Gastroparesis, Do I have this? Options

[Mariya Blas]

So, last week at my endo appointment I mentioned my BG drops after a meal and we could see it on the CGMS reports. So, she tested me for Celiac disease, and I don't have it. She wanted me to get tested for gastroparesis. So, they had me eat scrambled eggs and scanned my stomach every 15 minutes for a couple of hours. It took my stomach 110 minutes to empty in half. The radiologist did not know what it meant, just that the normal is 90 minutes. Anyone know if that means I have ggastroparesis?

Mariya

[Dave_]

So, last week at my endo appointment I mentioned my BG drops after a meal and we could see it on the CGMS reports. So, she tested me for Celiac disease, and I don't have it. She wanted me to get tested for gastroparesis. So, they had me eat scrambled eggs and scanned my stomach every 15 minutes for a couple of hours. It took my stomach 110 minutes to empty in half. The radiologist did not know what it meant, just that the normal is 90 minutes. Anyone know if that means I have ggastroparesis?

Mariya

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroparesis

from wiki: http://wiki.medpedia.com/Gastroparesis [Excerpt] This test involves eating a bland meal, such as eggs or egg substitute, that contains a small amount of a radioactive substance, called radioisotope, that shows up on scans. The dose of radiation from the radioisotope is not dangerous. The scan measures the rate of gastric emptying at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours. When more than 10 percent of the meal is still in the stomach at 4 hours, the diagnosis of gastroparesis is confirmed.

Personally I think you need more information than what the eggs test showed. (Unless you left out a lot of detailed results of that test)

[JohnG]

Here's a link to a web-sight that will explain every thing about gastroparesis.

The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse collects resource information about digestive diseases for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) Reference Collection. This database provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources. The NIDDK Reference Collection is a service of the National Institutes of Health.

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/p...esis/#diagnosis

JohnG

[gigem99]

I think I show signs of mild gastroparesis. I almost never do a normal bolus anymore. I've had to experiment, and figure out how much normal and how much square wave bolus I do.

I was exactly like you - after a normal bolus, my BG would drop considerably (I truly love my CGM), so I started trying to figure how to time dual waves for all my meals.

It's worked very well for me. Unfortunately, you have to be your own test subject.

The symptoms seem to come and go - sometimes I feel I digest my food just fine, other times I feel full after just a few bites. I've come up with the "Quizno's Test". If I can't come close to eating a small Quizno's sandwich, I know the gastroparesis is kicking in. If I can, then I adjust my timing.

You just have to pay attention, and figure out what's best for you.

Tom

[Mariya Blas]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroparesis

from wiki: http://wiki.medpedia.com/Gastroparesis [Excerpt] This test involves eating a bland meal, such as eggs or egg substitute, that contains a small amount of a radioactive substance, called radioisotope, that shows up on scans. The dose of radiation from the radioisotope is not dangerous. The scan measures the rate of gastric emptying at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours. When more than 10 percent of the meal is still in the stomach at 4 hours, the diagnosis of gastroparesis is confirmed.

Personally I think you need more information than what the eggs test showed. (Unless you left out a lot of detailed results of that test)

The test was done as soon as my stomach has emptied in half. I'll see what my endo has to say. I thought this test was diagnostic of gastroparesis but maybe you're right and it's not.

Mariya

[Dave_]

The test was done as soon as my stomach has emptied in half. I'll see what my endo has to say. I thought this test was diagnostic of gastroparesis but maybe you're right and it's not.

Mariya

Well, I'm not a doc, nor have I spent a lot of time studying the subject, but from what I read on various sites, I suspect there is a continuum of symptoms and diagnoses of G.P., so I would hope you have more definitive testing to see just how severe of a problem you have, if at all, with G.P. Just a couple weeks ago my dad's idiot doc told him he had Celiac's disease due to a visual inspection of his upper GI. My mother went out the next day to buy a bunch of special ingredients and foods for celiacs. As soon as I heard the shoot-from-the-hip diagnosis, I thought it was premature as the doc didn't wait for blood test results or biopsy results (which turned out negative!). My folks think every doctor they go to is great, but my wife and I have far different views as to the competency of several of their doctors. My dad is 83 so he is set in his ways, as is my mom at 77. Anyway, my dad is glad he can eat regular food again after suffering through the restrictions of a celiac's diet!

This post has been edited by Dave_: Jun 19 2009, 05:11 PM

[Phetonb]

I had mild gastroperesis about 18 years ago, and was given Reglan, (Metoclopramide). It helped me get my gut going again, and I did not have to take it long. I doubt my gastroperesis was from Diabetes, but I was glad it did not last long.

I would ask to be put on Reglan and see how that goes. I think that would be much better than the hassel of adjusting boluses. If the GP subsides, then you will likely go high once your digestion picks up the pace if you are modifying your bolus amount.

Good luck, but know there is a medicine for this condition, I would ask to try it.

[Mariya Blas]

I had mild gastroperesis about 18 years ago, and was given Reglan, (Metoclopramide). It helped me get my gut going again, and I did not have to take it long. I doubt my gastroperesis was from Diabetes, but I was glad it did not last long.

I would ask to be put on Reglan and see how that goes. I think that would be much better than the hassel of adjusting boluses. If the GP subsides, then you will likely go high once your digestion picks up the pace if you are modifying your bolus amount.

Good luck, but know there is a medicine for this condition, I would ask to try it.

I don't know yet what they'll suggest to me. I got the official test result back. The interpretation says it's suggestive of mild gastroparesis but my symptoms are not much pronounced. Yes, sometimes my BG drops after a meal but not always (probably depends on the composition of the meal). The only other thing is in the last six months or so I've had nausea off and on without having a good reason for it. In any case everything's very mild right now so I'm not sure to what extend I need treatment or how much it affects my BGs.

[Dave_]

I don't know yet what they'll suggest to me. I got the official test result back. The interpretation says it's suggestive of mild gastroparesis but my symptoms are not much pronounced. Yes, sometimes my BG drops after a meal but not always (probably depends on the composition of the meal). The only other thing is in the last six months or so I've had nausea off and on without having a good reason for it. In any case everything's very mild right now so I'm not sure to what extend I need treatment or how much it affects my BGs.

Not saying you don't have GP, but there are also other reasons for dropping after a meal. 1. for those who don't test frequently, bolusing when one THINKS their bg's are stable and in their target zone, but have been dropping and taking the mealtime bolus just adds to the drop, beating the food's bg-raising potential. When I want to be extra cautious (due usually to planned activity), I'll test 2 times, about 15 minutes apart, to determine stability of my bg's) 2. Mistakes in carb counting--but if that's the case, the drop will occur (usually) far later than reason #1.

This post has been edited by Dave_: Jun 20 2009, 05:10 PM

[Mariya Blas]

Not saying you don't have GP, but there are also other reasons for dropping after a meal. 1. for those who don't test frequently, bolusing when one THINKS their bg's are stable and in their target zone, but have been dropping and taking the mealtime bolus just adds to the drop, beating the food's bg-raising potential. When I want to be extra cautious (due usually to planned activity), I'll test 2 times, about 15 minutes apart, to determine stability of my bg's) 2. Mistakes in carb counting--but if that's the case, the drop will occur (usually) far later than reason #1.

That's why my endo and I decided to change my carb ratios. It's been about a week but it's definitely better. I'll figure out what's my optimal carb ratio and pay more attention to carb counting and I'm sure that would fix it, GP or not.

[Dave_]

That's why my endo and I decided to change my carb ratios. It's been about a week but it's definitely better. I'll figure out what's my optimal carb ratio and pay more attention to carb counting and I'm sure that would fix it, GP or not.

Great!

[Gary Paveza]

That's why my endo and I decided to change my carb ratios. It's been about a week but it's definitely better. I'll figure out what's my optimal carb ratio and pay more attention to carb counting and I'm sure that would fix it, GP or not.

I took the same test. Found that it takes me about 4 hours to empty. Also put on Reglan. My endo told me that doing combo boluses would help. BTW, the way this presented itself was that I would get extremely naseaus about 3 hours after eating - no matter what it was. Turns out that it was because of the food not leaving my stomach fast enough.

Biggest concern doctor had was with my heart. Evidently, there is some linkage between the nerves that work the heart and the nerves that work the digestive system. Had to go in for a stress test which came back normal.

[PumperMan]

I have Gastroparesis. However, it isn't Diabetes related for me. I have it due to spina bifida and my level of paralysis being at T6-T7. Comes for me with the territory.