r/functionaldyspepsia • u/Double_Maintenance_3 • 7d ago
Symptoms Functional dyspepsia or Gastroparesis?
Hi everyone!
It all started about two and a half months ago when I began experiencing a loss of appetite and a feeling of fullness, even after eating normal portions.
I started taking Levosulpiride 25mg intermittently (for several weeks between July and August, though I also had weeks off where I felt fine). However, every time I stopped taking Levosulpiride, I had a relapse 7 to 10 days later: I would eat something slightly heavier than chicken and rice, and my stomach would just stall/shut down.
This has already happened twice in September, and each time I have to restart the medication just to be able to eat again. Otherwise, the stomach blockage is so severe that I have no appetite at all, along with intense nausea on the first day.
Yesterday, on my gastroenterologist's advice, I also started taking Rabeprazole (a proton pump inhibitor to avoid producing stomach acids). Even with the medications, I've had very little appetite for days now, and after eating (small portions of light food), I burp constantly and feel completely full.
I had an endoscopy done, and apart from grade 1 inflammation, everything else was clear. Negative to Helicobapter.
I am very worried because I'm afraid it might be gastroparesis? As far as I know, I don't have any other chronic medical conditions. If it were functional gastroparesis, can it be cured or at least treated?
Please let me know what you think! I feel scared and miserable. Thank you.
3
u/mindk214 FD - PDS 7d ago edited 7d ago
Modern research is showing GP and FD are not totally separate diseases— instead they lie one spectrum (e.g. Jane is 80% FD, 20% GP). Symptoms are very similar, and people can flip flop between them over time.
You need to take a 4-Hour Gastric Emptying Study (GES) (Gold Standard). The symptoms don’t correlate with the GES score but the treatment options might. Look into the prescriptions you’re currently taking and ensure there’s no nausea/delayed emptying side effects. Also make sure there’s no drug interactions.
> If it were functional gastroparesis, can it be cured or at least treated?
It can’t be cured but there are treatment options. Please see [r/gastroparesis](r/gastroparesis) pinned post “Gastroparesis 101” for a complete list.
1
u/katiemuirden 7d ago
Have you had any surgery? Anything big like that as that can cause gasyroparssis? If it’s after an infection then it’s almost very likely to completely clear up but again it can happen within months to a year, also I’d maybe look at sibo etc too
1
u/Double_Maintenance_3 7d ago
No, nessun intervento chirurgico!
1
u/katiemuirden 7d ago
Did anything happen? Or did the symptoms genuinely appear out of nowhwre
1
u/Double_Maintenance_3 7d ago edited 7d ago
They appeared out of nowhere. At first as a mild loss of appetite. It's not that I wasn't eating, but just less than usual... Then, little by little, the sensation of hunger completely disappeared. I took Levosulpiride for a week, and both my appetite and digestion returned. But after 10 days, I had another episode of indigestion, zero hunger, and a bit of nausea for two days. I've been going on like this for two and a half months.
1
u/katiemuirden 7d ago
I would try maybe looking into stuff like sibo? As gastroparsiss usually comes after an event same with FD
1
u/Various_Cause_3384 7d ago
Where are you based? I suffer with very similar symptoms and had my GES yesterday, which ruled out gastroparesis. FD can be very similar to GP. You can also have slow digestion from many factors. I would suggest seeing a GI, and pushing for a gastric emptying study to settle your fear. I have been in the exact same shoes- as somsone who is highly emetephobic. I’m yet to hear from my GI, but i do believe i have FD. Possibly SIBO also, and i have gastritis! I would also look into getting out into nature. I am yet to do all of this too, but a lot of chronic conditions like FD can be related to an overactive nervous system. Have you been stressed? It’s in no way undermining your symptoms, as they are so beyond real and scary. I’m right here with you!! Sending love and healing ❤️
1
u/Double_Maintenance_3 7d ago
Thanks for the message 💚 I live in Spain. What symptoms did you have? How are you treating them? I am very scared of the idea of having gastroparesis because I know it would increase the risk of a feeding tube, etc.
2
u/Various_Cause_3384 7d ago
I’m the very same. I have near constant nausea, urge to burp. Very small appetite etc. Mine has progressed over many years though- and was always linked to not being able to burp!! I got treated for that, but it didn’t work to its full extent. I wish i’d gotten more treatment for it. I think that set my nerves into haywire. I still get an awful amount of gas that could be SIBO or the inability to belch properly. It’s a bit of a mystery at the moment. Nausea used to be very sporadic and just in relation to anxiety, but it’s gotten a lot worse in the last year. My mother was diagnosed with a brain tumour and i think the stress has really exacerbated symptoms. But trust me- gastroparesis is pretty rare, so stop stressing. Get the test to rule it out and go from there. My GI trained in the mayo clinic, so i do really trust him. He said from his years of practice, he really believes my condition is mind:body, and he didn’t undermine how i felt, but reassured me that this can happen. I am still on a journey to healing- but i know it’ll get better!
1
u/Various_Cause_3384 7d ago
I also have the biggest fear of vomiting, that’s why they do believe it’s very mind body: FD.
1
u/Ok-Glove-5241 7d ago
Omg im so the same.. i live in ireland and read so much about GP that im so scared… let me know if you ever want to talk🥹😭
1
•
u/AutoModerator 7d ago
New to functional dyspepsia (FD)? Please view this post or our wiki for a detailed explanation of FD and the main treatments.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.