1. Notice When You Feel Full
One of the identifying factors for gastroparesis, also known as delayed gastric emptying, is that you may only be able to eat a few bites of your meal before you feel uncomfortably full and bloated. While this can happen to most people with normal digestive systems at one time or another, a person with gastroparesis will experience this premature fullness on a regular basis. Gastroparesis occurs when your stomach muscles are not strong enough to move undigested food through the normal digestive process. If you have this condition, within a few hours of eating, you will become nauseated and vomit. You may have problems with solid foods, liquids or both types of nourishment, depending on which of your stomach muscles are affected.
2. Recognize Heartburn as a Symptom
Due to the extended length of time that food remains undigested in your stomach, it may irritate your stomach lining and cause heartburn. Heartburn in itself won't be the determining factor that you have gastroparesis, as it can be a symptom of a wide range of gastrointestinal issues. When you have heartburn and are exhibiting other problems with digestion, it could point to delayed gastric emptying.
3. Test Your Blood Sugar
People who have diabetes are at a higher risk than others of developing gastroparesis. If you are diabetic, test your blood sugar as directed by your doctor and learn how to manage it correctly. If you have not been diagnosed with diabetes and have gastroparesis, you may still experience fluctuating blood sugar levels at times because of your hampered digestion.
4. Be Alert to Unexplained Weight Loss
Losing weight for no obvious reason can be a key symptom of gastroparesis. When your body digests food, it absorbs nutrients that are vital to your health. When you can't keep food down long enough for it to be digested, you lose weight and run the risk of becoming malnourished. If you have dropped a lot of weight without trying, contact your doctor so that you and he can figure out what is causing it.
