2Symptoms and Possible Complications of Gastroparesis
Most symptoms of gastroparesis involve the digestive system. These include weight loss because of low-calorie intake, reduced appetite, stomach pain or bloating, feeling full-up earlier than usual, vomiting of undigested food or nausea, and reflux disease or heartburn. In general, symptoms tend to become worse when you consume fatty foods, solid foods, high-fiber foods, fizzy drinks, as well as high-fat beverages. To alleviate the signs, make sure to reduce your intake of these products. [3]
If left untreated, people with gastroparesis may have one of the following complications:
– Serious dehydration: Persistent vomiting or nausea may lead to dehydration
– Malnutrition: A reduced appetite could cause a lack of calories or affect the absorption of nutrients
– Reduced quality of life: Many symptoms of gastroparesis may make it harder to keep up with your daily life at work or school
– Unstable changes in blood sugar: Due to the amount and rate of food in the small bowel, levels of blood sugar in people with gastroparesis may be unpredictable. This would worsen diabetes.
– Undigested food: In people with this condition, food may remain undigested, which eventually becomes hardened and stays in the stomach. This triggers vomiting, nausea, and other serious complications. [4]
