Depression Understood Forums

I'm here because I'm suffering alot and on the edge of it bigtime.

It all started last year about november after my 33rd birthday when i took some painkillers for injury pain unfortunately I suffered some injury to my stomach from said painkillers and had to go on a bland diet and anti acid pills at night to let my stomach recover.

By december my condition had worsened and was suffering from extreme acid reflux was put on the highest possible amount of acid suppression I was doing my best to go on working and keep eating and drinking while waiting for medical tests, over a period of 5 months I lost 17kg.
Eventually I had to stop work because i was fainting at work and barely able to eat or drink anything over this whole period I was severly stressed and would fall asleep all during the day and not be able to sleep at night properly.
Had test after test at the hospital with no result and was eventually hospitalised at my lowest weight for medical re feeding regained the weight although it was a hard process and continued seeing doctors for testing.

Recently I've had a diagnosis with a concurring second opinion of Gastroparesis which is paralysis of the stomach for which I'm told there is no treatment and an unknown chance of improvement.
Have to Eat bland easy to digest food in small meals with pills to help it move through and sip on water sparingly managing about a litre a day.
Still suffer from acid reflux so on pills for that and the diet I'm on helps with it a little.

Before all this started I worked a very physical job I'd just bought a house I ran lifted weights and did karate and judo all of which i loved.
Now however I'm on a sickness benefit living with my parents I feel tired listless and in pain all the time all i really have to do all day is play videogames which after all this time is getting really old.

I know I'm suffering from depression something awful because nothing at all holds any interest for me no matter how hard I try, everything combined thinking about how things were before and how they are now and are liable to be in the future kills me inside, I ran outta steam a couple of months ago and was holding on by the skin of my teeth hoping there would be something that could be done but now nothing.

I'm close to the edge and in danger of falling off.

This is the info I recieved on gastroparesis from the mayo clinic. I hope you may find something in here to help you hon.



There is no cure for gastroparesis. Making changes to your diet may help you cope with gastroparesis signs and symptoms, but that's not always enough. Gastroparesis medications may offer some relief, but some can cause serious side effects.

Treating gastroparesis begins with identifying and treating the underlying condition. For instance, if diabetes is causing your gastroparesis, your doctor will work to help you control your diabetes. Beyond this, other gastroparesis treatments may include:

Changes to your diet
Your doctor may refer you to a dietitian who can work with you to find foods that are easier for you to digest, so that you're more likely to get enough calories and nutrients from the food you eat. A dietitian might suggest that you try to:

Eat smaller meals more frequently.
Eat low-fiber forms of high-fiber foods, such as well-cooked fruits and vegetables rather than raw fruits and vegetables.
Choose mostly low-fat foods, but if you can tolerate them, add small servings of fatty foods to your diet.
Avoid fibrous fruits and vegetables, such as oranges and broccoli, that are likely to cause bezoars.
If liquids are easier for you to ingest, try soups and pureed foods.
Drink water throughout each meal.
Try gentle exercise after you eat, such as going for a walk.
Some people with gastroparesis may be unable to tolerate any food or liquids. In these situations, doctors may recommend a feeding tube (jejunostomy tube) be placed in the small intestine.

Feeding tubes can be passed through your nose or mouth or directly into your small intestine through your skin. The tube is usually temporary and is only used when gastroparesis is severe or when blood sugar levels can't be controlled by any other method.

Medications
Medications to treat gastroparesis may include:

Medications to control nausea and vomiting. Anti-emetic medications include prochlorperazine, ondansetron (Zofran) and diphenhydramine (Benadryl).
Medications to stimulate the stomach muscles. These medications include metoclopramide (Reglan) and erythromycin. Side effects of these medications are significant. Discuss the benefits and risks with your doctor.
Surgery
If treatment doesn't help control your nausea, vomiting or malnutrition, you may consider gastroparesis surgery. During surgery, the lower part of the stomach may be stapled or bypassed to help improve stomach emptying.

Experimental treatments
Researchers are working on new ways of treating gastroparesis, such as:

Injecting a nerve toxin to allow the stomach to release food. Botulinum toxin (Botox) is a nerve toxin most commonly known for its use in treating skin wrinkles. Researchers have found that Botox injections relax the pyloric muscle in some people, thereby allowing the stomach to release more food. The benefits are temporary, however, and more studies are needed to determine the overall usefulness of this treatment.
Implanting an electrical device to control the stomach muscles. Electrical gastric stimulation uses an electric current to cause stomach contractions. Working much like a heart pacemaker, this stomach pacemaker, consisting of a tiny generator and two electrodes, is placed in a pocket that surgeons create on the stomach's outer edge. Stomach pacemakers have been shown to improve stomach emptying and reduce nausea and vomiting in some people with gastroparesis.

Hi Justin! ((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( Justin )))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

You really do have a situation on your hands.

I hope you can find some comfort here!