Is That Discomfort an Ulcer, Heartburn, Or Gastroparesis?

Are you feeling fuller after eating than you used to, or are you often bloated? While these symptoms could mean a lot of things, they are some of the common signs of gastroparesis, a condition marked by partial paralysis of the stomach, which leads to difficulties emptying food in a normal way. This condition is rare, affecting only 10 men and 40 women out of 100,000, but it can become serious and can lead to other issues, such as anorexia or diabetes. Gastroparesis can sometimes be mistaken for an ulcer, heartburn, acid reflux, or an allergic reaction, so it is important to know what symptoms to look for; recognizing this rare condition and getting it diagnosed and treated can help avoid potentially deadly complications.

Gastroparesis Defined

illustration of a body with the intestines showing
Gastroparesis occurs when your stomach walls work poorly, or not at all, which will delay digestion.

Gastroparesis, also called gastric stasis, affects the muscles of the stomach and prevents normal gastric emptying. Normally, your stomach walls work to grind food into smaller pieces and then pushes those pieces to the small intestine to continue digestion, but in those with gastroparesis, the muscles of the stomach walls work poorly or not at all, and digestion gets delayed. In some cases, if the food takes too long to digest, it will form into a solid mass called a bezoar, which can lead to nausea, vomiting, or worse. 

Risk Factors/Causes

In most cases, doctors do not know what causes this rare condition; when it occurs without a known cause, it is referred to as idiopathic gastroparesis. Women are at higher risk of developing idiopathic gastroparesis: approximately 80% of cases are diagnosed in women. You are also more likely to develop gastroparesis if you:

  • Have diabetes- this is the most common known underlying cause of gastroparesis. Diabetes can damage nerves, including the vagus nerve and nerves that control the muscles of the stomach and small intestine.
  • Have had surgery on your stomach, small intestine, or esophagus, which damaged the vagus nerve.
  • Have had radiation therapy.
  • Are taking medications such as narcotics or antidepressants.
  • Have certain autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, a connective tissue disorder that affects the skin, blood vessels, and internal organs.
  • Have hypothyroidism.
  • Have had viral infections of your stomach.

Symptoms To Look For

illustration of a body with vomit coming out of the mouth.
Nausea and vomiting are signs of gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis is often confused with ulcers or heartburn because some of the symptoms are similar, including:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Bloating
  • Excess gas
  • Chronic stomach pain
  • Poor blood sugar control
  • Poor appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Feeling full soon after starting a meal
  • Feeling full long after finishing a meal
  • Heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux (backup of stomach contents into your esophagus)

Complications of Gastroparesis

Gastroparesis can lead to a number of other issues, including: magnifying glass over the stomach, showing bacteria.

  • Growth of bacteria due to fermentation of food in the stomach.
  • Bezoars, or solid masses that keep food from passing to the small intestine.
  • Dehydration due to constant vomiting.
  • Malnutrition due to poor absorption of nutrients.
  • Blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels that are harder to control.
  • Losing weight without trying, leading to anorexia.
  • Decrease in quality of life.

How Is Gastroparesis Diagnosed?

Doctors will diagnose gastroparesis based on your medical history, symptoms, and the results of a physical exam and medical tests – testing is necessary to rule out the common misdiagnosis of acid reflux, heartburn, or an ulcer. During your physical exam, your doctor will listen for “succession splash,” meaning they will gently shake you and then listen for the sounds of fluid in your body. They will also check for any stomach tenderness, pain, and signs of dehydration or malnutrition. 

Doctors can also request lab tests to help rule out any underlying conditions, such as inflammation, infection, and high or low blood glucose levels. They can also conduct a urine test to show signs of diabetes, dehydration, infection and kidney problems. Your doctor might run other tests, including:exam chair with a machine next to it

  • Endoscopy– An endoscope is put into your throat to check if there is an obstruction or blockage of the intestines.
  • Upper gastrointestinal barium contrast radiography– After swallowing a contract solution called barium, an x-ray is taken to see if there are any delays in the liquid emptying from your stomach.
  • Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy– The most commonly used test, in which you are given food that is labeled with a marker that can be seen by a scanner, allowing your doctor to follow the food as it travels through your intestines. 
  • Antroduodenal Manometry– This tests the muscles used to digest food. A catheter is inserted through your mouth and into the stomach, and is left there for 6 hours to measure muscular activity; after 6 hours you will eat a meal and your doctor will record the measurements of your gastric activity during digestion.
  • Wireless Motility Study– This evaluates the time it takes for your stomach to empty. With this test, you are given a pill that collects data as it travels through your gastrointestinal system. 

How Is It Treated?

Gastroparesis is a long-term condition, which means that treatment for this rare condition will not cure the disease, but can help manage it. There are ways to help control symptoms and manage the condition, including:

  • Controlling your blood sugar levels if you are diabetic.
  • Taking medications that can help strengthen muscle activity in the wall of your stomach.  
  • Changing your daily eating habits – for example, eating 6 small meals a day, so there is less food for your stomach to digest, avoiding foods that are high in fat and fiber, and focusing on ingesting liquids. For example, instead of eating an apple, opt for applesauce, which is easier to digest. 

If nausea and vomiting continue after treatments, surgery can be done, including:

  • Gastric electrical stimulation, in which a device that sends mild electric shocks to the stomach muscles is inserted into the abdomen to help control vomiting.
  • Gastric bypass, in which surgeons create a small pouch at the top part of the stomach to limit the amount of food you can eat. This type of surgery is most appropriate for obese diabetic patients. 

In extreme cases, your doctor might decide that a feeding tube is your best option to get a quick source of nutrients into your bloodstream.

When Should You See A Doctor?

You know yourself better than anyone, and if you are experiencing any of the above mentioned symptoms of dehydration, fatigue, bloating, or unexplained weight loss, you should seek help. Trust your gut! The sooner you seek help, the sooner you can manage the condition and improve your quality of life.

If you do need to seek help for a condition like gastroparesis, all of the lab tests, medications, and other diagnostic and treatment options can become pricey if you don’t have good health insurance coverage. Having the right plan is important, so come to EZ: one of our agents will compare plans in your area in minutes, get you more coverage, and save you as much money as possible. We will find a plan that provides the coverage you need and then some, for free. To get free instant quotes, simply enter your zip code in the bar above, or to speak to a licensed agent, call  888-350-1890.

What Your Bloated Stomach Could Be Telling You

If you have noticed recent stomach issues, such as nausea, reduced appetite, and abdominal pain, then you might be dealing with gastroparesis. The word ‘gastro’ means stomach, and the word ‘paresis’ defines as partial paralysis. Gastroparesis, also identified as “digestive tract paralysis,” occurs when the food that reaches your stomach does not move into the intestine as quickly as it should. It is delayed, due to the stomach muscles slowing down or not working correctly. About 4% of the population deals with gastroparesis, and the majority also have diabetes. This paralysis is more common among women. If it is not diagnosed in time, it can lead to some major complications such as dehydration and malnutrition. Being aware of the causes and symptoms can help you catch the condition early on, and effectively treat it.

Man in a gray sweater holding his stomach due to gastroparesis.
Gastroparesis is more common among women, and can lead to major complications if gone untreated.

Causes

The cause for gastroparesis is not known in most cases, but in some, it can be linked to other medical conditions. Diabetes type 1, or type 2, are the most common causes of gastroparesis. High levels of glucose can cause changes to the vagus nerve. This nerve connects the brain to the body, carrying sensory information from the internal organs back to the brain, and helps control several muscles. Damage to the vagus nerve can occur from many things such as eating disorders, an opioid medication, and antidepressants. Lupus and bariatric surgery are also linked to the condition due to the damage they cause to the vagus nerve.

Symptoms

Gastroparesis can cause malnutrition and dehydration if overlooked. For people with diabetes and the condition, it can be hard to control their blood sugar levels due to sudden sugar spikes when food passes into the small intestine. In order to avoid complications, some gastroparesis symptoms to look for include:

  • Bloating
  • Heartburn
  • Stomach pain
  • Vomiting
  • Nausea
  • Reduced appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Irregular blood sugar levels

Tips To Ease Symptoms

Dietary changes can help ease some symptoms of gastroparesis. In order to help with digestion so food moves into

eggs benedict on a plate with some leafy greens.
A healthy diet can aid with gastroparesis issues, and will make it easier for your stomach to digest.

the digestive tract easier, there are a couple of things you can try. Eating smaller meals can help the stomach empty quicker. Chewing your food more, and breaking it down, will make it easier for your stomach to digest. Drink liquids in between meals, and take a multivitamin. After you eat, get up and move. Moving around will help your stomach digest easier than when lying down. Lastly, eat a healthy diet consisting of fruits and vegetables, meats, eggs, and dairy. Avoid fatty foods, junk food, alcohol, and fiber-filled foods such as apples, oranges, broccoli, cabbage, nuts, seeds, and beans. 

Medications & Surgery

If dietary changes do not work, the next step is medication. Your doctor may prescribe you with medication that enhances stomach emptying and reducing nausea. Avoid taking narcotics, antacids containing aluminum, and anticholinergic agents because these will slow down stomach emptying. 

If your case is severe, then surgery is the last step. Gastric electrical stimulation can be done, in which a device is implanted in the stomach to stimulate the muscles. The other option is a feeding tube, or gastric venting tube to relieve pressure. There has been a more holistic route that people take to help with their digestive tract paralysis. This route is acupuncture, and some have said that this traditional Chinese medicine can help with the flow of pressure points that are clogged. 

Gastroparesis is a chronic condition, but if it is managed, then the person can live a normal life. Diet changes and exercise after meals will significantly help with the management of gastroparesis. Noticing the signs early on can change the outlook for people living with the condition, especially if you have diabetes. Listen to your body, and go to the doctor if you feel like something is not right.