Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Gastroparesis

Frequently Asked Questions about Gastroparesis


1. What is Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic defines Gastroparesis as, “Gastroparesis is a condition in which the muscles in your stomach don't function normally. Ordinarily, strong muscular contractions propel food through your digestive tract. But in gastroparesis, the muscles in the wall of your stomach work poorly or not at all. This prevents your stomach from emptying properly. Gastroparesis can interfere with digestion, cause nausea and vomiting, and cause problems with blood sugar levels and nutrition.”

Link found here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastroparesis/DS00612



2. How do you get Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic Writes, “It's not always clear what leads to Gastroparesis. But in many cases, Gastroparesis is believed to be caused by damage to a nerve that controls the stomach muscles (vagus nerve). Other possible causes are abdominal surgery, Diabetes, Idiopathic (no known cause), a virus, and being born with a stomach that function properly. It can also be cause by narcotics because they can slow down motility.” On a personal note, mine was due to a stomach virus. I was in the hospital for eight days.

Link can be found: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastroparesis/DS00612/DSECTION=causes



3. What are the signs and symptoms of Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic states that,
“Signs and Symptoms of Gastroparesis:
Early Satiety (feeling full after just a few bites)
Heartburn
weight loss
weight gain
Abdominal bloating
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Constipation
Erratic blood glucose levels (mainly in diabetes)
Lack of appetite
Gastric reflux
Spasms of the stomach wall
Chronic nausea
Vomiting (often of undigested food)
Inability to tolerate dietary fats.”

Link can be found here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/basics/symptoms/con-20023971



4. How do you treat Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic writes, “Treating gastroparesis begins with identifying and treating the underlying condition. For instance, if diabetes is causing your gastroparesis, your doctor can work with you to help you control your diabetes.”

I have written a blog entry on how to cope with emotional and physical pain of Gastroparesis. Here is an excerpt,

“This is a question that I've been asked a lot. I have been doubled over in pain, with no relief in sight. So, how do I cope and what do I do to make the pain easier to handle?”

You can find the ways to treat Gastroparesis here, without narcotics. Link here: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-cope-with-gpdtp-pain-emotionally.html

This link will also help you if other treatments don’t seem to work: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-can-be-done-when-gastroparesis.html

This link will help you with natural remedies for pain around the house: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/painkillers-in-your-kitchen-alternative.html

5. Can you die from Gastroparesis?

Yes. If it gets severe enough people can get very malnourished and without proper treatment options and proper nutrition people can die from complications from Gastroparesis. Gastroparesis alone cannot kill you but it can do horrible things to your body if you are starving.

Link: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2012/10/18-year-dies-from-gastroparesis.html

6. Does Gastroparesis go away?

The only way Gastroparesis will go away is when it’s been caused by narcotics or medication. Nerve damage and muscle damage is typically permanent.

See webMd on nerve damage: http://www.webmd.com/brain/nerve-pain-and-nerve-damage-symptoms-and-causes

7. Is there a cure for Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic says, “There is no cure for gastroparesis. Making changes to your diet may help you cope with gastroparesis signs and symptoms, but that's not always enough. Gastroparesis medications may offer some relief, but some can cause serious side effects.” You have to eat low fiber and low fat foods. I have several gastroparesis friendly recipes on Pinterest and also juicing recipes: www.pinterest.com/chikensrule


Link found here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastroparesis/DS00612



8. What should you need to know after being diagnosed with Gastroparesis?

I know that when I was finally diagnosed in March of 2012, I did two things that really helped me. The first thing I did was start this blog. I started it to keep track of my medical information, visits, testing, and everything else that I wouldn't remember later. My main goal was to help people through my own experiences so that maybe they wouldn't repeat things that I have done in the past like listening to bad advice from doctors. I was put on two medications that actually did the same things AND they slowed down motility! I also know that through my research, there's not really a whole lot on the internet about Gastroparesis or support groups. So, I made this entry to put all of my research in one place for people who may need support groups. My article with online resources has since been used by United Healthcare as an electronic resource for GP/DTP.

More ideas can be found on the link here: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/advice-for-newly-diagnosed-with-gpdtp.html

Also, here: http://www.emilysstomach.com/2013/04/youve-been-diagnosed-with-gastroparesis.html

9. What is the Gastroparesis Diet?

The Gastroparesis Diet can be found here: http://www.emilysstomach.com/2014/01/the-gastroparesis-diet.html




10. Is there more than one type of Gastroparesis?

Yes, there are! There are two types of Gastroparesis. The first is idiopathic gastroparesis, which means the doctors are not sure what caused it. The next one is diabetic gastroparesis, where diabetic neuropathy or other causes can trigger gastroparesis by damaging the vagas nerve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve).

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



11. Where can I find assistance to help me with finances with Gastroparesis?

I have compiled a list of financial ideas for those currently struggling with money for treatments with the help of the Emily's Stomach's Facebook Page. The blog entry has links in all caps that you can click on that will take you to that page.


The link is: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/financial-assistance-ideas.html



12. Why are the Gastroparesis colors green and yellow?

As taken from G-PACT’s Facebook Page: From G-PACT's Facebook Page:

"Most people think that green and yellow became the colors for DTP because green is associated with nausea, vomit, bile, and a greenish appearance when sick. Actually, G-PACT places a stronger meaning behind the colors. We gave them a lot of consideration when we selected them to be the official colors for our use to represent gastroparesis. They represent how we want patients to see the future and what we are all trying to accomplish with hope, strength and growth towards better treatment options. We have seen a lot of growth in this field since our founding in August of 2001, so the green is appropriate. Why?

Green indicates growth. We are growing towards a cure and awareness and research is growing. It's a color of hope. When things start turning green outside it indicates the end of the cold, long, dark days of winter. The first sign of green plants and grass indicates we are coming out of a time if darkness and coldness and entering a phase of growth and brightness. It is a color that shows brighter and beautiful days are ahead. There is something really encouraging when you see that first blade of green grass or green leaf peaking [sic] through after months of brown fields, trees, and no growth.

G-PACT is a grassroots organization meaning that we started with a small handful of patients who were coming out of a period where there was very little knowledge and very little hope towards any kind of understanding or a cure. We knew something needed to be done to provide services to patients to get through the tough times now, and provide hope as we also fight for awareness and research and help bring about greater understanding into this condition. Our initial motto was "Striving towards brighter days of treatment, knowledge, and a cure." We have grown into a much larger scale, now making an international impact and have provided hope to so many as they try to cope until we do find the cure.

Yellow was also an important color for us. Our logo is a sun to indicate hope and a brighter future ahead. The sun is a crucial factor that helps the plants grow. It brightens the days and brings with it the nutrients, strength, and oxygen needed to supply the plants with what they need to be able to grow and thrive."

Why Gastroparesis Colors are Green and Yellow

People have asked me a lot over the years about why gastroparesis' colors are green and yellow. My friend, Melissa explains why in her blog. I'm going to share the link with you so that you can check out her blog and read about why the colors were chosen.

http://melissagpfight.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/why-is-green-the-color-to-represent-gastroparesis-dtp/

An exert says:

"BELOW IS A COPY FROM A FACEBOOK POST FROM G-PACT. WE WOULD HAVE SIMPLY PUT UP A LINK, BUT SOME OF YOU DO NOT HAVE FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS. THIS QUESTION IS ASKED A LOT AND WE FELT IT WAS BEST TO COPY THE ENTIRE POST.

Green indicates growth. We are growing towards a cure and awareness and research is growing. It’s a color of hope. When things start turning green outside it indicates the end of the cold, long, dark days of winter. The first sign of green plants and grass indicates we are coming out of a time if [sic] darkness and coldness and entering a phase of growth and brightness. It is a color that shows brighter and beautiful days are ahead. There is something really encouraging when you see that first blade of green grass or green leaf peaking through after months of brown fields, trees, and no growth.

Yellow was also an important color for us. Our logo is a sun to indicate hope and a brighter future ahead. The sun is a crucial factor that helps the plants grow. It brightens the days and brings with it the nutrients, strength, and oxygen needed to supply the plants with what they need to be able to grow and thrive."

To read more about it, please visit the link above to my friend Melissa's Blog. She also has a lot of other useful information as well. She also has a store that you should visit at:

www.gpfight.com

Poop - What the Different Colors and Smells Mean

Image taken from Doctor Oz here: http://www.doctoroz.com/videos/poop-color-chart


I know this is a taboo subject because many of us are embarrassed to ask for help. I, myself, have had issues going number two in the bathroom. If I do have a bowel movement, it takes weeks.

When I finally can go to the bathroom, I'm in there pretty much nonstop. There is no warning for it, I have to go RIGHT THEN. So I decided to share some sources with you to help you when you are questioning weird smells or colors of stool.

Stool color is generally influenced by what you eat as well as by the amount of bile — a yellow-green fluid that digests fats — in your stool. As bile pigments travel through your gastrointestinal tract, they are chemically altered by enzymes — changing the pigments from green to brown. Below are the colors and what they mean.


According to Wikihow, here's how they break it down,

"An Article From Wikihow which is here: http://www.wikihow.com/Check-Your-Health-by-Poop-or-Stool-Colors

Medium brown bowel movement: Think "mb-BM" -- the healthy, reassuring color for your well being. Keep your GI system running smoothly, checking these suggested color-rules -- regularly and keep regular (twice a day is great, but even harder with GP).

Virtually all brownish-tan to medium shades of brown (color caused by bile during digestion) and even green (colored by green vegetables) are considered normal. Very dark brown stool color indicates a potentially serious intestinal condition due to bleeding.


Dull red or dull black bowel movement. Scary, but not always bad! Check this: dark or reddened stool, may often be:


Related to food or medications. Red shades? That may be from red food: beets and tomato sauce/paste products (eating a lot of various red sauces), BBQ, loading up on Ketchup, beets, cranberries, tomato juice (or soup), red gelatin or drink mixes, paprika and red pimiento peppers in sufficiently large amounts.


Dulled blackish shades may be seen after eating black jelly beans, black licorice, blueberries, iron pills, or using some anti-diarrhea medications.

Green bowel movement. Shades of green are considered unusual but normal (including green seen in diarrhea, regardless of color can be very serious, when food passes through the colon too quickly for final digestion there that can cause a green shade).[2] Green stool is not only on Saint Patty's Day, but can be from the green beer (green dyes in the food). And, also the result of consuming:

Green vegetables, including greens, spinach

Iron supplements (see black)

Or certain medications.

When to Seek Out Emergency Help:


Urgent -- tarry black, "black as tar": This is a sign of dangerous, deadly "bleeding" (a significant amount of digested blood). Call your doctor -- or get 'emergency care'! about checking bleeding or hemorrhaging in the upper GI tract: intestines, the stomach or the esophagus.


Urgent -- ashy pale colors: these can indicate liver or pancreas problems -- Call your doctor! If you see gray, clay-like stool that not only may suggest a liver problem, but also could mean your pancreas is inflamed and/or infected. Bile made by the liver is what makes stools turn brown; by not having enough bile, you'll get those ashen shades indicating:

Obstruction (possibly gallstones) of bile creation or its ducts, such as by infections, scarring, possibly by tumor or cancer, in the area of the liver, pancreas or gallbladder, Pancreatitis, Cirrhosis (Hardening) of the liver, or hepatitis.

Light-colored, white or clay-colored may suggest a lack of bile in stool. This may indicate a bile duct obstruction. Side effect of certain medications, such as "large doses" of bismuth subsalicylate (Kaopectate, Pepto-Bismol) and other anti-diarrheal drugs.

Caution: If there is a significant amount of bloody red stool, blood streaking, often caused by bleeding of internal or external hemorrhoids, or a maroon/red poop which means undigested blood: including other internal bleeding in the lower intestine, such as the large intestine or rectum -- Call your doctor -- or get 'emergency care' if: These red poops can also be of other kinds and due to:

Intestinal bleeding, including diverticulitis, ruptured intestinal walls (Dial that doc!).



Needs diagnosis. Yellow, greasy, foul-smelling. Excess fat in the stool can be due to a malabsorption disorder, for example, celiac disease, involving the protein gluten, as in breads and cereals. But, see a doctor for evaluation. Yellow stool is unusual, and may be a symptom of a serious medical condition. Yellow stool can be caused by conditions that reduce pancreatic lipase production or that block its transport to the intestines.

Infection, yellow diarrhea, if Giardia. That is a parasite that can be found in waste products and contaminated water, can cause yellow diarrhea, fever, and flu-like symptoms. "If your yellow stool persists for more than a day or two or causes you concern, seek prompt medical care."



When to Worry:

Record notes on getting worried about "any other colors" you're passing/dropping: think about all the possibilities:

Keep a record for 3- to 7-days to share your shades with your medical team to get the doctor's blessing/discursive views.

Check the reasons change color and "Poop Color Chart" (which you will see as the first picture posted at the beginning of this entry). You can see a page of facts about poop color at an online school.



Newborns, infants and toddlers

Observe newborns and infants, see also, Understand Baby Health by Poop Colors, Stool:
Newborns early-on will pass a dark green stool called meconium, which is normal, as are:
Breast-fed infants often producing yellow-green, green-brownish stool colors.
Formula-fed infants often moving yellowish, light-tan or brownish stool colors. See a doctor. Black, very dark, bloody after the first few days from being born is not normal."

I wanted to get a broaden my research to see if there are other perspectives that might be helpful as well. I mean, I knew what most stools meant but I'm learning things I never knew while writing this article.

According to WebMD, the link found here: http://women.webmd.com/pharmacist-11/digestive-problems this information could be helpful:

"Bowel movements are the end result of your body taking the nutrients it needs from the food you eat and eliminating what's left.

“Bowel movements are important for your health because they are the body’s natural way of excreting waste from the body,” says Eric Esrailian, MD, section head in general gastroenterology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

When it comes to frequency, color, shape, and size, a general rule of thumb is that normal bowel movements are defined as what’s comfortable for you. But being knowledgeable about your digestive process can help you identify when normal goes awry.

Frequency: “There is no normal when it comes to frequency of bowel movements, only averages” says Bernard Aserkoff, MD, a doctor in the GI Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston.

It’s average to go once or twice a day, he says, but many people go more, and some go less -- maybe every other day, and or as infrequently as once or twice a week. As long as you feel comfortable, you don’t need to give your BMs much thought.

Color: “Bowel movements are generally brown in color because of bile, which is produced in the liver and important to the digestion process,” Aserkoff tells WebMD.

The food you eat typically takes three days from the time you eat it until it finishes its journey in your toilet, Aserkoff says. If it takes a shorter time, the result may be greener stool because green is one of the first colors in the rainbow of the digestive process.

Color can be a red flag when it’s a drastic change, Aserkoff says.

“If stool is black, it can mean that you are bleeding internally, possibly as a result of an ulcer or cancer,” he says. Stool that is black due to bleeding is also "sticky" (tarry) and smells bad. However, black stools are common when taking a vitamin that contains iron or medications that contain bismuth subsalicylate.

Stool that is light in color -- like grey clay -- can also mean trouble if it’s a change from what you normally see. Although it doesn’t happen often, very light-colored stool can indicate a block in the flow of bile or liver disease.

Size and shape: “We used to believe that size was indicative of a problem if the stool was ‘pencil-thin,’” Aserkoff says. “But recent research indicates that this is actually not true.” Size and shape are irrelevant, Aserkoff says, if what’s coming out is normal for you.

Odor: Bowel movements usually smell. But is it normal if your trips to the bathroom mean that the rest of the family has to avoid that part of the house for an hour or two?

The answer is yes. It’s normal, and probably a good sign that your gut is abundant with bacteria that is working hard to keep you healthy.

Your intestines are swarming with trillions upon trillions of bacteria that enhance digestive and metabolic processes. They are also the reason why poop smells -- a direct result of the bacterial activity in your GI tract. So although it's no bed of roses, it is normal for your bowel movements to stink.
Poop Problems

So what happens when your poop process gets out of whack? The first sign that your intestines aren’t up to par is a shift from your normal GI routine, and as a result, discomfort below the waist.



Constipation and Diarrhea

Constipation is a concern when you normally have a bowel movement once or twice a day, and that changes -- maybe you haven’t gone in three days, or more. However long it’s been, you now feel gassy, bloated, and generally uncomfortable. When you try to go, you have to push and strain, and what comes out is a whole lot of nothing.

Constipation can have many causes. It might be that you’ve had a shift in your diet, such as a drop in fiber intake, or maybe because you’re not drinking enough water each day, or because your physical activity level has decreased, slowing your metabolic processes down, including digestion. Certain medications (such as narcotic pain medicines and iron supplements) can also cause constipation problems.

Although constipation causes one set of problems, diarrhea can also mean digestive disaster. Whether it’s caused by a meal that just didn’t sit right, or a harmful bacterium or virus, it's categorized by loose stool, and another hallmark of GI trouble -- discomfort.

“Diarrhea can be caused by any number of factors,” Aserkoff says. “But the problem with diarrhea, in addition to the obvious, is that it can cause other health problems, like dehydration, if you’re living with it for more than two or three days.”

Generally, you recoup from a bout of diarrhea or constipation in a day or two, Aserkoff says. If not, it’s probably worth a trip to the doctor for further GI troubleshooting.



Blood in the Stool

“One of the most significant warning signs when it comes to bowel movements is blood in the stool,” Esrailian says.

Blood in your stool could be a symptom of something as significant as cancer and warrants a call to your doctor right away -- even if you think it could be hemorrhoids, or tiny tears in the anal tissue, as a result of constipation and straining, he says. If you’re over 50, or if you have a family history of colorectal cancer, a colonoscopy is probably in order.

Other warning signs to watch for when your bowel movements have taken a turn for the worse are fever, abdominal pain, or dehydration -- any one of which could be tied to GI trouble, such as a virus, appendicitis, or food poisoning.

Proper hydration is also key for your colon, ensuring you have enough fluid in your body to move stool through the digestive track and out the other end on a regular basis, Esrailian says.

Exerciseis also beneficial for your bowels. It helps improve GI “motility,” he says, and can often alleviate constipation by improving your metabolic and digestive processes.

Overall, normal is a pretty easy mark to make when it comes to your bowel movements, both experts say, and aside from the warning signs they offered, what goes in one end usually comes out the other with minimal problems along the way."

Poop Smells and What They Mean:

According to Kymberly Snyder, with her link here: http://kimberlysnyder.net/blog/2011/10/18/what-your-poop-and-pee-are-telling-you-about-your-body/,


++ Click to Enlarge Image ++

Source:What Your Poop and Pee Mean





Five Ways Poop can Advise you for Your Health:
Article by Lynda Thrasybule, link here: http://www.livescience.com/36689-poop-health-signs-disease-infection.html

"A person's poop can say a lot about his or her health. How often you go to the bathroom, and how much waste you expel, can indicate your general digestive health.

"The digestive tract contains more bacterial cells than there are cells in the entire body," said Dr. Jean-Pierre Raufman, a gastroenterologist at University of Maryland School of Medicine. "It's very important that our bowels work well to absorb necessary nutrients but also keep out any foods, chemicals and germs that could do us harm."

While most people probably don't want to put much thought into pooping, it's an essential body function that can tell them if something is wrong. A change in bowel movements could be due merely to a change in diet, but it could also mean the body is fighting an infection or dealing with a serious condition.

Here are five hints that your poop could be giving you about your health"




Color

Stool color is often a reflection of what you eat. While various shades of brown are considered normal, some colors like black or yellow are not.

"Black stool could indicate bleeding in the stomach or the first part of the small intestine," Raufman said.

Iron supplements can darken the stool to more of a dark green, he added. Taking bismuth-containing medicines, such as Pepto-Bismol, or eating black licorice or blueberries also may cause black stools.

Bright red stool usually suggests that blood is coming from the lower part of the digestive system, such as the large intestine, rectum or anus.

Pale white or yellow stool also can mean a problem.

"The reason why stool is brown is because of our normal production of bile," Raufman said. "If there's a problem with bile flow, that may mean a problem like cancer of the bile ducts, or pancreatic cancer or hepatitis."



Shape

A change in stool shape also could be cause for concern. Stools that are narrow and pencil-thin are thought by some experts to be a symptom of colon cancer.

"It could be a sign of obstruction in the lower part of the colon," which means the bowel is partially blocked, getting in the way of the fecal matter that is passing through, Raufman said.

Another sign of a potential problem is soft stool. Stool that sticks to the side of the toilet bowl, or is difficult to flush, could indicate the presence of too much oil.

"Oil floats, so you'll see it in the water," Raufman said. "They look like fat droplets, which can mean the body isn't absorbing the fats properly." Diseases such as chronic pancreatitis block the body from properly absorbing fat.

Whether stool floats depends on how much gas is in it. "Generally, stool that sinks or floats don't mean there's a problem," he said.




Smell

Though the smell of poop can be rather unpleasant, smells that are particularly strange or foul shouldn't be ignored.

"It's hard to tell people that stool can smell even worse, but it can," Raufman said. "If there is a change in your stool that persists or is unusual, you should see your doctor."

Stool is made up of undigested food, bacteria, mucus and dead cells. It usually smells bad because of the bacteria and parasites, but it also can have compounds that produce an especially unpleasant smell.

"If you have blood in your stool, that usually comes with a particular strange odor," he said. "Also, stool with a lot of fat can smell particularly bad."

Reasons for a foul smell could include certain medications, having food that's been stuck in the colon for too long, or having an infection, he said.



Constipation

Dry, hard stools that are hard to eliminate are a sign of constipation. People who are constipated may have bowel movements fewer than three times a week.

Constipation is a common complaint, and most people experience it at least once in their lives. More than 4 million Americans have frequent constipation, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Constipation could be caused by a number of factors, including a poor diet, lack of exercise, certain medications, lack of fluids or various bowel disorders.

If ignored, constipation could lead to complications such as hemorrhoids or rectal bleeding. The best way to relieve symptoms is to follow a well-balanced high-fiber diet, drink plenty of water, try to exercise regularly and go to the bathroom when you feel the urge.



Diarrhea

Diarrhea happens when loose, watery stools pass through your bowels too quickly. Generally it lasts one or two days and goes away on its own.

"It's a normal way for the body to get rid of toxic substances, like bacteria or viral infections," but it also can lead to dehydration, Raufman said.

Parasites found in water and food can enter the body and disrupt the digestive system, causing diarrhea that can last several days.

Diarrhea also can suggest a more serious problem. Diarrhea that lasts for at least four weeks may be a sign of a chronic disease, such as irritable bowel syndrome or Crohn's disease.

But diarrhea also could be a sign of chewing gum that contains sugar alcohol, such Xylitol or sorbitol. Raufman said, "Someone who chews one or two packs of sugar-free gum a day could also get diarrhea.""

I hope this has been as informative to you as it has to me! I learn new things all of the time about GP. But, the poop question, I couldn't pass up. I know a lot of people are curious about it, so I hope this article helps!