Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Support Group

Well, you haven't done any tests yet, so best would be to see an specialist first.

I never had it but according to webmed page, MS was one the causes for gastroparesis. But then again we are not sure what it is right now.

Let us know what the gastro doc says and I hope it is nothing serious.

ME! I have this! it took YEARS to find this out. I saw specialist after specialist and finally after much debate I saw a good gastro guy who did a food challenge. They gave me eggs (scrambled) with a radio active tracer in them, then scanned me. It took almost 40 hours for those eggs to start to move, and then when they did I puked um up all over the exam room.

This can happen in diabetic patients and they are just now discovering it is more common than they think in MS. Constipation is awful! nothing is moving or its moving so slowly that you sometimes need help to bring it out. Xrays of your belly will show your guts full of stool.

They give Reglan on a regular basis as it helps the tummy empty. You will probably need a stool softener and to be really vigilant about bowel habits. I was unable to take Reglan so we ordered donperindone from Canada. The US refused to allow it here as it can cause a heart issue. I am to the point that I only take it when I am in a flare now, but I was on it daily for about a year. It really helped!

The trick is to get your MD to realize that this IS part of MS and the more gastro MDs that report that the more we can start to help those that have no idea what is wrong or how to help it.

Good luck, and let us know.

I wanted to add that in the early days diet did nothing for me, and I am a huge advocate of diet first, pills 2nd. Be very careful of things that digest slowly anyway or can wad up and create a beezor (ball of hair, and food in your tummy) like oranges that havent been peeled well (those strings!) broccoli and string bean strings. Make sure you chew your food extremely well and use plenty of liquid to eat with as that does help flush.

there is a place called gastroparesis.com if you go there and ask for a restaurant card you can get one that says you have a medical condition and should be allowed to ask for half or child size portions. I have never had a restaurant turn down my request. There is a big following of this disease and they have great tips.

Alma, I'm having severe stomach pain immediately after eating...like labor pains and food still comes up hours later as if never reached my stomach. All I've been told is the ms is the probable cause! I'm taking levsin to help with spasms but that only slows my gut down more. Very confusing. See my neuro Wed and I'm demanding answers....

Alma-I was having the constipation thing really bad, now for 2 weeks I have had horrendous diarrhea.My body keeps changing so much-I am not me anymore

i had my surgery from that in october 2011 and the food just sit in the top of the stomach it has no were it can go not to the bottom were it should go i had my stomach re-routed so the tummy was cut down have to eat small meals threw out the day food chew very well cant eat much @ one time cant hold much stool either i can eat what i want to lost 18 plus pounds.

Hi Alma -
I have never had this, but my Mom did. She was placed on several meds, but nothing actually helped significantly until she started taking something called "Domperidone".
It was & still may be not approved in the US (probably because it's so effective) so my Mom got it through a Compounding Pharmacy out of "Larchmont, NY". It was the ONLY thing that helped her & she was never without it! She also never experienced any side-effects whatsoever. I'm pretty sure that Domperidone isn't known to have adverse effects.. As a side note, taking a supplement called "Hydrocloric Acid" before meals helps tremendously in digesting your food. Now, this I take, as we produce less of this as we age. I find this very helpful. I hope you find this info. to be helpful! Update us please? :>) - Maggie