Adventures with Gastroparesis

Due to marathon recovery (non-GP related & IT Band related) & a non-GP related personal item, I had to take a break from writing.  It was a much longer break than intended so thank you for sticking by me!

Many of you have been following my Adventures with Gastroparesis and know that I have been trying all sorts of items in order to find some relief.  I have good news to report!  It seems as if everything is starting to come together and that I am starting to feel well more days than not!  (I’m now knocking on every piece of wood in the house!)  I’ve been using a combination of acupuncture, organic probiatics, organic digestive enzymes, smoothies, tofu, greek yogurt, gluten-free, caffeine-free, soon to be sugar-free, and exercise.

The biggest piece of advice that I could give anyone with Gastroparesis is to START TRYING THINGS!  We have nothing to lose & everything to gain.  So much of Gastroparesis is also the mental aspect.  Being chronically ill takes its toll mentally and it is difficult to overcome the emotions that come with that.  A lot of my posts from early on in this blog talk about this.  However, there comes a point in time when you have to say enough is enough and start attempting to reclaim your life (or at least pieces of it).  Yes, Gastroparesis flat out stinks and is horrible but why let it take more from us than it already has?

We need to start celebrating when GPers are still accomplishing amazing things in spite of Gastroparesis.  (As I have said in a few posts, an accomplishment can be something as simple as washing a dish in the middle of the flair.)  We need celebrate when others are able to find relief.  We need to celebrate when others are able to work.  We need to celebrate when someone does something active.  We need to celebrate when someone keeps the community alert as to changes in legislation.  We need to celebrate when someone keeps the community informed about resources available for GPers.  We need to celebrate when someone tries a new food item.  We need to celebrate when someone eliminates a problem food from his/her diet.  We need to celebrate when someone goes for a walk.

We need to start reclaiming our lives & we need to start celebrating the GPers who attempt this.  We need to stop defeating ourselves before we start & we need to start sharing GOOD news with each other.  Gastroparesis is depressing enough, we need to sprinkle some positive in there too!  Yes, we all have bad days.  Yes, we will all have days that will break us.  Yes, we need to discuss these.  However, we need balance by discussing both the bad AND good days!

This has led me to my latest addition to the blog.  I am going to add a section “GP Adventurers” to highlight everyone that should be celebrated within the GP community.  If you would like to nominate someone (or yourself), please e-mail me at adventureswithgastroparesis@gmail.com.  (YES, it is okay to nominate yourself.  I know I would!)

I will be anxiously checking my e-mail to see who our first GP Adventurer is.

~Millie