1. Change Your Diet to Reduce Gastroparesis Symptoms
Gastroparesis is a condition in which the digestion process is delayed and the stomach empties at an abnormally slow rate. Some of the most common causes of gastroparesis include diabetes (when blood sugar levels are not well managed), eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia, stomach surgery and viral infections. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, heartburn, abdominal pain and gastroesophageal reflux. Avoiding foods that are hard to digest can reduce the uncomfortable symptoms that come with gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying. Avoid raw fruit and vegetables, especially oranges, apples and broccoli. Foods with a high fat content and carbonated beverages can also contribute to gastroparesis if you have a history of the condition. If you experience frequent episodes of gastroparesis, reduce your intake of high-fiber foods that may be composed of undigestable fiber and can make you feel worse. A low-fat diet can help improve your symptoms. Try eating several small meals or snacks throughout the day instead of three full-sized meals. People who have severe symptoms may find their symptoms are reduced if they stick to a pureed diet in the place of solid foods.
2. Medications Can Aid Digestion
When diet modification does not treat your delayed gastric emptying, your doctor may prescribe medications to stimulate the stomach muscles into action. Metoclopramide is often an effective treatment for gastroparesis, as it causes the stomach muscles to contract, which carries the food further into the digestive tract. Metoclopramide can also alleviate nausea associated with the condition. The antibiotic erythromycin is another drug that induces stomach contractions, but its side effects can leave you more nauseated than before. Discuss the option of also taking an anti-emetic medication with your doctor.
3. Treatment Through Surgery
Patients with extremely severe cases of gastroparesis are at risk of becoming malnourished because their bodies can't absorb nutrients from the foods they're eating. In these cases, the only choice may be to bypass the stomach completely to provide adequate nutrition. A feeding tube is surgically implanted into your small intestine. Liquid nutrition and medicines are delivered through the tube directly into the small intestine, where it is then digested as it would in a normal digestive system. People whose bodies cannot tolerate this type of treatment may need to receive parenteral nutrition, a method in which a catheter delivers nutrition directly into the bloodstream. Another type of surgical intervention for gastroparesis is to implant a gastric neurostimulator. This small device does not provide nutrition, but releases electrical impulses that can treat the nausea and vomiting that result from delayed gastric emptying.
