Gastroparesis

Diagnosing gastroparesis

To diagnose gastroparesis, your GP will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and may arrange some blood tests .

You may be referred to hospital for some of the following tests:

barium X-ray where you swallow a liquid containing the chemical barium, which shows up on X-ray and highlights its passage through your digestive system
gastric emptying scan using scintigraphy you eat food (often eggs) containing a very small amount of a radioactive substance that is detected on the scan; gastroparesis is diagnosed if more than 10% of the food is still in your stomach four hours after eating
wireless capsule test you swallow a small, electronic device that sends information about how fast it moves through your digestive tract to a recording device
endoscopy a thin, flexible tube (endoscope) is passed down your throat and into your stomach to examine the stomach lining and rule out other possible causes

Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dec 2018

Articles for gastroparesis

Introduction

Read about gastroparesis, a long-term (chronic) condition where the stomach can't empty itself of food in the normal way, causing food to pass through it slowly.

Symptoms of gastroparesis

Symptoms of gastroparesis may include: feeling full very quickly when eating feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting loss of appetite weight loss bloating tummy (abdominal) pain or discomfort hear

When to seek medical advice

See your GP if you're experiencing symptoms ofgastroparesis, as it can lead to some potentially serious complications. These include: dehydration from repeated vomiting gastro-oesophageal re

Causes of gastroparesis

In many cases of gastroparesis, there's no obviouscause. This is known as idiopathic gastroparesis. Known causes of gastroparesis include: poorly controlled type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes a

Diagnosing gastroparesis

To diagnose gastroparesis, your GP will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and may arrange some blood tests . You may be referred to hospital for some of the following tests: barium X-ra

Treating gastroparesis

Gastroparesis can't usually be cured, but dietary changes and medical treatment can help you control the condition. Dietary changes You may find these tips helpful: instead of three meals a day,

Advice for people with diabetes

Having gastroparesis means your food is being absorbed slowly and at unpredictable times. If you also have diabetes, this can lead to wide swings in blood sugar levels. The nerves to the stomach can

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