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Suggest Remedy For Indigestion And Lethargy
Question: Food seems to sit in my stomach for many hours after I eat with what seems to be no digestion happening. This problem has been around since shortly after I was diagnosed with MS 15 years ago. I've cut back on eating--not that I ever ate that much to begin with--and cut out many foods I favored such as bread (and all other glutens), potatoes, bacon and eggs, milk, cheese, tomatoes , and probably many others. None of this seems to have made a bit of difference, but I have maintained it for many years. Eating the smallest amount of food helps to have less in my stomach, but not to get it moving. I am quite often lightheaded, dizzy, space headed, lethargic and just all around crappy. I was very athletic/outdoors-like before the MS took hold of my legs but the lethargy is fairly recent. Could this all be due to MS? Or is there a typical gastro problem I need to address?
Brief Answer:
There could be a correlation with MS
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have carefully and thoroughly gone through the problem that you have stated. I feel there is a correlation of MS causing a problem with gastrointestinal motility. The forward peristaltic movement is responsible for moving the food matter downwards and forward through the intestines as the food gets digested, absorbed and converted into feces before it is expelled out as excreta. MS is characterized by demylination and loss for function of nerves. The intestines have nerve supplies from certain localized plexuses. Hence MS could have messed up with the bowel movements and the slowing or irregularity of this movement makes things stagnate in between while you get the feeling of fullness as food stagnates in your stomach or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
You would need to go for fiber rich diet and dietary fiber supplements. You may also use stool softeners. Regular morning walk and exercise is a must. These would regularize the bowel movements and would thereby provide relief.
Hope that helps.
Regards
There could be a correlation with MS
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for asking on HealthcareMagic.
I have carefully and thoroughly gone through the problem that you have stated. I feel there is a correlation of MS causing a problem with gastrointestinal motility. The forward peristaltic movement is responsible for moving the food matter downwards and forward through the intestines as the food gets digested, absorbed and converted into feces before it is expelled out as excreta. MS is characterized by demylination and loss for function of nerves. The intestines have nerve supplies from certain localized plexuses. Hence MS could have messed up with the bowel movements and the slowing or irregularity of this movement makes things stagnate in between while you get the feeling of fullness as food stagnates in your stomach or other parts of the gastrointestinal tract.
You would need to go for fiber rich diet and dietary fiber supplements. You may also use stool softeners. Regular morning walk and exercise is a must. These would regularize the bowel movements and would thereby provide relief.
Hope that helps.
Regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your reply. My bowel movements are quite normal and frequent and not the problem as I eat mostly fruits and vegetables with nuts and seeds and whole grains and quite sufficient fiber. My problem is that it can take many, many hours for the food to leave my stomach. Once it does, all is fine.
Brief Answer:
Dietary modification and exercise is all you need.
Detailed Answer:
What you refer, relates to stagnation of food in your stomach. Under normal circumstances the gastric emptying time is something like 4 hours, and it is more for fatty foods. Delayed gastric emptying is medically referred to as gastroparesis. The remedy is dietary modification and avoidance of alcohol. The following link should help:
http://www.healthline.com/health/gastroparesis
It is good to hear that you have a good fiber intake and that you have a good bowel movement. In such a case I have no other suggestion other than the ones I have already given.
Regards
Dietary modification and exercise is all you need.
Detailed Answer:
What you refer, relates to stagnation of food in your stomach. Under normal circumstances the gastric emptying time is something like 4 hours, and it is more for fatty foods. Delayed gastric emptying is medically referred to as gastroparesis. The remedy is dietary modification and avoidance of alcohol. The following link should help:
http://www.healthline.com/health/gastroparesis
It is good to hear that you have a good fiber intake and that you have a good bowel movement. In such a case I have no other suggestion other than the ones I have already given.
Regards
Note: For further follow up on digestive issues share your reports here and Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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