Re: stomachs and gastric motility etc...

[Guest guest]

Hi Robin.

Once again I can step forward (really, I'm not trying to get attention!!)

and say that I am somone who has gastric problems involving the stomach

(gastroparesis, sphincter of oddi dysfunction, a slowing pancreas, biliary

dyskinesia, IBS, no gallbladder now, cranky bile ducts...). Basically the

upper half of my digestive tract isn't working normally, which often causes

problems in the colon as well. So I've had to do lots of reading on the

stomach and how food moves and what processes are involved in the early

stages of digestion-- partly because I wanted to understand, and partly so I

could figure out how to cope.

I find it complicated but fascinating! I have to re-read the information

often because I still find myself not understanding the processes. It seems

to be chaos theory in action!

My doctors don't explain much, but fortunately there's lots of information

out in the world that can be accessed. Thanks for the links; I hadn't come

across one of them yet.

Fortunately, I'm figuring out how to manage things and deal with candida as

well. Most days I can get to work and even exercise. That's a big

improvement for me!

Kim M.

[Guest guest]

>>> (gastroparesis, sphincter of oddi dysfunction, a slowing pancreas,

biliary

dyskinesia, IBS, no gallbladder now, cranky bile ducts...). >>>>

Hi Kim, Were all these things diagnosed over time? And with tests?

Do you take a lot of hydrochloric acid with meals?

And I can't remember, did you ever go through a bacterial infection in your

stomach? Or what caused all these things to start?

I'm sorry if you've already explained... I missed a few months there...

I'm sorry to hear you've been through so much. Ouch!!

~Robin

[Guest guest]

Hi Robin.

This is going to be a long post!

>Hi Kim, Were all these things diagnosed over time? And with tests? >

Yes, it took about 6 months of tests, procedures, 3 surgeries, 3

gastroenterologists, and a new primary doctor for me to end up diagnosed

with all of the gastric problems. My gastric issues started suddenly last

Halloween, with no warning (the worst pain was due to a slow-emptying

gallbladder). I ended up going to 3 gastroenterologists because the first

two told me, after numerous tests, that it was either stress or

psychological... I kept going and fortunately ended up seeing a

gastroenterologist who almost immediately diagnosed the uncommon Sphincter

of Oddi dysfunction. Unfortunately I'd had my gall bladder removed in

November (the surgeon was reluctant, but my primary doctor at the time said

it was necessary; and I didn't know any better...), which left me with the

gastroparesis and IBS with C, although the doctor also thinks the Sphincter

of Oddi dysfunction plays a role in my general gastric dysfunction.

I was still having problems after I had a sphincterotomy to get a bile duct

blockage emptied, and I was feeling fairly certain that it was connected to

my ovarian cysts, but couldn't get my primary doctor to order a pelvic

ultrasound. I switched to a new primary doctor and got the pelvic

ultrasound, which found that one of my ovarian cysts had grown to a very

large size, and was pressing on my descending colon. By the time I could

see a gynecologist to get the surgery scheduled, I was in extreme pelvic

pain, so I guess it would have been found eventually anyway! I ended up

needing a complete hysterectomy, where the gynecologist found extensive

endemetriosis, and some adhesions to my bladder and colon. Fortunately I

didn't need any of my colon removed, and I've gotten my bladder almost back

to normal. Unfortunately the endemetriosis had a role to play in my gastric

dysfunction, and also left me with a compromised immune system, which I'm

working to rebuild.

<Do you take a lot of hydrochloric acid with meals? >

No, actually I haven't yet tried this. I needed to take Protonix from

November to June, which is a medication that inhibits the last stages of

acid production in the stomach. Due to the gastroparesis (slow stomach

motility) the acid levels in my stomach were causing GERD, and the only

thing that kept that from happening (very uncomfortable and caused my throat

to close up so it was hard to breathe) was Protonix. I have been able to

stop taking Protonix since I'm on the SCD, but I've been a bit reluctant to

try HCl because of the gastroparesis.

<And I can't remember, did you ever go through a bacterial infection in

your>

<stomach? Or what caused all these things to start?>

Having a virus or bacterial infection in my stomach was never confirmed,

although I was suspicious of this because there was a nasty gastric virus

going around my county in October of last year. My gastroenterologist is of

the opinion that my problems are a combination of the uncommon Sphincter of

Oddi dysfunction, insulin resistance, general gastric dysfunction due to the

gallbladder removal and endemetriosis, and general hormonal and chemical

imbalances.

However, now he is wondering if I don't also have a SIBO, since I still have

more nausea and more bloating in my small intestines than I should. Plus I

continue to lose weight (it's slowed down to 3 pounds a week). I am

reluctant to take more tests, and have more antibiotics, but I guess I'll at

least take the tests.

One of the " benefits " of this whole experience is that I've learned to

navigate the medical world. Another is that I am now much more informed

about nutrition and the digestive system.

One of the odd things I've discovered is that so many of the doctors don't

(or won't) discuss the importance of diet to our health, nor are willing to

consider and help us deal with the impact of candida overgrowth.

Fortunately we have groups like this one where we can learn from each other.

It does help.

Kim M.

[Guest guest]

Dear Kim,

Oh Kim, I'm so so sorry to hear what you've been through. Darn! And please

tell me you have a lot of weight to start with? Since it takes 3500 calories

to make 1 pound of body fuel/fat and if you're losing 3 pounds a week,

that's 14,000 calories/week that you're not getting. And if you require 2000

calories/day to live and since 7 days x 2000 is also 14,000 calories, you're

losing weight WAY too fast. Maybe some of the three pounds is water weight?

(I hope.)

The coincidence for me about your story is the endometriosis. That was an

integral part of my life too. I thought it was just affecting my comfort and

my reproductive system but it is a strong coincidence that all my digestive

woes started when I started going through menopause. More hormonal activity!

And about acid blockers: My doctor gave me Protonix when I had the ulcer

last year. I think it's an acid pump inhibitor (?) I took it along with the

antibiotics to help let my stomach lining heal. Over his protests though, I

stopped taking them about a month and a half later because I thought they

were causing me problems. I'd read that people, as they age, have less and

less acid in our stomachs and so it didn't make sense to me to deplete it

further. That was all over 10 months ago now. I'm fine without them but Kim,

if they help you to breathe, well, that's pretty important!!!

I just found reference to a book that discusses the stomach acid thing a

little more. Here's the link:

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0ISW/is_2002_June/ai_86387606

I sure hope things clear up for you. It seems that maybe, after all you've

been through, you can just sit tight and stick to the diets and get LOTS of

rest and wait it out? But how to stop losing so much weight? I'm hoping the

best for you! ~Robin