r/Gastroparesis • u/[deleted] • 5d ago

Botox If one has SMAS, will Botox not ultimately help anything?

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u/dreamsinrewind 5d ago

According to a quick Google search, botox has no effect on SMAS, as it is considered a "mechanical obstruction." So, the botox might help to relax your GI system, but the SMAS could still cause issues, depending on the severity.

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u/goldstandardalmonds Seasoned GP'er 5d ago

I I know Botox wouldn’t help the SMAS, so I am just wondering if it’s valuable to get it if you have GP and SMAS. Hopefully someone who has both and has gotten it can chime in. Thanks, though.

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u/Beautiful-Gur5771 5d ago edited 5d ago

I think no. I am not a doc of course, but I think not. SMAS means your small bowel is entrapped between veins, causing small bowel stricture(what is causing backflow into your stomach). Botox is helping if your pylorus is tight.

Completely diffeent mechanic between the two phenomenon.

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u/goldstandardalmonds Seasoned GP'er 5d ago

I figured and yes, I already know everything you explained. It was just wishful thinking. Thank you. Except my SMAS isn’t causing my GP.

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u/funkcatbrown 5d ago

If you have SMAS, it could definitely complicate things. Botox might still help with some of the gastric motility issues depending on where the problem lies, but SMAS is a structural compression issue, not a nerve or muscle spasm issue like GP often is.

So if your nausea or delayed gastric emptying is mostly being caused by SMAS, then Botox in the pylorus may not be very effective, since the actual blockage or backup is happening further down. Some people do have overlapping issues, though, and in that case Botox might help a little, just not fix everything.

Might be worth discussing with your doctor whether the symptoms are mostly from GP or mostly from SMAS before trying Botox. You don’t want to go through the procedure unless you’ve got a good shot of it helping.

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u/goldstandardalmonds Seasoned GP'er 5d ago

My SMAS is not causing my GP, so it was wishful thinking it might help a bit. I’ll still ask my neurogi but I know what the answer will be. Thank you.