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Treatment for Gastroparesis
A Proactive Approach to Your Health.
Gastroparesis is a rare functional disorder that slows or paralyzes the stomach muscles. Also known as Delayed Gastric Emptying, when the stomach’s motility is slowed or doesn’t work at all, it can impact the entire digestive system, leading to nausea, vomiting, upper abdominal pain, bloating, early feeling of fullness, and heartburn. However, there are treatment options for Gastroparesis with Galliano Surgical Group.
- What should you know about Gastroparesis?
The cause of gastroparesis is typically unknown. In a healthy stomach, strong muscular contractions help move food through the digestive tract, but when the contractions are weak, slow, or nonexistent, food can sit too long in the stomach instead of moving on to the slow intestine. Some factors can increase your risk of gastroparesis, and women are at higher risk compared to men: - Diabetes Type 1 & 2 - Complications from abdominal or esophageal surgery - Some infections, particularly viral - Certain medications can cause muscle sluggishness, like narcotics - Nervous system conditions, like Parkinson’s disease or Multiple Sclerosis - Scleroderma - Hypothyroidism
- What are the signs and symptoms of Gastroparesis?
The signs and symptoms of gastroparesis can vary from person to person, with some not having any noticeable symptoms. Those with gastroparesis often report feeling full almost immediately after they begin eating and only consuming a few bites of food. Additionally, this feeling of fullness can last longer than average after eating. Other signs and symptoms of gastroparesis include: - Nausea and Vomiting - Indigestion - Acid reflux and heartburn - Regurgitation - Abdominal pain and bloating - Fluctuations in blood sugar levels - Little to no appetite - Constipation Symptoms of gastroparesis usually continue to worsen over time and can have long-lasting side effects such as weight loss, severe dehydration, and malnutrition.
There is Hope: Treatment for Gastroparesis
Our team at Galliano Surgical Group will work with you to get to the bottom of your gastroparesis by discussing your symptoms and reviewing your health history. To determine the cause of your symptoms, your physician will likely order imaging tests to ensure there is no physical blockage in your digestive tract, as well as blood tests and a Gastric Emptying Study to measure the motility of your gastric system. While there is no cure for gastroparesis, you and your physician will go over your options to determine the right treatment plan for you and your lifestyle. Most treatment options include a stimulant to invigorate the muscles in the stomach to contract and push it to empty. Your treatment plan could consist of medications, nutritional changes to your diet, hydration therapy, and/or surgery. If your gastroparesis symptoms do not improve after taking medication, gastric electrical stimulation (GES) may be a viable option for you. The Enterra™ Therapy System is a small, surgically implanted device that sends a tiny electrical current to stimulate the stomach’s muscles, encouraging them to contract and move food to the small intestine. Combined with other treatments, Enterra™ Therapy can provide you with hope and a renewed sense of optimism.
Enterra™ Therapy is intended to reduce symptoms of chronic, medication-resistant nausea and vomiting associated with gastroparesis caused by diabetes or unknown causes in patients aged 18 to 70. You do not need to live with symptoms of nausea and vomiting associated with gastroparesis.
If you think Enterra™ Therapy may be right for you, schedule a consultation with the knowledgeable and compassionate physicians at Galliano Surgical Group. We look forward to partnering with you to find the right solutions to change your life for the better and proactively improve your health.