I just read your post here and appreciate it so much. I just went through an endoscopy because of my stomach problems, nausea, feeling full and bowel issues. I have not yet been diagnosed officially but I was the one who prediagnosed myself with gastroparesis. Upon waking from the endoscopy I was asked when I last ate as there was still food in my stomach. I had last eaten at 5 pm the day before. 16 hours later and food was still in my stomach. At that moment I told the physician I had suspected gastroparesis and he acknowledged that it was most likely my problem. I have to wait for my follow up appointment to see what is next but I am unhappily certain this is my problem. I have Hashimotos Thyroiditis and I have had these issues in the past when my thyroid was low. Everyone seems to want to point to Diabetes as the main culprit and I am Diabetic but this issue began with me long before any Diabetes or peripheral neuropathy happened to me, 25 or more years ago actually. No one understands all the function of the thyroid and how it manages our systems in the body but it seems to me there is more behind the Gastroparesis than just the Vegas Nerve and Neuropathy. I am just now going to embark on new dietary changes which will be quite hard since I am also diabetic. I appreciate your list of dietary foods to help me with my own choices. I hope the medical community can look more into this health issue and find out how the Thyroid contributes to this health malady. I believe my mother had the same problem and it is what caused her not to be able to eat and caused her death literally from her body's starvation of nutrients. She was about 80 pounds when her systems shut down and she passed away. All of her complaints come back to me now and I am in her shoes with the same problems. She too had low thyroid and was diagnosed much later on with Diabetes. I really feel there is a connection to the Thyroid and Gastroparesis.
I have to say "Good God, No!" I tried that once, to be efficient. It is truly a horrid concoction. Blech, blech, blech. I take the turmeric stirred into an ounce of water or so, then "chase" it with the bitters, which is much more pleasant!
Do you mix the swedish bitters and tumeric together and then drink it? Or do you do each thing separately? Thank you.
I do believe Swedish Bitters aid in digestion. That is mainly why they are sold. I think their main function is to help the stomach contract, which can jumpstart the disgestive process for a paralyzed stomach--which of course is the definition of gastroparesis. Earlier this year, I had a bad spell for a few weeks in which I was digesting so poorly that my stomach was hard and in continual pain with cramping, and my other organs were struggling, my eyes were yellow (jaundice), and my blood tests showed all sorts of abnormal numbers. I successfully treated this by sticking religiously to my "safe foods" list and followed every meal with a shot of Swedish Bitters (1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon mixed with about 2 tablespoons of water), and a shot of turmeric (the spice--one teaspoon mixed with about 2 Tablespoons of water), and 6-8 chewable papaya enzyme tablets. My blood tests returned to normal in four weeks. I was relieved, because the turmeric shot tastes horrible! But it is a million times better than a hospital stay with an NG tube! Nowadays, I usually add a shot of Swedish Bitters after my last meal of the day. Sometimes I do a shot of it after other meals if it was a particularly heavy one. I really think this helps keep my stomach in good shape (along with choosing good foods as much as possible). At the first sign of stomach cramping or if I suspect I am not digesting something I have eaten, I do two things in addition to the bitters and the papaya enzyme tablets: I add the turmeric shot, and I also use a Dulcolax suppository. I have found that getting things out the other end "pulls" the food through and keeps my digestive system from freezing up. That system has definitely worked for me. And, thank the Lord, there are many days where everything just feels normal and I don't have to give my stomach a second thought--keeping in mind that my diet now habitually consists of "safe" foods. I wish you the best in finding some things that help you!
Swedish Bitters does this aid in digestion? I am not having a problem at this time digesting or eliminating. Mostly I am concern with the hardness and the bloating. I have avoided taking any medication so far since I am very drug sensitive and also a type ll diabetic. I am on insulin which unfortunately prevents some wt. loss. I was diagnost about a yr. ago and still learning to cope with gastroparesis. Thanks for the information it has reassured and informed.
God Bless you also. (He certainly does)
Thank you for sharing. I am sorry I didn't notice your comment sooner. I have just recently heard about the Aloe Vera, so I am glad it helps you. I hope things have been going well for you and that you have been able to find the foods and medicines that work for you. God bless.
Dorothy,
Thank you for sharing. I too have found that it is so helpful if I don't eat after 4:00 p.m. By that time of day, I'm just too tired, and digesting food is too big of a job for my stomach. I have also found it helpful to just do liquid diets some days. Swedish Bitters can be found at health food stores. My favorite are from Urban Moonshine. You can do an online search to find them. I order them off the internet. I drink a few drops with a shot of water. Papaya enzymes are a natural digestive enzyme, so it helps with digestion of foods. You can usually get them at any health food or vitamin store. My favorite ones are from GNC. It is hard for me not to panic when my stomach feels hard and bloated. I have learned that usually means I am simply backed up, so I do use Dulcolax suppositories to keep things moving, and that often helps. When things start coming out the back end, then the stomach contents kind of get 'pulled" through, it seems. You could try that and see if that helps, but you should check with your Doctor. I use Phenergan 25mg as needed to keep my stomach calm. God bless and I pray you do well.
I find with gastroparesis there are times that things seem to be better than others. Of course, I have had to learn to eat differently. Movement doesn't seem to assist me either. I try not to eat after 4 p.m. This does help me.
Since I have a feeling of fullness most of the time there isn't a problem with cravings. I know that if I wait a half hr. the craving disappears. Here is my concern; my stomach area feels hard when palpated and I have a lot of bloating. What is Swedish Bitters, papaya enzymes? If I fast liquids two days a week I find that I have more meal choices.
Dorothy 3255
I too have gastroparesis. I have been on erythromiacin for 6 months. I just received my domperidone from Canada and will begin that medication in Feb. I will alternate every 6 months. I am on Zofran for the nausea. I lost 40 pounds in 2-3 months. Had to quit my job. Things are better now. I get tired very easily, no nutrition going in. I do drink boost and make protein drinks and take vitamins. I don't vomit which is good. I also found an aloe vera drink for the stomacy by Lily of the Desert. I take it twice a day and what a difference it makes. You mix one capful with two capfuls of whatever, I use ginger ale. I do this in the morning before breakfast and at dinner time. I also follow the diet my doctor gave me religiously. I eat a lot of low fat cracker and cheese. Good luck to all of you out there who have this disease.
I'm glad you found something that is helping. However, I would recommend against sugar-free candies as many of these can cause problems.
I am starting a food diary. I have also been using sugar-free hard-candies to help alleviate temptations to eat foods I shouldn't touch--like burgers, pizza, spaghetti, breakfast burritos--many of the things I cook for my large family.
Update:
After a serious decline in stomach function over the past several weeks, I just re-started acupuncture treatment with amazing results. My acupuncturist explained that most Americans do not use acupuncture correctly. The best way to treat an illness with acupuncture is to get acupuncture treatments 5-6 times a week for up to 6 weeks, then maintenance treatments once a week, then finally slowing down to the needed amount of maintenance treatments (once a week to once per month). Luckily, my acupuncturist works on barter and takes donations to cover needle costs.
This past fall, I had quit acupuncture because I was feeling perfectly well--only needing to eat with slight restraint and caution. It is difficult to willingly do an acupuncture treatment when feeling so healthy. But now I am learning to remember that acupuncture is FAR FAR FAR more comfortable than a lengthy hospital stay with an NG tube and IV nutrition!
After looking more into Chinese nutritional healing, I have decided to do a dairy-free trial--which up till now, dairy had been a main source of calories and protein for me. My acupuncturist and nutritionist are also helping me identify foods that "feed" my weak areas: stomach, spleen, kidneys, liver (yin deficiency in those areas). My goal is to find a stable, consistent, repetitive diet that keeps me "afloat."
The acupuncture began to alleviate the stomach distress almost immediately, but I am still jaundiced--my eyes and skin are yellow, and my blood and urine is dark.
Today I pick up my Swedish Bitters to try.
Thanking God today to be home with my children and able to function well enough to care for them!
Thank you so very much and God bless you in your trial.
Welcome to the gastroenterology community! I'm glad you have found things that have worked!!! I too have gastroparesis, and I am currently tube fed through a J tube and I also have a PICC line. Let me know if you have any questions or if you would like to talk.