gasteoperesis

[justej]

my doctors think I have gasteoperesis. for the last 2 months I've been vomiting daily and had multiple bouts of diarrhea daily. I go to the gi doctor on the 9th. anyone else deal with this? any tips? thanks.

[Patrick]

My gastroparesis was diagnosed in the summer of 2009. If my experience is accurate, it's the pits. Before I learned to manage it, I vomited frequently, sometimes in my sleep, which nearly asphyxiated me. I developed GI blockages, which led to fecal regurgitation, and diarrhea leakage, sometimes for days on end. Bowel spasms with or without diarrhea, can happen at any time. My management skills have much improved; however, I am not a medical professional, so take my advice with a tablespoon of salt. I take a dose of stool softener with every solid meal, a tablespoon of polyethylene glycol about every second or third day, and, because I have problems sleeping with a full stomach, my supper is usually Ensure or Boost, with 16 ozs. of water. I stay away from cabbage, citrus in any form, prunes, and I try to minimize consumption of beans, broccoli, corn, and onions. The standard medical advice is to adopt what amounts to the diet for an infant or toddler. Ugh. I tried it, as faithfully as I could, but it caused blockages and excruciatingly painful spasms. Sometimes I experience a bowel and a bladder spasm simultaneously. When that happens, I'd better be wearing high-quality protection. As needed, I use suppositories, enemas, and stronger laxatives.

I hope your tests will be negative for GP. If they're not, if you must deal with this for the near-term future, you have my support and best wishes. If you can add any insights or advice, I'll be eager to read them.

[justej]

Thanks Patrick. I thought you had gasteoperesis but wasn’t 100% sure. One thing I have figured out is lettuce is a trigger for me. I had a huge salad the night before I had a horrendous bowel accident (see sociolgygeeks post in another thread) and lettuce on a veggie burger the other day and had bowel issues. So I’m cutting that one out. Which sucks as I was going to start eating more salads to lose weight. Even though I’ve lost 15 pounds since this all started I still need to lose more. I’ve not vomited in about a week since I started a higher dose of zofran. And my diarrhea has gotten better since I started amnytriptoline. Granted now I have the opposite problem of constipation. So you win some you lose some. I’m just holding on until my appointment next Wednesday

[Patrick]

Good luck with your upcoming appointment. I will be eager to read what you have learned.