For several months, Gentrie was unable to eat solid food, and in at least one occasion was rushed to the hospital for her severe vomiting and dehydration. It wasn’t until she was had a CAT scan that doctors finally discovered the cause of her painful condition. Gertie was diagnosed with pediatric gastroparesis, a condition in which the stomach takes too long to empty its contents. Gastroparesis is often associated with diabetic patients. Doctors believe Gertie’s condition was triggered by a virus.

There are few treatments for severe gastroparesis. It is often treated with medications such as the prescription drug Reglan, also known as the generic metoclopramide. But Reglan carries a risk of severe side effects, especially with long-term use. The drug now carries a black box warning of the risk of developing a neurological disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia in which the muscles move involuntarily.

Gertie was treated with various medications, including Botox, but nothing seemed to help. She was even fitted with a gastric tube to help her gain weight, but her frail body rejected it six times. As a last resort, doctors decided on a new treatment, implanting in her a gastric pacemaker that would trigger her stomach muscles to contract and encourage digestion.

With the help of singer Miley Cyrus, Gentrie’s family raised enough money to cover the cost of the pacemaker. It was implanted in July and just last week, Gentrie was finally able to have her first meal in eight months. What did she choose to eat? A Wendy’s hamburger.

SOURCE: Reglan Side Effects › Teenager finally finds relief from gastroparesis

Gastroparesis is a serious condition in which food takes too long to move through the stomach. It can result in pain and disability as well as poor nutrition. Those who suffer are usually treated with medication. But sometimes the medication does not work or can cause serious side effects.

One such treatment is metoclopramide, known in the U.S. by the brand name Reglan. While it can provide relief to some patients, long-term use of metoclopramide has been linked to a serious movement disorder known as Tardive Dyskinesia. Those who suffer from the condition have involuntary movements of their muscles which can include lip smacking, tongue thrusting, eye blinking and bulging, head jerking, facial grimacing, puckering and pursing of the lips, and involuntary movements of the fingers.

Medication wasn’t working for Munshi, but she found relief through the Internet in another from, a gastric pacemaker that is implanted in the stomach that shocks the stomach muscles to contract. After surgery, Munshi says doctors gave her tomato soup, but the patient felt so much better that when she got home she devoured her favorite dish – saag aloo. “Everything tastes great now and I haven’t been sick since,” she says.

Sources:
The Metro
The Sun

SOURCE: Reglan Side Effects › Pacemaker gives hope to sufferer of gastroparesis