Question
What is gastroparesis and is there a connection with ME/CFS?
Answer
Gastroparesis is a condition where food passes more slowly through the stomach than it normally does.
Common symptoms include:
- feeling full sooner than usual whilst eating a meal and sometimes being unable to finish a meal
- nausea and sometimes vomiting
- stomach pains and/or heartburn
- abdominal bloating
If these symptoms persist and become more severe then weight loss can occur.
Some people with ME/CFS also have this type of delayed gastric emptying and there has been some research into the link, see here.
Some gastroparesis symptoms obviously overlap with those found in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) – a lower bowel condition which is quite common in ME/CFS. However, gastroparesis is a separate condition to IBS with a different approach to treatment.
See More: Symptoms: Bloating
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MEDICAL DISCLAIMER
We recommend that the medical information is discussed with your doctor. It is not intended to be a substitute for personalised medical advice or treatment. You should consult your doctor whenever a new symptom arises, or an existing symptom worsens. It is important to obtain medical advice that considers other causes and possible treatments. Do not assume that new or worsened symptoms are solely because of ME/CFS or Long Covid.