Gastroparesis: When the Stomach Empties Too Slowly

Gastroparesis means the stomach empties food into the intestine more slowly than normal, even though nothing is blocking it. The stomach muscles or the nerves that control them aren't working properly.

Symptoms

• Nausea and vomiting, sometimes of food eaten hours earlier
• Feeling full after a few bites
• Bloating and upper belly discomfort
• Weight loss and blood sugar swings in people with diabetes

Causes

• Diabetes, especially with long-standing high blood sugar
• Prior stomach or esophagus surgery
• After a viral infection
• Medicines that slow the stomach, including opioid pain medicines and GLP-1 medicines such as semaglutide and tirzepatide
• Nerve or connective-tissue diseases
• Unknown cause (idiopathic), which is common

Diagnosis

1. An upper endoscopy to rule out an ulcer or blockage
2. A gastric emptying study: you eat a small meal with a tiny amount of tracer, and scans show how fast it leaves the stomach

Sometimes a motility capsule test is used to measure emptying of the stomach and intestines.

Treatment

• Diet: small, frequent meals; low fat and low fiber; soft or blended foods during flares
• Blood sugar control for people with diabetes
• Reviewing medicines that slow digestion
• Medicines to help the stomach empty, such as metoclopramide, and to control nausea
• Procedures for severe cases, such as pyloric treatments or a gastric electrical stimulator

Make an appointment

Our gastroenterologists in Temple City care for patients from Arcadia, San Gabriel, Pasadena, Monrovia, Monterey Park, and across the San Gabriel Valley. We accept most PPO plans (see accepted insurances), and our doctors speak English, Vietnamese, and Mandarin. Schedule an appointment or call 626-898-4560.

This article is for general education and is not a substitute for medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your own health.