Yes, You CAN get tested for GI motility - rather simple test really.  It is called a "gastric emptying scan".  It is outpatient and noninvasive.  The patient consumes a bowl of oatmeal (kind of bland) with radioactive labeling and then the technician takes pictures of the stomach and upper GI to monitor how fast things move through.  This can be a good diagnostic test for gastroparesis (aka decreased gastric motility). 

 

Reglan is a prescription that you take 30 minutes before a meal and it will increase motililty to help the patient be able to eat more food and move it through.  It is prescribed for gastoparesis.  The only side effect I experienced was a bit of "jitteriness" with the higher dose - I felt like I had a lot of caffeine - that feeling of constantly on alert - but I'd rather have that for a short while than have kept losing weight at that time.

 

The first time I was diagnosed with gastroparesis, I actually had an upper GI endoscopy, had fasted for 10 hours, but still had food in my stomach.  This was a way they could check for GI inflammation (which I also had) and they just happened to notice food still there and diagnosed the decreased motility as well. 

 

With treatment of my inflamed stomach, and treatment of the yeast in the stomach, and also taking reglan on a regular basis, my motility returned to normal and I no longer need reglan and get yeast in my GI infrequently.  I had a gastric emptying scan recently just to confirm that all was well, and it came back with good results.

 

It might be a good idea to get established with a Gastroenterologist (GI) if Ryan has yeast in the GI often and motility issues.  My endo referred me.  My manangement for pernicious anemia is to have an upper GI endoscopy every 2-3 years now just to monitor things (although wiht pernicious anemia I am at risk for stomach cancers and inflammation as well) - but it is nice just to know everything is well periodically.  My GI prescribes the diflucan, reglan, and perfroms the endoscopies.   I like that we are establishing a history if anything goes awry in the future, she will know all about me and this rare APS type I -I find it hard to work with doctors when somethings is wrong, if they have only recently read up on our disease!

 

Let me know if you have any other questions.

 

Julia