The vagus nerve, also known as the tenth cranial nerve that connects the brain to other organs of the body, is actually the most complex cranial nerve. One of the functions of the vagus nerve is to signal the stomach muscles to contract and digest food that enters the body. If the function worsens, you can develop a health condition called gastroparesis, which is a condition when the stomach's ability to empty itself slows down. To diagnose vagus nerve damage in your body, immediately consult a doctor to get more accurate results.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Understanding the Symptoms of Gastroparesis
Step 1. Observe whether the food you eat takes longer for the body to digest
Gastroparesis prevents food from circulating in a normal pattern in your body. Therefore, be aware if the frequency of your bowel movements decreases drastically. Most likely, this condition is one of the symptoms of gastroparesis.
Step 2. Watch for nausea and vomiting
Both are common symptoms of gastroparesis that occurs because the food in the stomach is not digested properly. In fact, you're more likely to even vomit food in its whole, undigested form.
Most likely, you will feel these symptoms every day
Step 3. Watch for a burning sensation in the chest and throat
This condition is one of the common symptoms of vagus nerve damage caused by increased stomach acid. Most likely, these symptoms will appear periodically.
Step 4. Watch for a decreased appetite
Deteriorating digestive function due to vagus nerve damage can drastically reduce your appetite. Because the food that enters the body does not move anywhere, you will find it difficult to feel hungry and will only eat very small portions of food when needed.
Step 5. Be aware of changing weight
Because the food intake into the body is reduced, your weight has the potential to decrease afterward. In addition, your digestive system is also not working as it should. As a result, the body will not get the nutrients it needs to “fuel” energy and maintain a stable weight.
Step 6. Watch for a stomach that feels bloated and painful to the touch
As digestive function deteriorates, the food you eat will last longer in the stomach. As a result, the stomach will feel bloated and painful afterwards.
Step 7. Be aware of changes in blood sugar levels in diabetics
In fact, vagus nerve damage is more common in people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes. If your blood sugar level is more volatile than usual, it's most likely an indicator of vagus nerve damage.
Part 2 of 3: See a Doctor
Step 1. See a doctor if you experience any combination of worrying symptoms
If you experience the above symptoms for more than one week, there may have been complications in the body that pose a risk to your long-term health. For example, you are prone to dehydration or malnutrition because your body's digestive function is deteriorating.
Step 2. Write down all the symptoms you are experiencing
Do this to make sure you don't have any symptoms you forgot to tell your doctor about. In addition, also write down when you experience these symptoms specifically so that your doctor can provide a more accurate diagnosis.
Step 3. Be prepared to do a physical exam and other tests to diagnose your symptoms
Most likely, the doctor will ask for your medical history and perform various physical examinations such as listening to the beating in the abdomen using a stethoscope and performing relevant body scans.
Tell your doctor about all your risk factors, including if you have a history of diabetes and have had previous abdominal surgery. Other risk factors to watch out for are hypothyroidism, infection, neurological disorders, and scleroderma
Part 3 of 3: Performing the Necessary Tests
Step 1. Get ready for an endoscopy or X-ray
Most likely, your doctor will do the test first to make sure you don't have a stomach blockage, especially since the condition can cause symptoms similar to gastroparesis.
- In an endoscopic procedure, the doctor will insert an elastic tube that has a light and a small optical camera on the end into the esophagus. Don't worry, the patient will first receive a local anesthetic and a spray to temporarily numb the throat nerves before performing the procedure. After that, the doctor will push the tube down your throat until it enters your esophagus and upper digestive tract. A camera attached to the end of the tube can help doctors to observe the situation in the stomach better and more accurately than using X-rays.
- You may also have an esophageal manometry test to measure the degree of stomach contractions. In this procedure, the doctor will insert a small tube into the nostril and leave it there for 15 minutes.
Step 2. Prepare for a gastric emptying test
Generally, this test will be done if the doctor does not find a blockage in the previous test results. Prior to the test, patients are asked to eat foods that have a low radiation dose (such as egg sandwiches). After that, the doctor will observe the length of time it takes your body to digest it through a body scan machine.
Generally, the doctor will give a diagnosis of gastroparesis (paralysis of the stomach due to damage to the vagus nerve) if some food remains in the stomach within one to one and a half hours after eating
Step 3. Discuss the possibility of doing an ultrasound with the doctor
In fact, the ultrasound machine is able to detect whether the symptoms you are experiencing are caused by other health problems. Specifically, the doctor will check the health of your kidneys and gallbladder through the procedure.
Step 4. Get ready for an electrogastrogram
If your symptoms are difficult to diagnose, your doctor will most likely order an electrogastrogram, which is a special test to listen to your stomach sounds for an hour using a special instrument called an electrode. Remember, this procedure should be done on an empty stomach.
Tips
- The most common methods of treating vagus nerve damage are taking medication and making lifestyle changes. Most likely, your doctor will prescribe medications that can stimulate your stomach muscles and reduce nausea and the urge to vomit.
- In very severe cases, the patient may need to use a feeding tube temporarily. Generally, the feeding tube will only be installed if the patient's condition is very severe and removed immediately if his condition begins to improve.
- In fact, there are several ways to stimulate the vagus nerve that you can easily do yourself at home.
