My Health Team/Plan

NEVER take for granted your ability to eat!
It is a luxury.
A luxury that not everyone has.

Over the past few months, I have been piecing together a health team and plan. So far, it seems to be helping my good days be better although my flair ups are still pretty bad.

As I have mentioned before, I am one of the lucky Gastroparesis fighters. I am able to work a full time job and as such have the financial means to try a lot of the things on the list below. Many people with Gastroparesis are unable to work due to their extreme symptoms and being completely reliant on feeding tube nutrition. It is important for all of us to remember these brave fighters! Those of us who have more ability to fight must fight for the entire Gastroparesis community so that one day we can find a cure and treatment options!

My health team & plan consist of the following:

Acupuncture (I would be lost without my acupuncturist!)
Primary Care Physician
GI Specialist
Nutritionist
Chiropractor
Medical Massage Therapist
Cellular Expansion & Healing
Yoga
Prescription Medication
Antacids
Probiotics
Digestive Enzymes
Gaia Herbs Gas & Bloating Pills
Epsom Salt Baths
Castor Oil Packs
Neti Pot (what the heck, I’m doing all of these other things anyway!)

So the next time you hit the fast food joint or sit down to dinner with friends and family, think about how long your list is to be able to consume the food. Then think about how long this list is and be thankful that you have been granted the ability to eat!

~Millie

*** Please note, I am NOT a trained medical professional. Please seek the advice of a trained medical professional about your specific medical condition prior to trying anything that I suggest.

14 comments on “My Health Team/Plan”

I am doing the accupunture at this time and it does give some relief.

gastroparesisgirl on March 25, 2013 at 12:34 pm said:

Thanks Susan!
It is always good to know what others have found to help. I go back this evening & can’t wait!

~Millie

Reply
- Susan on March 25, 2013 at 2:30 pm said:
  
  This is so much a learning curve for me. Was just diagnoised last February, but don’t seem to have as bad as I read about people. My heart just goes out to them as I know how I feel and they have it much harder then I do.
  We started with accupunture everyother week, then 1 per month, skipped 3 months and now back to everyother week.
- gastroparesisgirl on March 25, 2013 at 3:36 pm said:
  
  Thanks Susan!
  It is a guessing game and even worse it is a guessing game with a moving target.
  
  ~Millie

My husband has been battling for nearly a year and we are closing in on this diagnosis after his gastric empty test….thank you for your bravery, it is inspiring this family right here 🙂

Can you offer specific suggestions on “digestive enzymes”?

Millie GP on July 3, 2015 at 9:58 pm said:

I personally like ‘Klaire Labs’ ‘Vital-Zymes Complete!

~Millie

Reply

I am new to blogs & Facebook. I just sent this message on Facebook, but in desperation, I’m sending it here as well.
My wife is experiencing a dramatic decline in her health. She was recently in the hospital and rehab for weeks. She’s seeing one specialist after another. Not having a colon, or several inches of her small bowel, we are convinced the majority, if not all, of her difficulties, including neurological and cognitive deficits, are associated with malabsorption. Convincing her medical team of the need for IV therapies and aggressive replacement strategies is difficult, even at the best of facilities however. As you know, the nutrition and gut connection is not well-understood or respected!

1. Could you share the supplements, including the dosage and brand information, that work for you each day? (I know this is individual, & you aren’t a medical provider.) Since we’re in an emergent situation, we’re currently using liquids when possible, but we don’t know if that’s best, or amounts/quality brands.

2. We’re trying to develop a smoothie “menu.” Could you share a recipe or two, and/or offer guidelines for making whole meal smoothies? We’d love it if you could even just point us in the direction of reliable resources.

Thank you for any assistance you might have the time and energy to provide in helping me save my wife. Please feel free to pass my message along to others as well. We need all of the firsthand support and information we can get right now. Again, my direct email is: erinmeyers1@yahoo.com.
Thank you so very much for all that you do to help others, even when you are struggling yourself!!!

Millie GP on July 3, 2015 at 10:17 pm said:

Oh my! I’m so sorry that I did not receive this message until now.
I am definitely not a trained medical professional and would highly recommend going to a doctor.
However, what I was doing for smoothies was a combination of tofu, greek yogurt, and berries. This helped to give me some protein and carbs.
As far as medicine, there wasn’t much that I was able to take. Mainly, Zofran for nausea. However, I know others that Zofran did not help.

~Millie

Reply

mark–pineapple and papaya are great digestive enzymes. the papaya also comes in pill form. i am in the early stages myself and am finding small liquid meals, 3t epsom salt in water to “move it along” (if you know what i mean), staying away from western medicine, and sleeping as needed right now is very helpful. talking here is VERY helpful cause who else understands? …and this is scary.

Millie GP on July 3, 2015 at 10:26 pm said:

Hi Terry!
Have you tried acupuncture? It was a game changer for me!

~Millie

Reply

I Millie GP, I just am starting this journey and finding it difficult to find helpful information about specific products or foods to sustain my weight. I have started a FODMAP diet and have been eating pretty clean, but weight is just dropping off if you wouldn’t mind giving more information about nutritious ideas for meal planning for a day. I have been drinking smoothies, and trying food, but am not getting too far finding things that go through my GI tract calmly. I start acupuncture this week and Dr’s I am not finding helpful and months to get into. Love this blog, makes my day! Thanks for any and all help. Diane

Hi Mille, I really enjoyed reading about you. I have had gastroparesis for over 3 years now. I don’t know anyone else that has it. I would like to be friends with you by email if you would like to. My name is Helen.

I use MFR mayo fascia release therapy. Helps a lot but started that after concussion. Took doctors 4 years to diagnose gastroparesis. Vomiting started 5 months after concussion 5 years ago. Had more concussion issues (i.e. Seeing flying beavers and Star Trek monsters in the woods. Gabapentin helped). So been going to neurorehab all theses years. Had gall bladder removed. Said vomiting episodes would stop. Wrong. Got sick all over the world. Even little island of Barbuda. Great doctors and hospital there. Lucky me. So just this July after a stay in hospital twice and sick most of June, doctors finally acknowledged that gastroparesis was from concussion. Had to resign myself to the fact that zofran, phenegren and levisin make my day better but still have all other issues. When I found your blog, I started crying. I showed it to my husband and said this is me to a tee. Now I don’t feel all alone. And I am very grateful that I can walk,talk, and enjoy life to fullest. But a few snags in the road.

Susan on March 25, 2013 at 10:59 am said:

I am doing the accupunture at this time and it does give some relief.

- gastroparesisgirl on March 25, 2013 at 12:34 pm said:
  
  Thanks Susan!
  It is always good to know what others have found to help. I go back this evening & can’t wait!
  
  ~Millie
  
  - Susan on March 25, 2013 at 2:30 pm said:
    
    This is so much a learning curve for me. Was just diagnoised last February, but don’t seem to have as bad as I read about people. My heart just goes out to them as I know how I feel and they have it much harder then I do.
    We started with accupunture everyother week, then 1 per month, skipped 3 months and now back to everyother week.
  - gastroparesisgirl on March 25, 2013 at 3:36 pm said:
    
    Thanks Susan!
    It is a guessing game and even worse it is a guessing game with a moving target.
    
    ~Millie
sara on August 12, 2014 at 8:33 pm said:

My husband has been battling for nearly a year and we are closing in on this diagnosis after his gastric empty test….thank you for your bravery, it is inspiring this family right here 🙂

Mark on September 8, 2014 at 2:19 am said:

Can you offer specific suggestions on “digestive enzymes”?

- Millie GP on July 3, 2015 at 9:58 pm said:
  
  I personally like ‘Klaire Labs’ ‘Vital-Zymes Complete!
  
  ~Millie
  
Erin on April 15, 2015 at 10:35 am said:

I am new to blogs & Facebook. I just sent this message on Facebook, but in desperation, I’m sending it here as well.
My wife is experiencing a dramatic decline in her health. She was recently in the hospital and rehab for weeks. She’s seeing one specialist after another. Not having a colon, or several inches of her small bowel, we are convinced the majority, if not all, of her difficulties, including neurological and cognitive deficits, are associated with malabsorption. Convincing her medical team of the need for IV therapies and aggressive replacement strategies is difficult, even at the best of facilities however. As you know, the nutrition and gut connection is not well-understood or respected!

1. Could you share the supplements, including the dosage and brand information, that work for you each day? (I know this is individual, & you aren’t a medical provider.) Since we’re in an emergent situation, we’re currently using liquids when possible, but we don’t know if that’s best, or amounts/quality brands.

2. We’re trying to develop a smoothie “menu.” Could you share a recipe or two, and/or offer guidelines for making whole meal smoothies? We’d love it if you could even just point us in the direction of reliable resources.

Thank you for any assistance you might have the time and energy to provide in helping me save my wife. Please feel free to pass my message along to others as well. We need all of the firsthand support and information we can get right now. Again, my direct email is: erinmeyers1@yahoo.com.
Thank you so very much for all that you do to help others, even when you are struggling yourself!!!

- Millie GP on July 3, 2015 at 10:17 pm said:
  
  Oh my! I’m so sorry that I did not receive this message until now.
  I am definitely not a trained medical professional and would highly recommend going to a doctor.
  However, what I was doing for smoothies was a combination of tofu, greek yogurt, and berries. This helped to give me some protein and carbs.
  As far as medicine, there wasn’t much that I was able to take. Mainly, Zofran for nausea. However, I know others that Zofran did not help.
  
  ~Millie
  
terry on June 23, 2015 at 2:58 pm said:

mark–pineapple and papaya are great digestive enzymes. the papaya also comes in pill form. i am in the early stages myself and am finding small liquid meals, 3t epsom salt in water to “move it along” (if you know what i mean), staying away from western medicine, and sleeping as needed right now is very helpful. talking here is VERY helpful cause who else understands? …and this is scary.

- Millie GP on July 3, 2015 at 10:26 pm said:
  
  Hi Terry!
  Have you tried acupuncture? It was a game changer for me!
  
  ~Millie
  
Diane on July 13, 2015 at 9:30 pm said:

I Millie GP, I just am starting this journey and finding it difficult to find helpful information about specific products or foods to sustain my weight. I have started a FODMAP diet and have been eating pretty clean, but weight is just dropping off if you wouldn’t mind giving more information about nutritious ideas for meal planning for a day. I have been drinking smoothies, and trying food, but am not getting too far finding things that go through my GI tract calmly. I start acupuncture this week and Dr’s I am not finding helpful and months to get into. Love this blog, makes my day! Thanks for any and all help. Diane

helen burch on October 28, 2015 at 7:53 pm said:

Hi Mille, I really enjoyed reading about you. I have had gastroparesis for over 3 years now. I don’t know anyone else that has it. I would like to be friends with you by email if you would like to. My name is Helen.

Irene on December 23, 2015 at 12:57 pm said:

I use MFR mayo fascia release therapy. Helps a lot but started that after concussion. Took doctors 4 years to diagnose gastroparesis. Vomiting started 5 months after concussion 5 years ago. Had more concussion issues (i.e. Seeing flying beavers and Star Trek monsters in the woods. Gabapentin helped). So been going to neurorehab all theses years. Had gall bladder removed. Said vomiting episodes would stop. Wrong. Got sick all over the world. Even little island of Barbuda. Great doctors and hospital there. Lucky me. So just this July after a stay in hospital twice and sick most of June, doctors finally acknowledged that gastroparesis was from concussion. Had to resign myself to the fact that zofran, phenegren and levisin make my day better but still have all other issues. When I found your blog, I started crying. I showed it to my husband and said this is me to a tee. Now I don’t feel all alone. And I am very grateful that I can walk,talk, and enjoy life to fullest. But a few snags in the road.

Adventures with Gastroparesis