8 - Why Your Gut Moves Too Slow

Could Your Upper Bloating Be Gastroparesis? Signs, Testing, and Support Dr. Whitney Baxter, ND, Dr. Christina Carew, ND and Dr. Dominique Vanier, ND discuss gastroparesis as an often missed cause of upper abdominal bloating. Symptoms include: early fullness, nausea, reflux that doesn’t respond to medication, vomiting, and pain above the belly button, describing it as delayed stomach emptying that can be influenced by diabetes, GLP/GIP medications, PPIs, opioids, stress, hormonal cycles, and conditions like dysautonomia/POTS, Ehlers-Danlos, post-viral illness, mold/mycotoxin exposure, and tick-borne disease. They note overlap with functional dyspepsia and histamine-related symptoms, and limitations and long waits for gastric emptying tests (e.g., scintigraphy). Suggested supports include tracking timing/patterns, maintaining routine and nutrition, avoiding excessive food restriction, using smaller or blended meals, screening mental health and micronutrients, considering anti-nausea options, prokinetics and neuromodulators with monitoring, and integrative therapies like CBT, hypnotherapy, breathing, acupuncture, and manual therapy, plus guidance on how to discuss “gastric emptying/motility” with practitioners and use downloadable checklists.