Don’t you just hate this question? Even worse don’t you hate having to explain what
Gastroparesis is all about? Do you tell
someone the simple answer my stomach is paralyzed? Do you try to explain the symptoms? Do you tell them to just imagine their worse
flu and think about living like that every day?
Do you try to explain in detail what gastroparesis is and what how it
makes you feel?
Well there is really no right way or wrong way to answer the
question. For some of us we are so tired
of the question that we just give the simplest answer possible. At the same time, we watch the person getting
the answered shaking their head like they understand. Then we thank to ourselves well at least I didn’t
have to do a lot of explaining and that is over with.
Then there are some of us that are so angry about being
asked all the time that we just lay it all out on the table. Sometimes we go into so much detail that
people are overwhelmed. They stand there
in awe just wondering how we are alive.
We must be extra strong.
Then there are some of us that vary our answer depending on
who the person is. A person that isn’t
in our inner circle we might describe it as flu or just say I have a paralyzed
stomach. Then when we are talking to our
inner circle we go into details to help them come to acceptance of what we
really feel and how things are. Then
there are times that you want to spread awareness and you get blunt and to the
point.
Like I said there is no right way or wrong way to answer
this question. We are sick and we have
an illness that most people have never heard of. In most situations we are the first person
that they have ever met with this beast we call Gastroparesis. Think about it a second are you the first
person that you know that have this monster.
The hardest part about explaining this disease is most
people do not understand how their own bodies work. All they know I get hungry I eat. I feel the urge and I go to the
bathroom. Most people just think that is
part of nature and there is nothing big happening when you are digesting your
food. I know there are times that I have the flu
and have to watch what I eat. I might
run into bathroom issues of constipation or diarrhea but I take some medicine
and I am back on my feet. This is where
the problem really starts. Be honest did
you know the importance of the movement of your stomach before you got sick
with GP?
I have learned that most people are inquisitive because it
is a shock to their system. They can’t imagine
that someone can’t just eat whatever they want.
They can’t understand that a person may be in pain when ingesting
food. That a simple few bites can mean a
complete full stomach. That eating can
cause your stomach to bloat and make you look like your pregnant and you just
took a few nibbles of food.
I also have learned that most people do not want all the
details but they do want to be supportive.
Many are not trying to condemn us they just want the information so that
they can treat us with respect and dignity.
With that in mind I have come up with my own way to talk about
Gastroparesis. In a way I am spreading
awareness. I am also sharing the fact
that this is something that can strike without warning. Also I am trying to debunk the notion that
stomach problems are all in our head.
Get ready here is what I say….You might find that it is what
you want to say…or you might just want to come up with your own answer. The biggest thing that we need to remember
though is most people do not understand how their body works so they can’t imagine
how such an illness can exist.
I have Gastroparesis a
physical illness that paralyzes my stomach.
See your stomach is supposed to contract to help food move throughout
your digestive tract. In fact, your
entire digestive system is a long set of contracting organs. When one part quits working and slows down or
paralyzes it causes food to stop flowing throughout the rest of the
system.
I might not look sick
because I am overweight but that is because my body has gone into starvation
mode. Many others lose weight and can’t
even take a single bite of food by mouth.
I get sick and can’t eat a lot of food or the food you might be able to
eat. Your stomach is emptied totally within
4 hours and the rest of your system is going in full force by then. For me it takes up to eight to twelve hours
depending on what I eat for my stomach to empty. Anyone can get this I consider myself one of
the lucky ones because I am idiopathic or what you would say no reason to
explain why my stomach decided to stop doing its job.
Because my stomach doesn’t
work right I live in a state of nausea.
I have pain in my stomach. There
are a lot of times that I get sick and loose the food that I have eaten hours
later. There are no cure only treatments that help control, well what they
control, of my symptoms. I am lucky for
right now that with my stomach pacer and medicines I am not hooked up to
tubes.
By the way I want to
thank you for asking. Hopefully I haven’t
blown your mind with my explanation. If
you have any other questions go ahead and ask.
No question is too crazy for me to answer.
True it floors many, but those that really are curious will
just start asking me tons of questions.
I don’t just start the conversation unless someone asks. If I notice that they are getting overwhelmed
I turn down my explanation to a shorter version. But most people that I have told this to are
amazed. Some even have said I have a
friend or family member that might have this.
How can they be tested? I also
always have someone say that they will pray for me or wish me luck in getting
better.
Again this might not be what you want to do. Adapt it for yourself. Amazingly this takes me about two minutes to
share. I have it well memorized. I also have answers for most questions. I share my blog address if they want more answers. I also share G-Pacts address. You don’t know how many people I have seen in
other situations that remember this conversation and ask me how I am
doing.
For my fellow fighters keep on
fighting and remember one day they will figure this out and we will have won.
Until then don't give up hope. It is okay to rest on bad days, but
on the good days enjoy life to your fullest because you deserve it.
There is so
much more and remember this is something that I live with and am writing from
my perspective. Talk to a doctor if you feel you may have this or any
other disease because without proper diagnosis you will never get the treatment
you deserve.
