August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month; since this condition and its symptoms are often confused with GERD, the first step in understanding what gastroparesis might be is its differences from GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Today we’re comparing gastroparesis vs. GERD so that you can better understand which one of these two conditions might be ailing you!
What Is Gastroparesis?
Gastroparesis is a condition that makes it difficult to digest food. It is a chronic disorder that slows down the stomach's emptying process. Gastroparesis may also be called delayed gastric emptying or dyspepsia with gastroparesis.
What Causes Gastroparesis?
The two most common causes of gastroparesis are diabetes and idiopathic (unknown) causes. The diagnosis is made by an esophageal manometry test, designed to measure what happens to your food after you swallow it一 if little or no stomach acid gets released to digest your food, you have what's called "gastric retention."
Gastroparesis Symptoms
Although this condition is not common, you should still know what symptoms to look out for if you’re suspecting you have any kind of gastrointestinal disorder. The most common symptoms of gastroparesis are nausea, vomiting and a feeling of fullness after eating only small amounts.
Other possible gastroparesis symptoms include:
Abdominal pain
Bloating
Constipation or diarrhea (sometimes alternating)
Frequent upset stomach
Heartburn
Regurgitation of undigested food
Stomach pain
Lack of appetite & weight loss
Difficulty controlling blood sugar
If you have these symptoms and they don't seem to improve over time, you probably have gastroparesis.
Gastroparesis vs. GERD
If you are diagnosed with gastroparesis and not GERD, your stomach can't produce enough acid to digest food properly or move down into your intestines for complete digestion. GERD occurs when your stomach acids come back up into your esophagus because of a weak lower esophageal sphincter muscle or hiatal hernia.
One way to determine what you have is by taking an esophageal manometry. An esophageal manometer is a tube with pressure sensors on either end and measures the pressures in your stomach as you swallow food or liquids. It can measure how well your lower esophageal sphincter muscle works. If it doesn't work well, you may have gastroparesis一 or what the manometer calls "hypotensive esophageal phase." The doctor will also look for other symptoms that match what you're experiencing.
How to Relieve Gastroparesis or GERD
It's important to remember that if your diagnosis is gastroparesis or GERD, there are certain things that you can do to relieve what you're feeling.
In gastroparesis, a doctor may prescribe metoclopramide or erythromycin so that your stomach empties better and doesn't produce too much acid, which could irritate what's left in the stomach since it can't move on its own. In addition, there are other things you can do to help with what you're feeling, such as avoiding high-fat or high-fiber foods.
Suppose your diagnosis is GERD and not gastroparesis. In that case, the doctor may prescribe proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) like Prilosec that can reduce stomach acid production so that food stays down in your stomach. Lifestyle changes are also suggested, such as what you eat and the position of your body when sleeping at night.
Both gastroparesis and GERD are uncomfortable to live with, but what sets them apart is what's causing the problem. You don't have to live with either of these conditions! Schedule your appointment with Tampa Bay Reflux Center and stop living with GERD or gastroparesis.
