Gastroparesis?

Went to the gastroenterologist today. After reviewing my symptoms, he's pretty certain I have gastroparesis. I'm on a low fiber, soft diet with protein shakes as supplemental nutrition until further notice. He doesn't want to subject my digestive system to more surgery unless it is absolutely necessary. He also believes this is due to my preexisting IBS Dx for the most part, the band hasn't helped. I've lost more weight since my EGD in December and he's concerned about nutrition.

I am so sorry you are going through this. I hope things get moving again. The diet would be hard for me to handle since it wouldn't fill me up or keep me satisfied for very long. How long do you anticipate being on this diet? I sure wish you luck. Sue

Thanks, Sue.  I'm on this until my situation improves.  I'm to eat several small meals per day...so wont be too hungry.  I don't get hungry except 2,3 times a week, honestly.  It's hard to wrap my mind around it, since I've spent 3 years learning to eat so opposite of this.  I really crave crisp raw veggies, so it's been driving me nuts to have trouble digesting them.

That is a rough one.  Sorry you are having to go thru this.  I too suffer from IBS.  I have been doing much better since the band came out.  So far better than even before.  Wishing you the best with the diet and hoping it gets better soon!

It's interesting that so many who have this do better after band removal/revision.  BUT my doctor is reluctant to Rx surgery until he is certain it is the only option.  Makes sense when you consider the recognized causes of GP: obesity, diabetes, upper abdominal surgery, including hiatal hernia repair, gallbladder removal, WLS, viral gastroenteritis...

It's no wonder so many of us are developing motility issues as a long term side effect.   While I had some GI issues pre WLS, I had a stomach virus in Sept '11 and gallbladder surgery less than a month later in Oct '11.  That's when I started having major problems resulting in having my band emptied in June '12.  

The confusion with us as band pts is that the symptoms of GP are similar to being banded...early satiety.  Wednesday, the doctor was emphatic in trying to help me understand that I'm not too tight, band wise, food isn't going anywhere for hours/days and the feeling is very similar.  When I asked him why the barium was just barely dripping thru the band last June, he said my stomach was  in spasm creating the effect of a very tight band.  It also made sense that I didn't get relief for weeks until I went on a week long liquid/soft diet AND I got worse when I reintroduced salads, etc to my diet.  

This is what I think people are talking about when they say their band gets tight on its own or their body is rejecting the band.  While my doctor acknowledges that the band can and does irritate the vagus nerve, it is the process of implanting the band, the surgery itself that does the real nerve damage.

Are you 100% comfortable with your surgeon or would you consider a second opinion?

Do you mean my band surgeon?  The doctor treating me for the GP is my gastroenterologist.  He's not a surgeon, but if he recommends surgery, will refer me to a surgeon he works closely with in treating this type of condition.  My band surgeon is 60 miles away.  At this point I'm much more comfortable working with my caregivers I'm familiar with.  My GI doctor has been treating me since 2000 for IBS and does my colonoscopies/endoscopy when needed.

Forgot to add...I went to the GI doctor specifically for a second opinion.  The band surgeon is focused on the band and surgical intervention, therefore would just continue to treat everything as if its band related.  

Got it!  So the band surgeon wants the band out but your GI is the one that doesn't feel it is necessary yet.  I had the opposite issue. My GI and PCP wanted the band out and was sure it was band related.  The band surgeon wanted to blame the issues on me.

I just read up on GP, and I still think you should consider getting your band removed Steph...just my opinion.