Gastroparesis and Pancreatitis

Gastroparesis and Pancreatitis

If you have suffered from Pancreatitis then you may have heard about Gastroparesis.

I certainly hope that you haven’t suffered from it because this has caused me many problems and a lot of pain when it happens.

Gastro (stomach) peresis (paralysis) can be one of the side effects of Pancreatitis.

Other terms that are often used to describe this condition are:

• gastric stasis
• gastropathy
• slow stomach
• sluggish stomach
• diabetic enteropathy

The bottom line is that your stomach starts to empty too slowly.  This is a problem that is often found with people that have Pancreatitis, especially if they also suffer from Diabetes.

The Stomach

Your stomach is an amazing flexible organ that under normal conditions will digest the foods that you eat by stretching and shrinking, mixing and churning until those foods are ready to be passed into your small intestine.

What Causes Gastroparesis

Everybody’s stomach is unique and how fast we digest the foods we eat is different.

But with Pancreatitis, the pain can cause your stomach to slow dramatically, making the process of eating and getting the nutrients that you need a problem.

Even if you have stopped eating because of the pain of Pancreatitis the foods that are still in your stomach can cause bloating and pain.

Another cause of Gastroparesis is from the narcotics that we take to help with the pain Pancreatitis causes.

With me the problem will start either before the Pancreatitis or after, when I am taking pain pills.  Narcotics like the Percocet and Dilaudid can cause your stomach and intestines to slow.

Often times I know that a Pancreatic flare-up is heading my way when I start to feel the bloating pain of Gastroparesis.

How to Deal With Gastroparesis

There are many ways that you can deal with this issue including meds and changing the way that you eat.

Whenever I am faced with Gastroparesis and Pancreatitis I always try to limit the amount of pain meds that I take.  The more that you take the bigger the problem becomes and the longer the problem can last.

You also have to understand that any Doctor that is treating you is going to be wary of giving you too may pain killers, often times thinking that you are faking the pain to get the powerful narcotics.

So it’s important that you let the Doctor know that you are in pain but trying to limit the painkillers to get their co-operation.

Many times Doctors aren’t really sure how to deal with Gastroparesis and so it may be up to you to tell them what you need and how you plan on taking care of the issue.

When faced with Gastroparesis and Pancreatitis you need to start limiting the size of your meals.  You may need to go on a liquid diet until the stomach calms down and returns to a more normal state.

A liquid diet that will be easier for your stomach to digest while still giving yourself some needed nutrients.

After the Pancreas calms down and your stomach seems to be returning to normal you can slowly and a few solid foods until you get back to normal.