Even though my smoothies helped to keep me on pace, I still felt like my body was completely out of whack. I was having dizzy spells, blurred vision, nausea, & stomach cramping. All signs that I was malnourished and dehydrated.
Usually when this occurs, I wait until I have completely tanked into a horrible flair before going for an IV. This typically leads to the nurses having a difficult time finding my veins and usually 4-5 attempts to get the IV in. (Needless to say, a fun afternoon in the park.)
This time, I decided I would attempt to be smart and get my IV when the symptoms of a flair were starting. I went to my local MedExpress where I have become somewhat of a legend. They joke that they are going to dedicate the IV room to me and put my name on the door. I remember a time, not that many years ago when it was always a terrible fight at an ER to try to get an IV. It shows huge progress for the Gastroparesis community to have the staff at MedExpress view the IV as a routine part of my life and to fully understand Gastroparesis.
Below is a photo of how I received my “dinner” last night. I wanted to use a photo of my actual arm, to show everyone that this is a reality for anyone fighting Gastroparesis.
This IV was the first part of my post-travel “tune up”. Today, I am going for a digestive massage in order to continue to have my body get back to “normal”.
Hey, you tune up a car after adding 30,000 miles so why not tune up my Gastroparesis Fighting Body!
~Millie
Thank you for describing exactly what my daughter goes through–she needed IV fluids this past week. And the Urgent Care which was our “home away from home” was the same way. As soon as we would walk in they would all set in motion the Iv and “our room.”
Thank you Pat!
It helps me to know I am doing a good job of articulating the Gastroparesis type of life.
I hope your daughter finds some relief soon!
~Millie