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Feeling full, nausea and vomiting are all symptoms of gastroparesis, yet other gut conditions can present like this too – so how do we know which it is? This week I interview Dr. Linda Nguyen on gastroparesis and other digestive disorder look-alikes like IBS, functional dyspepsia, cyclic vomiting syndrome and how she works with patients to improve their quality of life. 

Dr. Linda Nguyen is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at Stanford University and Clinic Chief in the Digestive Health Center. Her clinical and research interests include GI motility disorders and disorders of gut brain interaction, with an emphasis on gastroparesis, functional dyspepsia and chronic abdominal pain. Her current research includes identifying biomarkers to better diagnose motility disorders, understanding the role/impact of physiologic testing on clinical care, exploring novel therapies for gastroparesis and expanding the role of neuromodulation in the treatment of GI motility disorders and pain. She is also passionate about quality of life, professional development and physician wellness.

We talk about:

• How Linda came to work in the field of digestive health and her interest in GI motility and gastroparesis
• What gastroparesis is, how it develops, what the symptoms are, and how common it is
• The tests for gastroparesis
• How patients with gastroparesis develop a change in motility or emptying of their stomach
• Treatment options for gastroparesis
• Functional dyspepsia, how it similar or different from gastroparesis, and what the symptoms are
• Cyclic vomiting syndrome, how it similar or different from gastroparesis, and how is it treated / managed
• The use of implanted gastric stimulators for gastroparesis treatment
• The nutrition management of gastroparesis

You can learn from Dr. Nguyen on Twitter @ LindaNguyenMD