Theory #2 - Gastroparesis isn't primary.

Another thing that has boggled my mind with gastroparesis is this...  Gastroparesis has been diagnosed as idiopathic in 30% - 50% of cases (depending on your resource).  Now,  let us analyze what idiopathic means.

Idiopathic = no known cause.

Now, the majority of cases of gastroparesis are diabetes related.  This is one I can understand.  Diabetes causes nerve damage, which in turn causes gastroparesis (when the vagus nerve gets damaged).  However, there are A LOT of causes of gastroparesis.

Which means, A LOT of cases of gastroparesis have a secondary cause, that just hasn't been discovered yet.

For instance, when I was diagnosed with idiopathic gastroparesis, I had only two tests.  An endoscopy, and a gastric emptying scintigraphy. And then that was it.  Diabetes had been ruled out because my blood sugars were normal during the blood test.

However.  Gastroparesis has several known causes (and I'm sure a lot more unknown causes).  These include:

• Multiple Sclerosis
• Hypothyroidism
• Surgery
• Acid Reflux
• Parkinson's Disease
• prior stomach bug
• Medications
• Scleroderma
• Amyloidosis
• list goes on...

Now, my problem with this is...  I was diagnosed idiopathic after only two tests (and the blood test at the beginning).  There is NO WAY that these other potential causes have been ruled out.  Idiopathic is a diagnosis a lot of people receive either because the gastroenterologist feels it isn't important to know the cause or the cost becomes too great to actually find the root cause.

But I feel that gastroparesis doesn't just... happen.  I feel gastroparesis HAS to have been caused by something.  Something caused damage to the vagus nerve.  Something caused this to happen.  I feel it can not just be primary.  It must be a secondary problem.

Which leads us to the importance of finding the primary cause.  This primary cause governs EVERYTHING.  Treatment options (while primarily thought to be the same for all cases of gastroparesis), are actually very different depending on the cause.  For instance, gastroparesis caused by overuse of medications (including medications containing acetaminophen) can actually go away by ceasing use of said medications.  Gastroparesis caused by a bad stomach bug, have in some reports gone away after about a year or more.  Gastroparesis caused by a chronic health condition, however, doesn't.  For instance, if you had multiple sclerosis and it caused your gastroparesis, then when your MS triggers, your gastroparesis triggers (and will of course get worse as it does).

So, finding the cause of gastroparesis, also determines its eventual prognosis.  If we could find out what caused it, and how to treat the underlying cause, we may be able to treat the gastroparesis as well.

Interesting theory.

So, what caused yours?

I believe mine was caused by a stomach bug I developed as a result of low stomach acid.  So, I am hoping to heal from this as a result.

Hoping to hear from you soon. :)