The reason I bring up the topic of gastroparesis - my stomach has quit working. The pain medication I was on for my pancreatitis caused the muscles of my stomach to quit working. Does anybody have any information about the stomach pacemaker? I am on medication now to help with the problem but it has not changed in the last 4 months since I have been on the meds. So the next thing would be the pacemaker. Thanks in advance for you input.
Hi:
I’ve had severe gastroparesis for many years-- it pre-dates my CP by quite a bit. The docs at local hospitals and Johns Hopkins had never seen studies like mine-- like a bite of food taking 12 days to pass through enough to stop the study.
I’ve never heard of the pacemaker for this-- Sorry I don’t have any other info on that. I’m wondering, though, if there’s any connection w/gastroparesis and idiopathic CP?
Does anyone else have both of these?
Thanks, too–
Lisa
I have both plus a slowed up esophagus and I can’t take the meds (or they aren’t available anymore in the US) that would help. Sometimes my food gets stuck somewhere in the esophagus. Last month there were 5 days when I couldn’t even swallow water, ended up in the ER and eventually had to have a dilation. Anybody with any ideas? I’m listening.
cager21
This is pretty interesting and weird-- I’m wondering even more now if there’s any connection to all this and the CP.
I also have esophageal spasm-- bad enough to have been near-ER-ish at times, like there was something that felt the size of a child’s toy stuck in my throat. They found that liquids go down fine but when they even advanced to fine applesauce or any solid, they could see that it would just back up. The motility drugs, such as Zelnorm, that were so good for many of us w/either of these problems, were recently pulled by the FDA-- but there’s been rumors out there that they may re-authorize some patients w/specific motility needs this drug again. Hope so–
I’ve also had the esophageal dilation, but I don’t feel like it helped much. It’s been maybe a little more on and off than before, and I noticed that certain foods seemed to “flare” it up a bit.
Hang in there and I hope you’re having some great days!
Lisa
I have gastroparesis, a heinal(sp?) hernia and GRD along with the chronic
pancreatitis. I have to believe there is a connection. Metoclopromide
works well for me for the gastroparesis. Nexium helps some with the other
issues. I actually had a large ulcer after taking nexium daily for 10
years. The doctor contacted the drug manufacturer and they said to double
the dose. That seems to have helped. I think we are just doomed to have
all kinds of digestive issues:(
Wow! This is so interesting–I was diagnosed with gastroparesis last year at Shand’s Hospital at the Univ. of Florida. I’ve had the two pancreatitis attacks, and my doctor said that gastroparesis mimics pancreatitis attacks with just as much pain. My doctor has done several studies and has prescribed Azithromycin–the antibiotic that the Z-pac has for folk’s colds.
They have found at Shand’s that Arythromycin and Azithromycin will make the stomach work. I get bottles of 200 mg. per 5 mL of Azithromycin powder. One bottle lasts me three days. I put 15 mL of water into a new bottle of AZ and take 10 mL every morning.
He has me on Azithromycin because he said Arythromycin interacts with other drugs some times and he wanted to make sure that wouldn’t happen to me.
The nuclear medicine tech that did my study said several people at the hospital used it if they were feeling full and could tell the food wasn’t moving through.
It’s amazing–it really works!
Hope this helps you all and this finds you pain free!
Take care!
Hugs,
Sue