Re: Re: Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction

[Guest guest]

Darlene

I

have the “honor” of being diagnosed with Sphincter of Oddi

dysfunction. Thought I’d reply to your question, and I can give you

more details offlist if you have further questions.

The

symptoms are primarily upper GI, although it causes some other issues such as

affecting digestive motility. The Sphincter of Oddi is a set of muscles

just below the stomach (below the pyloric sphincter) where chyme from the

stomach mixes in with the bile from the pancreatic and common bile ducts and is

moved further into the duodenum (upper part of the small intestine). When

you have Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction, these muscles go into spasms which

often block the bile ducts and prevent the stomach from emptying

normally. It also affects the ability to swallow.

When

the Sphincter of Oddi is malfunctioning, there is abdominal pain, sometimes

severe; back pain between the shoulder blades if the common bile duct is more

affected; right shoulder back pain if the pancreas is more affected; chronic

nausea; poor (slow) digestive motility from the esophagus all the way to the

descending colon. The Sphincter of Oddi pain is usually centered in the

same place: right upper quadrant, just below and to the right of the

stomach, directly below the gallbladder, just under the edge of the right ribs,

4 to 5 inches above the waistline. There is a unique feeling of pressure

for most of us with this dysfunction; feels as if there is pressure inside

pushing outwards and outside pushing in. I can feel the muscles twitching. The

nausea occurs after each meal, and can vary in intensity depending on what you’re

eating and how good a day your digestion is having…

There

are two tests that confirm this dysfunction. Many gastroenterologists

know very little about this problem, and don’t test for it.

There

is no “cure” but having a sphincterotomy and sometimes a stent

placed helps “reset” the Sphincter of Oddi. Food choices help

the most. We have to eat low-fiber, low-fat and bland. I’ve

found SCD is the only thing that has worked for me, but it took me a few years

to get my gut ecology restored and work out what foods were best for me.

I only eat about half of the permitted foods, rarely make a SCD recipe, but I eat

well – as long as I stick to low-fat, low-fiber and bland. My gastroenterologist

is amazed at how well I’m doing.

I

feel extraordinarily lucky in that it only took me 3 gastroenterologists and 8

months to get my diagnosis. Most people with this condition struggle for

years to get answers.

Kim

M.

SCD 6 years

Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction 6+ years

neurological & spinal deterioration 3+ years

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

I've

suspected for a while that I did. That was especially during the time that it

was impossible to lie on my back due to the pressure up high and into my chest.

My doctor suggested raising my bed a few inches, no food or drink before bed, a

big glass of water in the morning and 10 heel drops to pull my stomach down.

That helped. Even now there is a very specific line of pressure right under my

rib cage in my solar plexus. So maybe I should still be following that

protocol. What is " sphincter of oddi dysfunction " ?

Darlene

Intestinal Dysbiosis

SCD 8 days