What happens if stomach stops working

A doctor may prescribe metoclopramide and erythromycin to assist stomach emptying. These drugs are known as prokinetic medications, and they aid the body in passing solids through the digestive system. A review states that both can improve symptoms of gastroparesis. People may also take medication to treat other symptoms of gastroparesis, such as nausea and vomiting.

For example, a doctor may prescribe prochlorperazine, diphenhydramine, or ondansetron to alleviate these symptoms. Several medications can delay stomach emptying. People who are experiencing gastroparesis should tell a doctor about all of the medications they are taking prior to diagnosis. Regular use of over-the-counter antacids may delay stomach emptying. A person may be taking these medications to treat symptoms of heartburn and indigestion.

Some prescription drugs, such as anticholinergic agents, may also cause symptoms of gastroparesis. In severe cases, people who cannot take any food or liquids due to gastroparesis may require a feeding tube.

Alternatively, a doctor may suggest a gastric venting tube to relieve pressure in the stomach. Medical professionals may also recommend a procedure called gastric electrical stimulation GES. However, a scientific article states that several reviews have urged caution in recommending the treatment due to a lack of controlled studies.

The authors conclude that further research is necessary to assess the use of GES. Limited evidence suggests that acupuncture may improve gastrointestinal symptoms in people with gastroparesis, particularly diabetic gastroparesis. The outlook for people with gastroparesis varies and depends on the cause and severity of the condition. Dietary changes and gentle exercise after meals can increase the chances of successfully managing symptoms.

If these changes alone are not effective, medications, medical interventions, and alternative therapies may help relieve symptoms and prevent complications. What happens inside the body after a person eats dictate how they put on weight and how long it takes to process nutrients. Find out the typical…. People with a food intolerance have difficulty digesting certain foods. It may occur because of damage to these muscles or to the nerves that control them.

Resulting symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, early satiety a feeling of fullness after just a few bites , abdominal bloating, heartburn, gastroesophageal reflux, changes in blood-sugar levels, lack of appetite and malnutrition. Before seeking treatment for gastroparesis, you should be sure that this is your problem.

Sometimes the diagnostic tests yield inaccurate results, particularly when they are limited to images based on stomach emptying just an hour or so after eating, when the digestive process may be slow temporarily.

Perhaps blockage in the bowel, which would produce symptoms similar to those of gastroparesis, is the problem. Endoscopy also can rule out ulcers, inflammation, cancer, hernia or other abnormalities that mimic gastroparesis. Even if you have gastroparesis, it's possible that the "idiopathic" label, meaning "of unknown origin," is premature.

This condition often results from another disease, such as diabetes the most common cause , scleroderma a connective-tissue disorder or certain metabolic disorders hypothyroidism, for example. Learn about its function and anatomy, as well as the conditions that can affect…. At-home microbiome testing kits can be a first step. We look at these and give our recommendations for your overall gut health questions.

Cholangitis is inflammation swelling in the bile duct. Treatment depends on your symptoms and whether you have chronic or acute cholangitis.

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas and causes abdominal tenderness and pain. Learn more. What does a gastroenterologist do, and when should you see one? Here's what you should know before making an appointment. Intussusception is the most common cause of intestinal obstruction in children. It can also affect adults. Learn about this condition, symptoms, and…. Polyps are usually abnormal, benign growths of tissue in any organ with blood vessels. But they can become cancerous.

Learn what to do if you have…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Can You Die From Gastroparesis? And How to Treat It. Medically reviewed by Saurabh Sethi, M. Life expectancy Is it reversable? Diagnosis Treatment Dietary tips Prevention Takeaway Gastroparesis is a condition characterized by slow motility of the muscles in the stomach. Is gastroparesis fatal? It's not always clear what leads to gastroparesis, but in some cases it can be caused by damage to a nerve that controls the stomach muscles vagus nerve.

The vagus nerve helps manage the complex processes in your digestive tract, including signaling the muscles in your stomach to contract and push food into the small intestine. A damaged vagus nerve can't send signals normally to your stomach muscles. This may cause food to remain in your stomach longer, rather than move into your small intestine to be digested.

The vagus nerve and its branches can be damaged by diseases, such as diabetes, or by surgery to the stomach or small intestine. Gastroparesis care at Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products.

Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission. This content does not have an English version. This content does not have an Arabic version.

Overview Stomach and pyloric valve Open pop-up dialog box Close. Stomach and pyloric valve Your stomach is a muscular sac about the size of a small melon that expands when you eat or drink to hold as much as a gallon about 4 liters of food or liquid. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic.