Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Symptoms of gastroparesis
• Part 2 of 3: Seeing a Doctor
• Part 3 of 3: Examination
• Tips

The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve pair (X pair) or paired nerve, is the most complex cranial nerve.The vagus nerve sends signals to your stomach muscles, telling them when you are eating in order to digest your food. A decrease in the function of this nerve can lead to complications such as gastroparesis, or digestive upset, which leads to a delayed release of food from the stomach. To determine if the vagus nerve is damaged, learn about the symptoms of gastroparesis, and then talk to your doctor for some diagnostic tests.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Symptoms of gastroparesis

1. 1 Determine if food takes longer to pass through your digestive system. Gastroparesis prevents food from passing through the body at its usual pace. If you notice that you have become less likely to go to the toilet, this may indicate gastroparesis.
2. 2 Pay attention to nausea and vomiting. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of gastroparesis. As the stomach is more slowly emptied of food, food lingers in it and the person starts to feel sick. What's more, food that will vomit you may even be undigested.
   • Most likely, symptoms will appear on a daily basis.
3. 3 Recognize heartburn. Heartburn is also common with this condition. Heartburn is a burning sensation in the chest and throat caused by acid that rises from the stomach. Most often, with gastroparesis, this symptom appears regularly.
4. 4 Pay attention to your appetite. This disease can reduce your appetite, and this is due to the fact that the food you eat is not digested properly. This way, new food has nowhere to go and you won't be so hungry. Moreover, the patient can get enough by eating just a couple of tablespoons of this or that dish.
5. 5 Beware of weight loss. Due to lack of appetite, the patient may lose weight. Plus, because your stomach doesn't digest food properly, you won't be getting enough nutrients to keep your body running and maintaining a healthy weight.
6. 6 Watch out for abdominal pain and bloating. Because food stays in your stomach longer than it needs to, you may feel bloated. You may also experience abdominal pain due to this condition.
7. 7 Beware of changes in blood sugar levels if you have diabetes. This condition is common in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If you notice that your blood sugar levels are significantly different from normal, this could indicate gastroparesis.

Part 2 of 3: Seeing a Doctor

1. 1 See your doctor if you notice a combination of symptoms. Make an appointment with your doctor if the above symptoms last more than a week, as this condition can have serious complications. Since food is not digested properly and the body does not receive enough nutrients, this can lead to dehydration and exhaustion.
2. 2 List your symptoms. You should make a list of your symptoms in case you go to the doctor's office. Write down your symptoms and when they appeared so that the doctor understands what is happening to you. It also prevents you from forgetting anything when you see your doctor.
3. 3 Get a physical and any necessary diagnostic tests. The doctor will ask you a few questions about your medical history and will conduct a physical exam. He will feel your belly and listen to it with a stethoscope. They may also do some visual research to understand what exactly is causing your symptoms.
   • Be sure to mention your risk factors, which include diabetes and abdominal surgery. Other risk factors include hypothyroidism, infections, nerve damage, and scleroderma.

Part 3 of 3: Examination

1. 1 You may need to have an endoscopy or x-rays. Your doctor may first schedule these tests to make sure there is no bowel obstruction. Intestinal obstruction can cause symptoms similar to gastroparesis.
   • During an endoscopy, the doctor uses a tiny camera on a flexible tube.You may be given a sedative and sprayed with a pain-relieving spray on your throat. The tube is then inserted into the throat and led to the esophagus and upper digestive tract. The camera will allow the doctor to see more clearly what is going on in your stomach than is possible on an x-ray.
   • You may also be asked to undergo a similar test called esophagomanometry. It is required to measure gastric contractions. During this test, a tube will be inserted through your nose and left in your esophagus for 15 minutes.
2. 2 Take a gastric evacuation study. If the doctor does not see an obstruction on other examinations, he can conduct this study. It's already more interesting. You will eat something (an egg or a sandwich) with a low dose of radiation. The doctor will then use a special machine to monitor how long it takes your body to digest the food.
   • If after an hour and a half, half of the food is still in your stomach, then you will be diagnosed with gastroparesis.
3. 3 Learn about ultrasound (ultrasound). An ultrasound can help the doctor determine if there are other problems that may have caused your symptoms. In particular, an ultrasound will help the doctor examine the functioning of the kidneys and gallbladder.
4. 4 Get an electrogastrogram. If the doctor has difficulty in identifying the cause of the symptoms, he or she can do this research. The doctor will place electrodes on your abdomen and listen to your stomach for an hour. This test is done on an empty stomach.

Tips

• When the vagus nerve is damaged, medications are usually prescribed and lifestyle changes are advised. Your doctor will prescribe medications to stimulate your stomach muscles, as well as medications for nausea and vomiting.
• In severe cases, you will need a feeding tube. But only for the time when the disease will manifest itself most strongly. When you feel better, you will no longer need the tube.