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, it means telling the world – via blogs, videos, or social media – how hard it is to live with gastroparesis.  I get that.  Public knowledge is sorely lacking.  Especially when you consider that there are at least three times as many people with gastroparesis as with Celiac disease, a condition with a significantly higher profile.

Yet, it’s been my experience that when people are exposed to something that doesn’t really affect them, they usually don’t pay much attention.  Even (or especially?) if it’s sad or depressing or dramatic.  Sometimes all it does is leave the person who’s sharing the information all wrapped up in their own pain and misery.  So, alas, not for me.

For others, the focus is bringing awareness to the medical community.  I’m all for this, as the understanding of functional GI disorders among physicians is abysmal.  It just seems like a hard thing for patients to accomplish via social media.   But what a fantastic coincidence that the 2010 Joint International Neurogastroenterology and Motility Meeting is going on this week in Boston?  Some of the brightest motility docs and researchers from around the world are coming together in one place — to spread awareness amongst themselves!

Which brings me to my focus for DTPAW:  you.  I want you, the GP patient, to be aware of your options. I want to make sure that you’re making informed decisions, that you understand what’s going on in your body, and that you recognize that your actions and your attitude affect your experience with gastroparesis. I want you to be aware, most of all, that there is hope.  It’s not all doom-and-gloom.  There are things you can do to help yourself and there are others out there who can offer support.

Now I’m aware that some people think I’m overly optimistic or even naive.  That’s fine, but I disagree.  Does having gastroparesis suck?  Absolutely.  But the way I see it, I don’t have a choice whether or not I have gastroparesis.  I do, however, get to choose whether or not I roll over and wallow in the suckiness.  I choose…not.  And I choose to help others who choose “not,” as well.

With that in mind, here’s how I’ve chosen to participate in DTPAW:

Facebook Updates
Throughout the week, I’ll be using my Facebook page to post articles, links, and archived blog posts that support my intention of spreading information and inspiration to you, the GP patients and caregivers.

Eating for Gastroparesis:  A Free, Interactive Webinar
Sponsored by G-PACT
Join me and Angie Moeding, RD on Wednesday night at 7:00 p.m. EST as we answer all of your GP-related diet and nutrition questions.  Have a question?  Submit it in advance via email or when you register.  Space is filling up very quickly.  Click here for more info and to register.

Cooking for Gastroparesis: A DTP Awareness Video
Check out this video in which I whip up a recipe from the Gastroparesis Gourmet cookbook (Sweet Potato & Carrot Puree, page 34) and dish out some tips for GP-friendly cooking.  Stay tuned…I have plans to post another segment later this week.

Special Health Counseling Offer
Book a 60-minute health counseling session by August 31st and 50% of your payment will go directly to G-PACT to help with on-going awareness and advocacy efforts.  And, as an added incentive to help both yourself and a great cause,  book your appointment as part of the G-PACT fundraiser and get a 60-minute follow-up session for half price.

For more information about the 60-minute sessions, click here.   To schedule your appointment, contact me via email or my website.

And that’s that.  Happy DTP Awareness Week, however you choose to celebrate it!

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