Gastroparesis is paralysis of the stomach. Also known as delayed gastric emptying, gastroparesis is a chronic condition that affects stomach muscles and disrupts your stomach’s ability to move food along normally. It occurs when the stomach muscles that push food through your digestive tract become weakened or impaired. As a result, food lingers in your stomach longer than it should, causing uncomfortable symptoms.
Studies estimate that 500,000 to 5 million Americans may suffer gastroparesis. But other research from the National Institutes of Health suggests this may only be the tip of a gastroparesis “iceberg.” There’s evidence to suggest that there are many people living with undiagnosed gastroparesis because patients experience a range of symptoms similar to those of other diseases such as GERD and celiac disease.
Symptoms
- Nausea
- Vomiting undigested food
- Feeling full after only eating a small amount of full
- Upper abdominal pain in your ribcage or the pit of your stomach
- Low appetite
- Acid reflux
- Abdominal bloating
- Belching
Risk Factors
- Diabetes
- Viral or bacterial infections
- Surgery on or near your stomach
- Autoimmune disease
- Certain medications including:
- Amylin analogs/GLP-1 agonists (including Ozempic, Wegovy, and more)
- Opioids
- Nicotine
- Cannabis
- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Progesterone
- Anticholinergics (allergy medications)
- Calcium channel blockers
- Cyclosporine
- Clonidine
- Lithium
- Antipsychotic medications
When to See a Doctor
It’s time to see a medical provider when you’ve been experiencing these symptoms for a prolonged period of time, or if any of these symptoms are causing you to worry.
Treatment Options
- Lifestyle changes including:
- Eating smaller meals throughout the day
- Lowering the amount of fatty food that you eat
- Avoiding food that’s heavy or hard to digest and carbonated drinks
- Avoiding lying down for 2 hours after a meal
- Chewing food well
- Prescription medications
Diagnostic Testing
The foremost diagnostic test for any condition is a thorough exam and consultation with a physician, including a review of your individual and family history. In addition, your physician may recommend any of the following tests or procedures, which may provide further diagnostic value:
- Gastric emptying test
- Upper GI Endoscopy (EGD)
- Ultrasound
- SmartPill
- Breath testing