Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Gastroparesis

Frequently Asked Questions about Gastroparesis


1. What is Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic defines Gastroparesis as, “Gastroparesis is a condition in which the muscles in your stomach don't function normally. Ordinarily, strong muscular contractions propel food through your digestive tract. But in gastroparesis, the muscles in the wall of your stomach work poorly or not at all. This prevents your stomach from emptying properly. Gastroparesis can interfere with digestion, cause nausea and vomiting, and cause problems with blood sugar levels and nutrition.”

Link found here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastroparesis/DS00612



2. How do you get Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic Writes, “It's not always clear what leads to Gastroparesis. But in many cases, Gastroparesis is believed to be caused by damage to a nerve that controls the stomach muscles (vagus nerve). Other possible causes are abdominal surgery, Diabetes, Idiopathic (no known cause), a virus, and being born with a stomach that function properly. It can also be cause by narcotics because they can slow down motility.” On a personal note, mine was due to a stomach virus. I was in the hospital for eight days.

Link can be found: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastroparesis/DS00612/DSECTION=causes



3. What are the signs and symptoms of Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic states that,
“Signs and Symptoms of Gastroparesis:
Early Satiety (feeling full after just a few bites)
Heartburn
weight loss
weight gain
Abdominal bloating
Abdominal pain
Diarrhea
Constipation
Erratic blood glucose levels (mainly in diabetes)
Lack of appetite
Gastric reflux
Spasms of the stomach wall
Chronic nausea
Vomiting (often of undigested food)
Inability to tolerate dietary fats.”

Link can be found here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/gastroparesis/basics/symptoms/con-20023971



4. How do you treat Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic writes, “Treating gastroparesis begins with identifying and treating the underlying condition. For instance, if diabetes is causing your gastroparesis, your doctor can work with you to help you control your diabetes.”

I have written a blog entry on how to cope with emotional and physical pain of Gastroparesis. Here is an excerpt,

“This is a question that I've been asked a lot. I have been doubled over in pain, with no relief in sight. So, how do I cope and what do I do to make the pain easier to handle?”

You can find the ways to treat Gastroparesis here, without narcotics. Link here: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-cope-with-gpdtp-pain-emotionally.html

This link will also help you if other treatments don’t seem to work: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/what-can-be-done-when-gastroparesis.html

This link will help you with natural remedies for pain around the house: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/painkillers-in-your-kitchen-alternative.html

5. Can you die from Gastroparesis?

Yes. If it gets severe enough people can get very malnourished and without proper treatment options and proper nutrition people can die from complications from Gastroparesis. Gastroparesis alone cannot kill you but it can do horrible things to your body if you are starving.

Link: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2012/10/18-year-dies-from-gastroparesis.html

6. Does Gastroparesis go away?

The only way Gastroparesis will go away is when it’s been caused by narcotics or medication. Nerve damage and muscle damage is typically permanent.

See webMd on nerve damage: http://www.webmd.com/brain/nerve-pain-and-nerve-damage-symptoms-and-causes

7. Is there a cure for Gastroparesis?

The Mayo Clinic says, “There is no cure for gastroparesis. Making changes to your diet may help you cope with gastroparesis signs and symptoms, but that's not always enough. Gastroparesis medications may offer some relief, but some can cause serious side effects.” You have to eat low fiber and low fat foods. I have several gastroparesis friendly recipes on Pinterest and also juicing recipes: www.pinterest.com/chikensrule


Link found here: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/gastroparesis/DS00612



8. What should you need to know after being diagnosed with Gastroparesis?

I know that when I was finally diagnosed in March of 2012, I did two things that really helped me. The first thing I did was start this blog. I started it to keep track of my medical information, visits, testing, and everything else that I wouldn't remember later. My main goal was to help people through my own experiences so that maybe they wouldn't repeat things that I have done in the past like listening to bad advice from doctors. I was put on two medications that actually did the same things AND they slowed down motility! I also know that through my research, there's not really a whole lot on the internet about Gastroparesis or support groups. So, I made this entry to put all of my research in one place for people who may need support groups. My article with online resources has since been used by United Healthcare as an electronic resource for GP/DTP.

More ideas can be found on the link here: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/advice-for-newly-diagnosed-with-gpdtp.html

Also, here: http://www.emilysstomach.com/2013/04/youve-been-diagnosed-with-gastroparesis.html

9. What is the Gastroparesis Diet?

The Gastroparesis Diet can be found here: http://www.emilysstomach.com/2014/01/the-gastroparesis-diet.html




10. Is there more than one type of Gastroparesis?

Yes, there are! There are two types of Gastroparesis. The first is idiopathic gastroparesis, which means the doctors are not sure what caused it. The next one is diabetic gastroparesis, where diabetic neuropathy or other causes can trigger gastroparesis by damaging the vagas nerve (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vagus_nerve).

Link here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroparesis



11. Where can I find assistance to help me with finances with Gastroparesis?

I have compiled a list of financial ideas for those currently struggling with money for treatments with the help of the Emily's Stomach's Facebook Page. The blog entry has links in all caps that you can click on that will take you to that page.


The link is: http://emilysstomach.blogspot.com/2013/04/financial-assistance-ideas.html



12. Why are the Gastroparesis colors green and yellow?

As taken from G-PACT’s Facebook Page: From G-PACT's Facebook Page:

"Most people think that green and yellow became the colors for DTP because green is associated with nausea, vomit, bile, and a greenish appearance when sick. Actually, G-PACT places a stronger meaning behind the colors. We gave them a lot of consideration when we selected them to be the official colors for our use to represent gastroparesis. They represent how we want patients to see the future and what we are all trying to accomplish with hope, strength and growth towards better treatment options. We have seen a lot of growth in this field since our founding in August of 2001, so the green is appropriate. Why?

Green indicates growth. We are growing towards a cure and awareness and research is growing. It's a color of hope. When things start turning green outside it indicates the end of the cold, long, dark days of winter. The first sign of green plants and grass indicates we are coming out of a time if darkness and coldness and entering a phase of growth and brightness. It is a color that shows brighter and beautiful days are ahead. There is something really encouraging when you see that first blade of green grass or green leaf peaking [sic] through after months of brown fields, trees, and no growth.

G-PACT is a grassroots organization meaning that we started with a small handful of patients who were coming out of a period where there was very little knowledge and very little hope towards any kind of understanding or a cure. We knew something needed to be done to provide services to patients to get through the tough times now, and provide hope as we also fight for awareness and research and help bring about greater understanding into this condition. Our initial motto was "Striving towards brighter days of treatment, knowledge, and a cure." We have grown into a much larger scale, now making an international impact and have provided hope to so many as they try to cope until we do find the cure.

Yellow was also an important color for us. Our logo is a sun to indicate hope and a brighter future ahead. The sun is a crucial factor that helps the plants grow. It brightens the days and brings with it the nutrients, strength, and oxygen needed to supply the plants with what they need to be able to grow and thrive."

Why Gastroparesis Colors are Green and Yellow

People have asked me a lot over the years about why gastroparesis' colors are green and yellow. My friend, Melissa explains why in her blog. I'm going to share the link with you so that you can check out her blog and read about why the colors were chosen.

http://melissagpfight.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/why-is-green-the-color-to-represent-gastroparesis-dtp/

An exert says:

"BELOW IS A COPY FROM A FACEBOOK POST FROM G-PACT. WE WOULD HAVE SIMPLY PUT UP A LINK, BUT SOME OF YOU DO NOT HAVE FACEBOOK ACCOUNTS. THIS QUESTION IS ASKED A LOT AND WE FELT IT WAS BEST TO COPY THE ENTIRE POST.

Green indicates growth. We are growing towards a cure and awareness and research is growing. It’s a color of hope. When things start turning green outside it indicates the end of the cold, long, dark days of winter. The first sign of green plants and grass indicates we are coming out of a time if [sic] darkness and coldness and entering a phase of growth and brightness. It is a color that shows brighter and beautiful days are ahead. There is something really encouraging when you see that first blade of green grass or green leaf peaking through after months of brown fields, trees, and no growth.

Yellow was also an important color for us. Our logo is a sun to indicate hope and a brighter future ahead. The sun is a crucial factor that helps the plants grow. It brightens the days and brings with it the nutrients, strength, and oxygen needed to supply the plants with what they need to be able to grow and thrive."

To read more about it, please visit the link above to my friend Melissa's Blog. She also has a lot of other useful information as well. She also has a store that you should visit at:

www.gpfight.com

Go Green for DTP Awareness Fridays

The G-PACT community has lost a number of patients recently to various complications related to Digestive Tract Paralysis (DTP), including gastroparesis, chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, and colonic inertia. These deaths have led to an increase in interest among the patients and even the media into increasing awareness.

One of those people we lost was Gina Massey. She was young and inspired a lot of people.

Noah Vogelbacher, a friend of Gina, created an event in which he asks that people wear green every Friday to help increase awareness of GASTROPARESIS. G-PACT is a sponsor of this event. We encourage everyone to get involved. We are also expanding his idea with other very cool things to make Go Green Friday even bigger! We are very excited about where this is going!

Look for some "Go Green for DTP Awareness on Fridays" shirts to appear in the G-PACT store soon so you will have an added bonus to help increase awareness...attractive images for Go Green day to draw attention to the cause. They will also have some other event ideas for certain Fridays all year round to increase awareness even more some Fridays.

Fridays have officially become Go Green for DTP Awareness Day worldwide! All you have to do is get your green on!!! Then talk to people. If you would like more green and yellow stuff to wear, you can purchase an awareness band at www.g-pact.org/awarenessbands.html.

Gastroparesis means "stomach paralysis." Symptoms include nausea, vomiting, pain, bloating, weight loss, weight gain, malnutrition, and dehydration. There is no cure. Many are on feeding tubes or IV nutrition to sustain life.

Chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction is another paralytic condition of the digestive tract and causes "false" obstructions in the small bowel in the absence of mechanical obstruction. Symptoms mimic those of GP, only more small bowel related and also include frequent surgeries to remove the part of the small bowel which is blocked off. This can then lead to short gut syndrome.

Colonic inertia is a condition in which a patient is severely constipated and cannot defecate. Food gets trapped in the colon and will not move forward. This often results in the need for a colostomy. Some people have one condition, two, or even all three.

For more info go to www.g-pact.org and join our FB page at www.facebook.com/GPACT. You can also join www.facebook.com/greensnoteasy to get support and advice from fellow GP fighters.

Let's remember Gina and the others we have lost by wearing green on Fridays. We couldn't save Gina, but we can prevent this from happening to others!

In Noah's words on why he started this event that G-PACT decided to sponsor:
"Many of you know that, I lost a person very close to my heart. She had a very rare disease called Gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis is when the stomach muscle is Paralyzed, causing a person to not be able to eat. If a person eats, the food will rot in the stomach, causing bacteria and Bio to form. some have throw up attacks, where they just throw up and throw up.

Some that have Gastroparesis have pacemakers inserted around the stomach muscle to help the muscle contract. but this it doe not always work. if the pacemaker doesn't work they insert a J-tube through the Abdomen into the Intestine. then every night the person will have to hook that J-tube up to a special machine that pushes a formula into the intestine. that gives them their daily calories. through that Tube Potassium and other meds get pushed as well. it is a very painful process. That is how a person with Gastroparesis lives.

We need to spread awareness about this illness.

So please wear green Every Friday and spread awareness. In honor of the people who fight this disease daily.

Facebook invite to this event can be found HERE.