Question:
Has anyone been told your "stomach is not emptying like it should?"

I am 5+ yrs. RNY (with gallbladder removal as well), and have started having problems approx. 1 mo. ago. It started with immobilizing pain in the mid epigastric area which went straight through to the back. In trying to make a long story, short the last test I had done was a gastroscope with biopsy. I was told that, my "stomach was not emptying like it should." I go back next Friday for the results of the test. Has anyone experienced this before and if so, what was done? I am very concerned about this. I would appreciate your input and thanks in advance.    — faith092302 (posted on July 12, 2008)

July 12, 2008
Not sure if this is the same as I have. But, After three years I finally been told that I have a hole in my pouch,d that it needs to be closed up. They said the food is going into my old stomach and it is making me full. And that it is not going out the they way it should, that it is very slow going out. And that is making me very full and sick when I eat. Have not been able to eat the right food for amost three years. I am going in this Fridayfor an operation to have my pouch fix, maybe you need to see if this could be the answer. Good luck, don't wait too long to find out like I did. ~Carol~
   — Carol Giusto

July 12, 2008
I have been having this problems for over a year. When they did the barium upper GI it took 4 hours for it to go thru my body. They said they only had one other person take longer. But in the end they really didn't do anything except give me Miralax which didn't work. I am going to the Dr's right now for the same thing and no diagnosis yet. Had the scope last week and the Dr said my ryn=y looked great. I heard him tell the others that who ever did my surgery did a fantastic job. Glad to hear that now fix my stomach.
   — diamond0801

July 13, 2008
Hi Myrna, I celebrated 5 years this week and also had gall bladder removed a year after RNY, I am experiencing the same exact pain. I have no insurance right now because I have been a full-time student for the past 2 years, so they have not scoped me yet. They have been treating me as if I have an ulcer. That is what they assumed it was. I am starting a new job and my insurance will be in effect in 90 days, I hope to be scoped to find out what is going on. The pain is exactly the same, mid epigastric straight through to back. I had to go to ER. It started a year ago, went away and has been pretty regular for the past several months. I would be interested to know what you find out Friday and how they plan to treat it. I am adding you as a friend if that is ok. Thank you! Rhonda
   — rjh729

July 13, 2008
Google "gastroparesis", "delayed gastric emptying", or "poor motility" and you will find a ton of info. When we eat, our stomach is supposed to grind/liquefy food and then squeeze it out of the stomach and into the intestines. Sometimes the stomach gets slow and doesn't do the squeezing like it is supposed to. You end up with food that sits in your belly for too long which can cause pain, early fullness, nausea/vomiting, all sorts of lovely things. Treatment depends on the cause and severity of symptoms... a lot of the time it can be managed by changing diet (low fat/low fiber, easy to digest foods), changing lifestyle (small, more frequent meals, sitting up after eating, no nighttime eating, exercise), medication (pro-kinetic medication to help the stomach move better and medication to control symptoms like nausea/heartburn/pain)... for more severe cases, there are more invasive treatments like botox injections or surgery to relax/widen the outlet at the bottom of the stomach, removal/reconstruction of the stomach... there's also an implantable device called Enterra, which is sort of like a pace maker except it works on the stomach. I've been dealing with this for a couple of years...its one of the things that has kept me from having WLS...I lose a bunch of weight when my symptoms are bad then gain it back when they're better. Please feel free to email me mrsidknee (at) gmail (dot) com... I've had a lot of experience with this and would be happy to share what I know, offer support, let you vent, etc. Good luck.
   — mrsidknee