. It's my favorite fruit!
Have you ever tried baby food veggies and fruits? You might like them better as they aren't so intense. I eat the spinach/potato kind made by Earth's Best as it's organic. It tastes good to me in puree, but I wouldn't rec. eating it out of the jar :-)).
Take care and please keep us posted as to what your doctor says.
Mphotographer
- By GPAllie
- Posted July 21, 2009 at 9:36 pm
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Last week I did the small camera endoscopy. The pill was out within 24 hours. Yes, I looked for it in my stool...what can I say, my son really wanted to see it. And, I've been eating so little that it wasn't too difficult to find the camera pill. I'm also kind of glad that I know it's out of me. And, just for fun, my husband posted a photo of the cam pill on the internet. My life is out there for the world to see. ;-)
- By sgaw
- Posted July 21, 2009 at 11:49 pm
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I so appreciate your response. Although the pill took 71 hours to leave my stomach, it took almost 3 weeks for it to clear my system, so lucky you 24 hrs, that would've been a dream for me.
Today I visited my motility Dr. and I was somewhat expecting for him to take out my J/G tube, but it was to no avail, as he said my Gastroparesis is too bad to do so. The good thing is, is that the next time I have an episode, he will be giving me the gastric pace maker. He wants to wait until then, because as he put it, "there is no sense in torturing you until then." Gee, that statement makes me scared to get the pace maker now!
Thanks again,
Shelley
- By Novagrad
- Posted July 22, 2009 at 6:05 pm
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Shelley:
That's great that you will be able to get the pacemaker next time. I know you don't want a "next time," but I'm sure you are realistic that this stuff doesn't just go away. Good luck and let us know if you get one!
Mimi
- By sgaw
- Posted July 22, 2009 at 10:14 pm
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Boy o' boy, wouldn't life be just GRAND, if there were even a remote possibility of not having a "next time?" After reading that quite a few people are continually suffering from it, I do feel quite lucky and count my blessings, as I only have about 3-4 times a year. Even if they last 2 months at a time, I still have days which I have no pain at all, and my heart and prayers go out to those who don't get "breaks" like I do.
Thanks,
Shelley
- By GPAllie
- Posted July 23, 2009 at 1:12 pm
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I feel fortunate that my time was only 24 hours. The reason is because I was misdiagnosed with GP about 6 weeks ago and then went to motility specialist and he told me I don't have GP. I still have unexplained abdominal pain (mostly upper, in area below my sternum, and not usually lower than my belly button). I've stayed visiting this website because everyone is so great and I still think we can help each other. My motility is off by 7% which is normal due to pain meds for severe migraines, but it's not GP. However, after the diagnosis of severe GP/severe illness, I was scared to death and tense and distraught. This was the place that I found some peace. So I keep coming back.
God bless everyone here. I love you all.
- By shamrockmom
- Posted July 25, 2009 at 8:41 pm
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I am a newbie to this site. I have had 3 complete bowel obstructions within the last 5 years. As a result I found out I have Gastroparesis and now Pseudo Obstruction. I have been unable to tolerate solid food since my last obstruction which was 7 months ago. I experience severe nausea/cramping/diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal distention. Doc says severe atrophy set in affecting the intestinal nerves being I have been unable to eat "real food". I have severe muscle loss due to drastic weight loss. I am also underweight due to the inability of being able to process solid foods. I have been living on protein shakes, applesauce and saltines. Can't tolerate anything else. I have tried so many drugs and none have helped other than Domperidone which is a motility drug from Canada. I just started Liprax, hope it works. I am looking for a new GI doc in the NY/Conn area if anyone knows of any. I looked into the Gastric Pacemaker but was told the success rate was only 70% which didn't appeal to me. I need the success rate to be higher.
- By GPAllie
- Posted July 27, 2009 at 2:19 pm
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Shamrockmom, there's a GI Motility Clinic in New Haven at Yale School of Medicine. I went there and my GP diagnosis was reversed. I've been pleased with the care. You can find a website...google the clinic. if you have trouble, let me know.
- By shamrockmom
- Posted July 30, 2009 at 1:21 pm
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I have had GP for 5 years now. Like others on this site, I have never thrown up, but I have come close. My main symptoms are nausea, fullness and bloating at a lot of the time and diarrhea/constipation. Every time I try to eat solid food, I suffer with severe nausea and bloating, so I pretty much stick to the same daily diet which is a liquid diet. Just found out from a new Motility Specialist that I am going to meet with; that he wants to do a Antro-Duodenal Motility Study which is considered a "surgical procedure". I researched it and feel the SmartPill may offer the same results. Has anyone had the Antro-Duodenal Motility Study? I am so grateful to all, for all the advise and support from everyone on
this site.
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