Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
Gastroparesis is often associated with GERD, which causes a delayed emptying of the stomach acids and food, which creates numerous symptoms including acid reflux. Along with a great deal of discomfort and systemic health-related factors, what many people don’t realize is that acid reflux can adversely affect your lifestyle and coping abilities due to its chronic bodily distress.
Symptoms of Gastroparesis
• Nausea
• Overly full feeling
• Abdominal pain & bloating
• Nausea
• Belching
• Bloating
• Burning sensations in the throat
• Heartburn
• Indigestion
• Regurgitation
• Oral ulcers
• Vomiting
• Bad breath
• Decaying or Eroded teeth
GERD is typically treated in standard medicine through several different classes of drugs that work by helping to move food through the stomach and intestines more quickly and also by controlling the amount of acid in the stomach, which consequently alleviates the acid in the throat and mouth. However, these common medications have a catch 22. For patients that take them regularly, the acid level in their stomachs is so depleted that they are unable to digest their foods properly.
We at Gulf Coast Ketamine Center have treated a number of patients suffering with pain associated with gastroparesis. The origin of the pain is multifactorial. It may be difficult to treat with conventional medications and other modes of treatment. We have seen dramatic improvement in the majority of these patients following treatment with Ketamine infusion therapy.
Additionally, the issue of chronic pain associated with gastroparesis often gets undertreated or overtreated. Painful inflammation of nerves and soft tissue in the abdomen, esophagus, and mouth affect up to 90% of patients with GERD. Many of these individuals become depressed due to the ongoing discomfort and side effects of their condition, which can lead to unnecessary pain medication use and addictions to arise.
In a series of ongoing randomized tests, Ketamine therapy has become more widely accepted for its capacity to revamp the brain’s pain signals and depressive episodes rapidly. Over the past several
years, many physicians have studied the effects of Ketamine on depressed patients including those with chronic pain, PTSD and bipolar disorder. Board-certified anesthesiologist, Dr. Steven Reichbach of the Gulf Coast Ketamine Center, has extensive experience in managing his patients that benefit from this therapy, and he consistently sees the value of the Ketamine IV treatment in his patients that suffer from depression on a daily basis.
What is Ketamine?
Back in the 1960’s Ketamine was developed to treat wounded U.S. soldiers that were serving in the Vietnam War. In the 1970’s, Ketamine was the anesthetic of choice for surgery, and in the 1980’s it became a popular street and club drug because of its “out of body” sensation that it’s users experienced.
How does Ketamine Work?
Ketamine works by creating new connections in parts of the brain that control mood and emotions. These new neurological connections help the brain to send positive signals to the psyche, along with beneficial physical conditions to the body. The effect is notable within hours, but most patients report the results are instantaneous. These astonishing changes are visible in brain scans and imaging, and the results are long-lasting.
In recent FDA and other professional associated studies, patient results with ketamine show:
• Reduced pain
• Decreased depression
• Diminished suicidal thoughts and episodes
• Rapid ability to reverse depression and its symptoms
With our ongoing drug-related crisis, ketamine therapy can reduce the risk of opioids, benzodiazepines and other narcotic addictions. Physicians are often overprescribing these types of highly addictive
drugs to help minimize or mask patient’s chronic pain, depression or other ailments. With Ketamine therapy, the treatment is safe, non-habit forming and highly effective.
How is Ketamine Administered?
During the treatment, the initial infusions usually take place over approximately 2 weeks with 6 infusions that are administered every other day.
Ketamine IV therapy impacts both mood and anxiety and can result in positive treatment outcomes for the following disorders:
• Severe or Chronic Depression
• Chronic Pain
• Bipolar Disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Post-Partum Depression (PPD)
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Produces Rapid Onset of Neural Connections
Mitch MacPhail formerly with Trulieve is now the new director of cannabis product education at Gulf Coast ketamine Center.
The Gulf Coast Ketamine Center
To schedule an appointment, or to find out more about this breakthrough treatment option for pain, please call 941-213-4444, or visit their website at findpainrelief.com.
Steven Reichbach, MD
Board-Certified Anesthesiologist
President and Founder,
Gulf Coast Ketamine Center
Lolita Borges, RN
Clinical Director, Gulf Coast
Ketamine Center
2415 University Parkway, Building #3,
Suite 215, Sarasota, FL 34243
941-213-4444 | www.findpainrelief.com
