Rare Condition Leaves Teen Hungry But Unable To Eat (VIDEO)

Not eating, throwing up and losing weight are all clear signs of an eating disorder. So it was no wonder when family members, friends and doctors thought that 14-year-old Gentrie Hansen had one after she lost 30 pounds in seven months.

The difference with Gentrie's symptoms is that she wanted to eat. "I would gladly take some weight and then be healthy and be happy," Gentrie told TODAY's Ann Curry in an interview. But even a small bite of food or beverage would make her throw up.

She was experiencing what doctors later found out was gastroparesis -- a rare neurological disease where the stomach doesn't empty properly. "The nerves and the muscles aren't coordinated so food goes into the stomach and can't get out, so the only way to get it out is through vomiting," said NBC's chief medical examiner, Dr Nancy Snyderman.

After dozens of failed therapies and medications doctors inserted a pacemaker into Gentrie's stomach. "It works like a pacemaker for the heart sending signals to nerves so the muscles will work normally," says Dr. Snyderman.

"It was really frustrating having people tell me I had an eating disorder when I knew I had a disease," says Gentrie. "It was the worst part of the sickness."

Having an actual diagnoses was a blessing and a curse for the Hansens. "You're so glad there's something to go forward with and try to understand, but at the same time you realize it's a lifelong disease without a cure," says Gentrie's mom.

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Comments

[henrypapillon]

05:29 PM on 09/06/2010

Poor kid. Wow! That has to be scary!

[Callique]

04:04 PM on 09/06/2010

It is stunning to me how little doctors seem to believe that their female patients can ever suffer something not psychological.

I wonder how many people have died of this while their cause of death read: anorexia.

[ddb]

10:50 AM on 09/05/2010

What a sweetheart. Hope she is through this and back to being a regular kid now.

[logic-a-go-go]

09:54 PM on 09/04/2010

Many thin or very thin women are accused of having eating disorders...sometimes to their faces. Why aren't men accused of the same thing? Sometimes there is a medical condition such as this illness, or a thyroid disorder behind thinness. Other times there is nothing wrong, and the person has just a "high metabolism". Be careful before making assumptions about others, folks.

[bgofca]

05:07 PM on 09/04/2010

i am glad the have been able to help her. sometimes the worst part of an illness is before it is properly identified and treatment is started.

[Phillip Ung]

02:58 PM on 09/04/2010

These rare diseases scare me. what are the chances of having this condition, because rare is pretty vague.

[WTFbush]

04:15 AM on 09/04/2010

The title of this piece suggests a kid that spent the last of thier money on some weed....