How is gastroparesis diagnosed?

The first step in diagnosing gastroparesis involves an assessment of the symptoms being experienced. The common symptoms of gastroparesis include nausea, vomiting (often of food eaten 12-24 hours before), early satiety (can’t finish a normal sized meal), and the feeling of abdominal fullness or bloating after a meal. These symptoms may also be accompanied by abdominal pain or discomfort. Your physician will take a detailed medical history and perform a physical examination to help determine the cause of your symptoms and exclude other medical conditions that can present in a similar way, such as dyspepsia, peptic ulcer, esophagitis, bowel obstruction, pancreaticobiliary disorders, and gastroesophageal cancers.

If gastroparesis is suspected, you may have one of the tests listed below. The list of tests is not exhaustive and your physician will determine the type and number of tests that best suit your individual case. Your physician will also provide you with information about what to do leading up to a test or procedure, and what reactions you may experience afterwards.