Gastroparesis info

Hi, ya'll. I've been away for awhile and currently 3 yrs out of chemo and so far ned!  But I wanted to let you know what has been happening to me in case there are others here that have chronic nausea and vomiting ever since going through cancer treatment.  

Throughout my chemotherapy I suffered with bad nausea and vomiting and none of the medications helped to stop it. Then after I finished chemo, the vomiting and nausea persisted. I would have good days and then the symptoms would return. I also had bad diarrhea about 8 months out from chemo and for 3-4 months wrongly diagnosed with colititis, diverticulitis and had two-7 day hospital stays before they could determine I had cdiff bacterial infection.  I fired my GI Doc and got another one, which was the best decision.  Anyways, I also had my gallbladder removed because during the workup for this, they found my gallbladder was non-functioning.  Through all this, my nausea and vomiting persisted. My new Gi Doc was so much better than the first.  At first I continued with diarrhea also, so he suspected I was lactose intolerant and ordered the test which was positive in the last part of the test.  I cut out all lactose and still nausea, vomiting persisted, but the diarrhea slowly subsided through the next year and was replaced with constipation.  After several ct scans, xrays, blood work, etc, he finally sent me for a gastric emptying study.  I failed miserably and it showed that it took my stomach 20 hours to empty after eating.  I finally had the answer for all the nausea and vomiting: Gastroparesis, which is literally paralysis of the stomach.  they tried me on different medications to improve the motility of my stomach but nothing worked and they were affecting my blood pressure so he sent me to have a Gastric Electrical Stimulator surgically implanted in August of last year. This is like a heart pacemaker but the leads are attached to the stomach to make it contract.  Until last month, this pretty much controlled my symptoms but then the nausea/vomiting and this time, epigastric and chest pain, reared its ugly head. I was admitted from the ER and after and EGD scope, I was diagnosed with duodenitis, gastrititis, esophagitis and a hiatus hernia.  They adjusted my pacemaker, told me to take prilosec with every meal and sent me home. The nausea and vomiting has persisted bad. I've had the pacemaker readjusted 3 more times and currently still having bad symptoms.  My work and boss were great through the cancer treatment and through all this.  I missed alot of work and when symptoms are like this, I can only work if I've been fasting the night prior. I go in til around 11am and then have to go home and eat. I spend the rest of the day on phenergan to keep food and drink down.  This past monday, I learned my boss was going to let me go because my job needs a fulltime person in the position it do. I broke down and filed for disability. now my boss is willing to work with me on a trial basis to continue to work only in the mornings. But I no longer have my percieved job security.  My finances are in jeapordy and hubby and I are trying to adjust to life with me having a drastic cut in pay. We are not making enough to cover our living expenses. I saw my gi doc yesterday and he is going to do everything he can to help wtih getting disability but I know its a long hard fight to get it.

They tell me I have Idiopathic Gastroparesis and it could have been caused by the chemotherapy, mastectomy, gall bladder surgery, abdominal migraines or a virus. Something damaged the vagus nerve leading to the stomach. I suspect it was from mastectomy or chemo since I had no problems until I had those.  

sorry this is so long, but I wanted to let ya'll  know in case someone is having unexplained nausea and vomiting ever since your cancer treatment.  It took my doctors over 2 years to properly diagnose me.  If you are experiencing this. (symptoms tend to by cyclic and have periods of no symptoms,to months of bad symptoms) please have your doctor check for this.  Have them order a gastric emptying test. this will show how long it takes for your stomach to digest food.

Oh, I ended up not being lactose intolerant. Becuase of the gastroparesis, the last part of the test was positive because the lactose drink sat in my stomach and went bad during the test. 

I dont' know why life dealt me with this, but If my relating my experience can help another, than maybe THAT is the reason.

Take care ya'll,

Deb