Archive for the ‘Awareness’ Category
Gastroparesis A”Wear”Ness
Each week, I get emails and Facebook messages from gastroparesis patients who had been struggling in silence, thinking they were the only ones dealing with this difficult disease. Unfortunately, of the 5 million Americans living with GP, only a fraction know that there’s support and information available to them beyond what they receive in the…
[continue reading]
Gastroparesis on the Today Show
Gastroparesis awareness got a boost today thanks to 14-year-old Gentrie Hansen. Gentrie first made news earlier this year as she prepared for the gastric neurostimulator surgery after nearly 7 months of not being able to eat or drink anything. This morning she appeared on the Today Show and talked with Ann Curry about her struggle…
[continue reading]
Awareness: What It Means To Me
If you follow my Facebook page or you subscribe to my newsletter, you’ve probably heard that this is Digestive Tract Paralysis Awareness Week. DTPAW, I’ll call it for short, was developed by G-PACT to help spread awareness about gastroparesis and related conditions. Spreading awareness, like everything else, means different things to different people. For some,…
[continue reading]
Gastroparesis Survey: Updated Results
Last fall, I started a gastroparesis patient survey and posted the initial findings in December. Since then another 70+ fantastic GPers have added their input, so I’ve created an updated version of the results (14 pages, complete with charts, graphs, and your advice in your own words!). While it’s not in any way a scientific…
[continue reading]
Birthday Reflections…And Oprah Audition!
Today’s my 29th birthday! I’m officially “almost 30″…and I couldn’t be happier about that. The last several years were difficult ones but I’m glad that I kept the faith and kept fighting. Thanks to the gastric pacemaker, health counseling, this blog, and my amazing friends and family, my life has completely turned around. Good things…
[continue reading]
DDNC Wrap-Up (Better Late Than Never!)
I can’t believe I still haven’t shared the details of the Digestive Disease National Coalition Public Policy Forum that I attended in March. Initially, I intended to take a week to digest and absorb the experience (horrible pun) before writing about it. Somehow one week turned into two months. But better late than never, right? Related…
[continue reading]
March Newsletter: Sleep & Digestion
What an exciting month March is shaping up to be! On the first, I sent out the very first issue of my digestive wellness e-newsletter, Happier Bellies ~ Healthier Lives. This month we discussed the relationship between sleep and digestion. I also provided five digestion-focused suggestions for improving your sleep. If you missed this…
[continue reading]
I’m Supporting Gastroparesis Research…And You Can, Too
On March 7, I’ll be traveling to Washington D.C. for a two-day Public Policy Forum hosted by the Digestive Disease National Coalition. I’m joining a group of physicians and patients from G-PACT to educate those on Capitol Hill about the needs and concerns of the millions of Americans with gastroparesis. Related Posts:March Newsletter: Sleep &…
[continue reading]
Quick Stat: Prevalence
According to several studies published since 2006, it’s estimated that about 4% of the U.S. population has some form of gastroparesis. For comparison, Celiac Disease and Crohn’s Disease are each estimated to affect about 1% of the population. Related Posts:Gastroparesis A”Wear”NessGastroparesis on the Today ShowDDNC Wrap-Up (Better Late Than Never!)I'm Supporting Gastroparesis Research…And You Can,…
[continue reading]
Pain: The Overlooked Symptom
While many healthcare providers are under the impression that gastroparesis doesn’t or shouldn’t cause pain, my informal Gastroparesis Survey indicated that it’s actually one of the most commonly experienced symptoms. Related Posts:Gastroparesis Survey: Complete Results