Anyone with Gastroparesis has been there. The time when you start to come out of a flair and you realize just how “funky” you are. (And I don’t mean funk in a good way, but in a smelly way!) You wonder…how…on…earth…have I become this stinky. What happened the last few days? Did the GP Elves throw me into a pile of used gym clothes? Did they spray me with “sweaty luxury” perfume? Is this smell coming from me or the dog? Can I pretend that it is the dog? Did Pig Pen have Gastroparesis? He sure exemplifies what we look and feel like at the end of a flair!
It is AWFUL! During a flair you have limited energy and there are certain things that just still have to be done. This means that you don’t want to spend precious energy getting a shower. You also know that if you attempt to get a shower that you might collapse from exhaustion at any moment. Then you not only have an issue with a Gastroparesis flair up but also the issue of a cracked open head. Hmmm…I wonder which is worse….hmmmm. Okay, staying on target. (The GPers out there, know just how difficult it is to stay on target at the end of a flair.)
Today, I FINALLY had enough energy to get a shower. Although there was not enough energy left to dry my hair, so into the ponytail it went. I think that I have somehow lost 5 pounds in pure “funk”. My skin is rejoicing the fact that it can breath again! You might think that I am exaggerating, but anyone with Gastroparesis will tell you that I am not. You quite literally wake up one morning and think “was that all a weird dream”? Did someone take over my life for a few days? It is one of the most bizarre experiences that you can have.
It was amazing that once I washed the Gastroparesis funk off of me how productive I was today. I was on a roll and smelling great! I’m anxiously awaiting my first aqua-aerobics class with a friend tomorrow and I’m sure she will thank me for not having a ring of filth surrounding me in the pool. Although I will make NO guarantees about my swimsuit and Gastroparesis belly combination!
~Millie
Adventures with Gastroparesis 
Dear Millie, I understand the funk.
LOL loved it! With gastorparesis (paralysed GI system) and Mito I have to schedule a shower like it’s a military operation. I also have to just know it has to be done at a time when I can take my medicine AFTERWARDS (some meds make me super dizzy) and then go directly to sleep because I am exhausted.
Thanks Heather!
It is indeed a military operation!
~Millie
I just came across your blog! Thank you fr sharing your experiences and thoughts! I was diagnosed with GP 2 months ago after 5 months of just being sick all the time; I’m still sick all the time but atleast I know why. I’m thinking about trying the acupuncture because its the nausea that gets me. I can handle the abdominal pain but that feeling sick all the time is the worst! In happy I found you 🙂
Thanks Colleen!
Sorry that we are meeting under these circumstances, but glad you have found comfort in the blog!
I would definitely recommend acupuncture for the nausea. Acupuncture has helped my nausea, GERD, & cramping tremendously.
~Millie