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My
name is Lea and I was diagnosed with gastroparesis, not through my
stomach, but through my lungs. Let me explain. For years I had some mild
stomach problems, but in 1995, after the birth of my son Joshua, I began
having multiple respiratory infections and aspiration pneumonia. No one
could figure out why I was so sick all the time. I was accused by one
doctor of making myself sick and in the need of serious mental health
treatment (which was funny, since I am also a psychiatric nurse). I
finally found a pulmonologist in 2000 who suggested that I might be
having esophageal reflux causing my lung infections and sent me to a GI
specialist. My GI suggested I have the Nissan fundiplication for the
reflux (they wrap your esophagus around your stomach to strengthen the
valve that lets food stay in your stomach, technical, huh?). They did a
gastric emptying scan (GES) as part of their preop testing. No problem.
The test would only take 30 minutes. The 30 minutes turned into 3 hours,
where they continued to scan and then rescan my stomach. The technician
said it was one of the most “impressive” tests she had seen, and it
“wasn’t good.” Not only did I have severe gastroesophageal reflux
disease, but I also had severe idiopathic gastroparesis. My
GI was very upset and said my stomach wasn’t working at all and
immediately set me up to see a surgeon to perform either a complete or
partial gastrectomy. In other words, they wanted to remove my stomach!
Fortunately, my surgeon did not agree with this drastic surgery, and
even though he and my GI argued over what would be best for me, they
finally agreed to send me to see Dr. Thomas Abell, who was practicing at
UAMS in Dr.
Abell recommended that I have the Nissan fundiplication AND the gastric
pacemaker or Enterra Therapy. This recommendation started a flurry of
red tape and protestations from my insurance company, who refused to pay
for the pacemaker, because it was “experimental.” I was crushed! I
had become so ill that I was only able to work 4 hours a day and could
barely take care of my son or my husband. I had no life. I
never was able to get the pacemaker approved, but my surgeon suggested a
modified surgical procedure called a pyloroplasty. They basically
enlarged the pyloric valve in my stomach which allows my food to empty
quicker. I also underwent the Nissan Fundiplication. That
was 2 years ago, and I have had almost a complete remission of my
gastroparesis. I have not been hospitalized for any respiratory or
gastroparesis related illnesses and take no GI medications.
My husband, Keith, and I built a log house in the country, where
Joshua, now 7 years old, can happily chase lizards and grasshoppers. I
work full time as a psychiatric triage nurse and work part time for a
psychiatrist. I love to scrapbook, sing in the Praise and Worship team
at church, swim, and oh yes. . . . EAT! I
credit God and
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