Tuesday, August 28, 2012

I recently found a website for Gastroparesis!  www.g-pact.org Gastroparesis Patient Association for Cures and Treatments.  This website inspired me to buy a cookbook, awareness bands and also a free restaurant card!  Since I am limited to the amount and what I can consume, the cookbook will be great to cook good healthy foods.  Not to mention the free restaurant card is perfect for patients who have Gastroparesis.  It is a card to present to restaurants so that I can receive smaller portions for the price of a child's or senior plate price!!  

On another note, I have lost another 3 pounds.  I am scared I will be skin and bones when I get older.  The only thing I do nowadays is pray.  Pray I don't end up as one of those, in memory of... RIP... kinda thing.  Being a single mom of 3 children, I must stick around for them!  Having a battle with something or someone can be handled or worked out but when the battle is within you, its harder to fight.  But I am ready to put on my boxing gloves cause I'm not going to go down without a fight!  

Sunday, August 19, 2012

My Life with Gastroparesis: Be aware of your symptoms

My Life with Gastroparesis: Be aware of your symptoms: Many times individuals tend to ignore their symptoms, expect them to go away over a period of time or too scared to be seen by a doctor.  Fo...

Be aware of your symptoms

Many times individuals tend to ignore their symptoms, expect them to go away over a period of time or too scared to be seen by a doctor.  For a year I did that.  I waited and waited, thoughts running through my mind trying to figure it out on my own.  Perhaps I had just a strange stomach bug that only caused me problems every now and then.  It wasn't until my symptoms became worse, occurred frequently and the constant loss of weight that I decided to seek medical advise.  For 2 years after going back and forth to the doctors office, really no answer given as to why I kept having problems, I became extremely discouraged and frustrated.  Was all my symptoms all in my mind?  I couldn't have just made up all my pain and discomfort.  I didn't think I was a hypochondriac.  My point is, no one should ignore their symptoms.  It is a way for your body to alert you that something is wrong.  I really wished I had sought medical attention sooner than waiting a year.  Perhaps I would have been healthier.  I was determined to find an answer to my symptoms.  Now that I know I have a stomach disease, I regret not having that second plate of food or even devouring a huge cake or ice cream.  Now I cant.  Now I can only consume about a cup of food each time I eat.  My symptoms will never get better.  Over the last couple of years I have slowly gotten worse.  There is no cure.  Even though I do not like the fact that I do have a rare stomach disease that limits me on what I can consume or the quantity, I am very thankful I can still eat.  Things could be worse.  I am hoping I will never get to the point to where I would have to need a feeding tube.  With that said, I want to encourage everyone, if you have symptoms you can't figure out, please seek medical advise.  It could make a huge difference in your life.  

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Domperidone

Have you ever felt all you do is pop pills all day?  With my stomach disease I have to take a total of 4 pills of 10 mg Domperidone throughout the day.  Morning, lunch, dinner and before I go to sleep at night.  Overall perspective, even though I am taking a medication that is not FDA approved, Domperidone has definitely been worth taking.  I just wish it would take away the pain and discomfort.  It seems to really help me with my nausea and diarrhea.   If I forget to take it prior to eating, I am running to the bathroom within 30 minutes after eating.  Not a nice thought is it? On a positive note, I haven't lost anymore weight!  I have been steady for the past 3 months.  I believe with the combination of medication and right foods, I must be doing something right.  I lost over 65 pounds!  WOW!  

Sunday, August 5, 2012

A couple of weeks ago I contacted my doctor requesting help.  I still haven't heard back from them.  Due to their lack of concern, I have decided to contact another Gastrologist.   Life is too short to be dealing with pain and suffering.  Its somewhat easy to handle things when you know what your dealing with.  Everyday is completely different, its hard to make sense of my condition.  Gastroparesis is a very challenging, very confusing and poorly understood condition.  It changes your life.  All I want to accomplish is to minimize my symptoms without sacrificing my nutrition.  Since I cant have a cure, I should at least have the satisfaction of  ways I can reduce my symptoms.  With that said, say a little prayer for me in hopes to find a doctor who actually cares for their patients.