Gastroparesis

snydermom · #1 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 10:39 AM

Trying here not to get too mad but this is what we're being told about Ed's weight loss. They are telling us it's extremely diabetic related but hasn't ever been checked by either the pcp or endo.

http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/dige...tro/gastro.htm

Anybody else heard of it?

Beth.

duck · #2 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 01:13 PM

What tests have they run? I thought the most conclusive evidence of gatroparesis was running a barium test. I don't appreciate that the article acts like it's only a condition that afflicts diabetics; I know people with GERD, so I know about the potential for them developing gastroparesis...

But I'm not a doctor, so I would definitely ask for some sort of conclusive test to be run.

By the way, it seems to me that once a doctor finds out you are a diabetic, every little ailment is related to the diabetes..."Oh, you get headaches because of your blood sugars..." or "Your skin is dry because of your diabetes." You would think only diabetics get headaches or dry skin. By the way, I recall having both at times when I had a fully functional set of islet cells...

snydermom · #3 (**permalink**) 10-23-2003, 04:05 PM

duck - I totally agree with you on the "everything can't be diabetic related" thing. Lord knows we've been hearing enough of it! They're still insisting Ed's massive back/groin/leg pain is neurapathy altho all nerve tests (and he's had a lot of them) are "inconclusive"!

Ed had a gastroscopy yesterday and the barium test was today. The scope showed esophogal & stomach problems indicative of both esophagitis & gastroparesis - altho he's had NO heartburn/acid reflux problems and NO stomach pains. Also, his bg's have been holding pretty steady for a few months now. Hopefully the barium results will be in tomorrow. They are prescribing Reglan.

I sure hope they're getting something right ... my signature line says it all as far as my attitude!

Thanks ... Beth.

Jon · #4 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 08:48 PM

Doctors have the difficult job of trying to figure out what is wrong with you. They are not supposed to release you without giving you some kind of diagnosis. I have heard of doctors falsley diagnosing people when they could not figure out what was wrong with them, just so they could release them. They would actually tell the patient that they don't know what the problem is, but will call it something so they can be released. I am sure it is a big relief to them when somebody comes in and already has a diagnosis like diabetes. Then it is easy to just say "you are feeling bad because you are diabetic".

duck · #5 (**permalink**) 10-24-2003, 09:18 PM

That is a very good point, Jon. We can't completely blame the docs, though, as I know MANY people who get so mad when they see a doctor and the doctor doesn't prescribe some type of magic-bullet to make them feel better. It is becoming a very vicious cycle in our society...

Ms. Snyder, how did the tests go (if you don't mind)?

snydermom · #6 (**permalink**) 10-25-2003, 06:45 AM

Hey duck ... call me Beth, please! Ms/Mrs makes me feel older than I already am!!!

They didn't expound on the barium test results other than confirming the diagnosis. (BTW - Thursday morning before the barium test, the doc pulled out the esophagus & stomach pictures from the scope to show me the damaged places.) It still hasn't been explained why this is such a "diabetic-related" condition.

I'm not sure which of the tests it showed up in BUT they also said he has sprue aka gluten intolerance. Now, while I am somewhat familiar with sprue (an uncle had a very bad case of it) I was pretty hot because I had asked the pcp to check him for it about 3 months ago and he thought I was nuts.

The gastro doesn't require a special diet - meds and lots of small meals are prescribed. The the dm diet plus a gluten-free diet is going to be a b*tch to try to gain with. But if we can regulate things to the point that his body is metabilizing the food properly he should at least gain some & start getting the vitamins & minerals working to get up some strength.

I understand that it can be very difficult to find one specific problem in the complex human body ... especially after many years of toll (and abuse!). But when the pro says "we've checked everything" my answer will be "no, you haven't". It may be very elusive - but it's there somewhere.

His pain may be an entirely different issue but to simply keep giving someone more and more oxycontin doesn't seem like a good answer. To mark on the chart neurapathy when you're admitting that the tests are inconclusive and it's not acting in the normal sequence of the disease doesn't make sense.

Enough complaining!!!! Thanks for your input. Beth.