The vagus nerve, also called the pneumogastric nerve or cranial nerve X, is the most complex of the cranial nerves. It tells your stomach muscles to contract when you eat in order to digest the food. When it doesn't work, it can lead to a disease called gastroparesis, which slows down the digestive process. To find out if the vagus nerve is injured, pay attention to the symptoms of gastroparesis and consult your doctor. He may prescribe diagnostic tests.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Paying Attention to Gastroparesis Symptoms
Step 1. Notice if your bowel movements are slower
Gastroparesis prevents food from regularly passing through the digestive system. If you don't go to the bathroom frequently, it could be a symptom.
Step 2. Pay attention to nausea and vomiting
They are common symptoms of gastroparesis. Since the stomach does not empty as it should, the food remains inside, favoring the feeling of nausea. In fact, in case of vomiting, you would notice that the expelled material has not been digested at all.
This symptom could occur on a daily basis
Step 3. Notice the heartburn
Heartburn is also a common symptom of this disease. It involves a burning sensation in the chest and throat, caused by the gastric juices that tend to rise. You may feel it regularly.
Step 4. Check if you have no appetite
Gastroparesis can inhibit appetite because what you take is not digested properly. As a result, new food doesn't have enough space, so you're not hungry. In fact, you may feel full after just a few bites.
Step 5. Consider if you are losing weight
Since you don't want to eat, you may lose weight. Also, because the stomach doesn't process food as it should, it doesn't assimilate the nutrients it needs to fuel the body and maintain a healthy weight.
Step 6. Watch out for abdominal pain and swelling
Since food stays in the stomach more than it should, you may feel bloated. Likewise, gastroparesis can also promote stomach pain.
Step 7. Be aware of your blood sugar changes if you have diabetes
Gastroparesis is common in type 1 and type 2 diabetics. If you notice that your blood sugar levels are more erratic than usual when you do self-check, it could be a symptom of this problem.
Part 2 of 3: See Your Doctor
Step 1. See your doctor if you notice a combination of symptoms
Since this disease can lead to serious complications, visit if you have symptoms for more than a week. You may become dehydrated or wasted as your body does not digest what it needs.
Step 2. List the symptoms
Before going to the doctor, you should make a list of your symptoms. Write down the type and duration so that the doctor has a clearer idea of what is happening to you. Also, this way you will be able to remember the information you need when you arrive at his office.
Step 3. Consider getting examined and diagnosed
The doctor will ask you questions about your health condition and will proceed to the actual examination. He will likely feel your stomach and use the stethoscope to listen to your abdominal area. They may also prescribe an ultrasound scan to figure out the cause of your symptoms.
Don't forget to tell him all your risk factors, including diabetes and abdominal surgery. Others include hypothyroidism, infections, nerve disorders and scleroderma
Part 3 of 3: Take the Exams
Step 1. Prepare for an endoscopy or x-ray
Your doctor will likely order these tests to rule out a stomach obstruction. This phenomenon can cause symptoms similar to gastroparesis.
- Endoscopy is a diagnostic technique in which a tiny video camera mounted on a flexible tube is used. First you will be given a sedative and probably an anesthetic throat spray. The tube is introduced in the back of the throat to the esophagus and upper digestive tract. The video camera allows you to explore the stomach more than x-rays can.
- You may also have a similar test called esophageal manometry to measure stomach contractions. In this case, the tube is inserted into the nose and left in place for 15 minutes.
Step 2. Prepare for a gastric emptying scan
If your doctor does not find any obstructions from other diagnostic tests, they may order a scan. It's a little more interesting: you have to eat something that has a low dose of radiation (like an egg sandwich). Then it will be evaluated how long it takes to digest it with the use of a device that produces images of the internal structures.
Typically, you get a diagnosis of gastroparesis if half of the food is still in the stomach after an hour or an hour and a half
Step 3. Get an ultrasound
It will help your doctor detect if there is any other problem causing your symptoms. Through this examination it is possible to analyze the functionality of the kidneys and gallbladder.
Step 4. Prepare for an electrogastrography
Your doctor may refer you to this test if you have difficulty pinpointing the source of your symptoms. Basically, it allows you to listen to the stomach for an hour. Electrodes are placed on the abdomen. You will have to fast.
Advice
- To treat this condition, patients are recommended to change their lifestyle and follow drug therapies. Your doctor will likely prescribe medications to stimulate the stomach muscles and an antiemetic to decrease the discomfort of nausea and vomiting.
- In severe cases, artificial nutrition may be required. The gavage is not permanent, but is only needed when the disease gets worse. You won't need it when you feel better.
