Motility disorders, specifically hypomotility
This post is going to be information and some personal experience from me on gi motility disorders but specifically hypomotility for gastroparesis and digestive tract paralysis awareness month
Motility and hypomotility overall
Motility is the movement of food through the digestive tract which comes from a combination of nerves and muscles working together. Hypomotility means that it is moving slower and the muscle contractions that help the process have slowed or stopped. Motility disorder is an umbrella term for any disorder effecting motility
Esophageal dysmotility
There are multiple esophageal motility disorders they cause issues getting food from the mouth to stomach. A couple that can slow motility are achalasia and ineffective esophageal motility (IEM) . There’s various causes of esophageal motility disorders some being; neurological disorders, primary esophageal motility disorders, tumors, autoimmune diseases, and more. Symptoms include dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), odynophagia (pain while swallowing), feeling as if something is in the throat, acid reflux, and more. Treatment depends on what you have, for achalasia theres multiple procedures and for IEM theres dietary modifications and medication to control acid reflux. Feeding tubes are used in severe esophageal dysmotilty cases
I have ineffective esophageal motility with 70% of my swallows being fails most likely due to a neurological disorder (known to be neurological but not known what exactly it is yet). I deal with dysphagia and odynophagia, swallowing is almost always painful and hard. I have bad acid reflux and a near constant feeling of something in my throat. Often times i feel whatever i swallowed slowly falling down. I have an gj tube which has been helpful but was not placed for that, i am also on medicine for gerd and am going to see a dietitian
Stomach hypo motility (gastroparesis)
Gastroparesis is a disorder where food is not moved through the stomach correctly and slowly it causes symptoms like nausea and vomiting, stomach pain, loss of appetite, feeling full after a few bites and more. There’s also multiple causes for gastroparesis but diabetes is a common one, it can be idiopathic or caused by other things like neurological disorders. Treatment includes things like medication, dietary changes, procedures like the g-poem, enteral or parenteral nutrition and hydration
I have gastroparesis probably due to the same cause of my esophageal dysmotility. I deal with a lot of nausea and stomach pain and was throwing up every day for over a year. I couldn’t get enough nutrition or hydration and after failing medicine, diet, and 2 procures i now have an gj tube and am receiving iv fluids through peripheral ivs at an infusion center but am going to get a central line and start them at home but still do take medicine for it. I had frequent er trips due to complications of gastroparesis.
Small intestine hypomotility
It is harder to find things on small intestine hypomotility but it is a slow moving small intestine with symptoms overlapping with gastroparesis and colon dysmotility like nausea, bloating, pain, and more. It also can be caused by things like neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases, surgeries, and viruses. Small intestine hypomotility can sometimes cause small bowel bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). It was hard to find information on treatment but there is medicine and dietary changes and parenteral nutrition and hydration can be used.
I have small intestine dysmotility, again probably due to the neurological disorder, and it is definitely adding to my symptoms that experience with other motility disorders. I deal with a lot of bloating, nausea and intestinal cramps. I am on medicine for mine, do diet changes with what i do eat and my gj tube does help since its at a slower rate, my iv fluids also help since they bypass the digestive system but still hydrate me.
Colon hypomotility
Hypomotility of the colon (colonic inertia or slow transit constipation) causes a lot of issues with bowel movements like constipation and hard stools, it can also cause abdominal pain like cramps, nausea and vomiting, bloating, and more. Causes also consist of surgeries, neurological disorders, autoimmune diseases, ect. It can be treated with medicine and diet changes but also surgeries like a colectomy with or without an ostomy.
I have colonic dysmotilty as well from the same cause of my other dysmotility. I deal with a lot of issues from this including cramps that can stop me in my tracks and bloating. I use medicine and diet changes
Gallbladder dysmolity
Biliary dyskinesia is a disorder where the gallbladder does not empty correctly and moves bile out slowly, it is not always something patients with global dysmotilty have. It can lead to complications like gallstones and inflammation. The cause isn’t fully understood but some neurological disorders can cause it. Biliary dyskinesia causes symptoms like right upper quadrant pain that is intense but comes and goes and nausea and vomiting. It is usually treated by removing the gallbladder
I had biliary dyskinesia likely from ,you guessed it, the neurological disorder. I would have severe pain from it and it had lead to gallstones which lead inflammation in my gallbladder. Mine was taken out.
Global dysmotility
Global dysmotility is when it effects the whole GI tract. It is complex and leaves me needing surgeries like gallbladder removal, tube feeds, iv fluids, specific diet, multiple medicines and more.
Sources and more information
Abstract was not provided for this article.
Dysmotility is another term for a GI motility disorder — a problem with the muscle contractions in your GI tract. They may be too strong or
Lower gastrointestinal dysmotility assessment
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/23932-biliary-dyskinesia
