MUSC News

Diane Hall of Hanahan, South Carolina, had two seemingly contradictory problems. She had trouble eating – but at the same time was so bloated that she felt like she’d gained 35 pounds.

“A lot of nausea and vomiting and just an upset stomach,” she said. “I didn't know what it was, and I went to my regular doctor. She said, ‘Your vitals are great.’”

But something was clearly wrong. A gastrointestinal specialist diagnosed Hall with gastroparesis and referred her to Mary Kate Bryant, M.D., at MUSC Health.

Bryant described gastroparesis, a condition that affects about 10 men and 40 women out of every 100,000 people. “Gastroparesis means that the stomach does not empty in an appropriate amount of time. So usually, when you eat a meal, there are two ways your stomach deals with liquids or solids,” she said.