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How do you know if you have delayed gastric emptying?

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Posted 4/18/2015 1:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hey all!
So I've been on Omeprazole now for 3 months or so and it's been improving my pain and reflux issues. Not entirely, but enough that I don't want to quit taking them.

BUT, something that's come up is that I feel full a bit too soon, and often feel nauseous and like I just swallowed a big rock for several hours after meals. Now, this doesn't happen every time I eat, just sometimes (not even every day), and I'm not sure if it could just be my hiatus hernia that's making it feel like something is "stuck" in my stomach or if it could be delayed gastric emptying.

Are there tests for this? Is it common to develop such a condition after such a short time on PPIs? Is it irreversible if it happens or would it go away when stopping the meds?
Posted 4/18/2015 3:40 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bella01,

Sorry to hear you're not feeling well. :( Forum member CAGU has mentioned this in prior posts and I'm hoping he/she will chime in. Not sure if this helps but here is a link (it looks like it is also called gastroparesis) best of luck and I hope you get some relief soon. http://www.medicinenet.com/gastric_emptying_study/article.htm

Steve
Posted 4/18/2015 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Bella,

Here's another one. http://www.healthline.com/health/gastroparesis#Overview1
Posted 4/20/2015 3:54 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the links!

So far the only thing I have is nausea and that feeling of a rock in my gut, but I'm trying to stay on top of any side effects of meds so that I don't end up with additional problems...
Posted 4/21/2015 7:33 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Bella01

There is the common gastric emptying test where you eat some eggs and x-rays are taken to see how fast your stomach empties out. There is also a breath test that was recently FDA approved.

There are many medications including PPIs that can cause a delay in gastric emptying that I believe many doctors are unaware of.
Posted 4/21/2015 10:03 AM (GMT 0)

CAGU said...
Hi Bella01

There is the common gastric emptying test where you eat some eggs and x-rays are taken to see how fast your stomach empties out. There is also a breath test that was recently FDA approved.

There are many medications including PPIs that can cause a delay in gastric emptying that I believe many doctors are unaware of.

My recent contacts with doctors have led me to believe they're unaware of most things eyes

I suppose my main concern is that my PPI usage could cause permanent damage somehow. Granted I've only been on them for about 3-4 months, and some people it seems are on them for decades, but I'm anxious about medication and don't even like taking an Aspirin when I need it.
Posted 4/21/2015 10:46 AM (GMT 0)
I agree with you Bella in that sometimes doctors aren't as clued up on some things as we would wish them to be. Sometimes doing your own research and going in armed with info helps a great deal.

Catch 22 with PPI in that they are great for healing oesophagus but they come with a whole new set of problems with some people.

I had to stop taking them due to side effects and one of those was the feeling of food just sitting in my stomach for literally hours and hours. I also had ibs symptoms hair loss, itchy skin and palpitations.
Posted 4/21/2015 9:15 PM (GMT 0)

Trotters said...
I agree with you Bella in that sometimes doctors aren't as clued up on some things as we would wish them to be. Sometimes doing your own research and going in armed with info helps a great deal.

Catch 22 with PPI in that they are great for healing oesophagus but they come with a whole new set of problems with some people.

I had to stop taking them due to side effects and one of those was the feeling of food just sitting in my stomach for literally hours and hours. I also had ibs symptoms hair loss, itchy skin and palpitations.

Did that feeling go away when you stopped the PPIs?

I've had palpitations as well but my doctors swear that it's impossible that Omeprazole is causing it rolleyes At least they are less frequent now than when I started the meds.

I'm hoping I'll only have to stay on them for a while longer, hopefully my stomach/esophagus will have healed enough that dietary changes and over the counter antacids will be enough.
Posted 4/22/2015 10:35 AM (GMT 0)
I know its not very healthly to treat side effects of meds with more meds, but there are drugs to help with delayed stomach emptying. I have used domperidone in the past and it helped. I think using it in the short term can actually help you long term, it makes the muscles work harder and after a few months I think they get stronger, because my swallowing issues with food getting stuck also got better and never returned even after I stopped taking it 6 months ago. I was on it for about 12-18 months.

I now take Mirtazapine which is an anti-depressent but its side effect is increased stomach emptying. That really helps I find. I take it for both depression and the stomach.
Posted 4/23/2015 2:02 AM (GMT 0)
I'd advise against using prokinetics such as Domperidone and Metoclopramide unless absolutely necessary. Domperidone is not approved by the FDA and I was stopped from taking it here in the UK because of the danger of serious cardiac side effects, I'm pretty sure they're not even meant to prescribe it anymore. Long term Metoclopramide use has also rendered me with permenent movement disorder like side effects. I'm 24 and will have this for the rest of my life. Just a warning.
Posted 4/23/2015 9:37 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, Unfortunately the drugs that are used to help improve delayed gastric emptying can have dangerous side effects, so I decided not to use them. With delayed gastric emptying the focus seems to be more about treating symptoms and less on finding what's causing the problem. I believe there are many medications that can delay gastric emptying doctors are unaware of... which would include PPIs for some people.

The PH level in the stomach needs to be at a certain level to break down your food and sterilize the food before entering the small intestines. If not at the correct level, food will stay in stomach longer, causing symptoms like GERD, excessive burping, bloating, stomach pains, etc.... In worse cases vomiting.

Post Edited (CAGU) : 4/23/2015 3:41:17 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 4/23/2015 10:43 AM (GMT 0)
I have delayed gastric emptying due to early Type II diabetes, which triggered my GERD. I have been doing certain things, and it is definitely fading. No drugs involved. I have lost weight, started exercising, small frequent meals (which include Activia once or twice a day), and a cup to a pint of water 30 minutes before eating and 30 minutes after. Every two or three days, my first two meals will be liquids, like ensure. Then I eat normally the rest of the day. Monday I started a breathing exercise to help trigger movement. All in all, I am happy with the results. I finally have a rope around this thing, and my whole diet has improved, lots more energy, etc. I haven't had a really bad episode of GERD going on 2 weeks now. I used to have to take an anti-gas chewable and gaviscon after every single meal. No more of that. I've thought about taking an HCL supplement to see if that helps, since I suspect I have low stomach acid levels, but I don't want to mess with success at the moment. There is a home test for low stomach acid that I will be trying Saturday morning, also. If results warrant, I'll talk to my doctor and maybe try HCL supplements.
Posted 4/23/2015 5:14 PM (GMT 0)

Andy1986 said...
I know its not very healthly to treat side effects of meds with more meds, but there are drugs to help with delayed stomach emptying. I have used domperidone in the past and it helped. I think using it in the short term can actually help you long term, it makes the muscles work harder and after a few months I think they get stronger, because my swallowing issues with food getting stuck also got better and never returned even after I stopped taking it 6 months ago. I was on it for about 12-18 months.

I now take Mirtazapine which is an anti-depressent but its side effect is increased stomach emptying. That really helps I find. I take it for both depression and the stomach.

How are you finding the Mirtazapine?

I was prescribed it for my anxiety issues earlier this year but decided against taking it. I've always been hesitant about antidepressants in general, but I had also heard that it commonly causes weight gain as a side-effect. My doctor has brought up using anti-depressants to try and treat my IBS, as well, so I've considered that it might be worth a try after all.
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