Pyloric sphincter botox injection via gastroscopy

[Mozart]

I know this is a little out there but has anyone here had this done before? I went to my GI's office yesterday as my gastroparesis is really bad (down to 117 @ 5'8). I didn't see him but after I left his receptionist called me to tell me he booked me for this procedure on monday. He hasn't ever discussed it with me so I'm only relying on Dr Google for information about it. I am excited but nervous. Just hoping it will work but don't really know what to expect.

 

[once_upon]

I've heard about it, but don't know much on how it works. If gastroparesis is thought to be muscles contracting so tightly that nothing moves, the botox in theory should settle it down. Similar to botox for migraine or TMJ, I would think. But I don't know anything about it.

good luck! I'll be thinking about you and anxious to hear the results as my son has gastroparesis.

 

[made_in_canada]

I don’t know anything about it but I’ll be sending you healing wishes and crossing my fingers and toes it gives you some relief.

 

[VALuvsMKwan]

Google search using the thread title provided these links among others (and returned a reference to this thread as well, BTW):

https://www.g-pact.org/gastroparesis/treatment-options/surgical-intervention

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4501969/

 

[LilJen]

I don't know much about it, but my dh has gastroparesis and it is MISERABLE. My MD sister says she's seen some success with people who've had the electronic stomach pacemaker-equivalent implanted (she's not a gastroenterologist, but an internal med practitioner, but she keeps up with medical developments). It is supposed to stimulate your stomach to do what it's supposed to do, similar to a pacemaker 'zapping' a heart to keep it going properly.

I pray all goes well and that you're able to gain some weight.

 

[Mozart]

Thanks everyone! The gastric pacemaker was suggested by my colorectal surgeon but it is not available in my province so unfortunately it's not an option.

 

[Peaches LaTour]

I wish you well & hope you can find a procedure that will help you.

 

[Coco]

Good luck! I know people who have had botox as treatment for other (non-cosmetic) medical conditions with some success.

 

[Mozart]

The procedure went fine. Honestly my pain level and speed of food going through so far is about the same though I am definitely dumping fluid. It's taking about 15 minutes from mouth to my ileostomy so my sphincter must be open a bit. I just hope that my solid food emptying speeds up a bit as I am in a weird spot. I was mostly living on fluids but since I am dumping them I doubt I am absorbing any of the nutrition so I will have to eat more solids even though it is very painful to do so.

 

[Coco]

Are they monitoring your vitamin levels?

 

[Mozart]

I get frequent blood tests but they are generally "ok" (some things are low but drs aren't concerned). My blood is always "ok" despite feeling horrible and low calorie intake. I have been to the ER feeling severely dehydrated, light headed and having all the symptoms of electrolyte deficiency and my bloodwork always comes back ok. My albumin isn't low so I'm not technically starving to death. My B12 is low even when I was eating ok so I do get B12 injections.

 

[once_upon]

What are your thoughts about how the procedure has done for stomach emptying time?

 

[Mozart]

I don't really think it has done much. The fluid dumping has stopped. He's going to do it again in a month.