Life is About More than Gastroparesis
More and more I’m realizing that living well with gastroparesis means focusing more on the “living” than on the “gastroparesis.” That might sound strange, especially coming from someone who is constantly creating resources and sharing information about GP. Let me explain.
Educating yourself about gastroparesis and implementing a comprehensive management plan is the foundation of living well with gastroparesis. That’s why I’ve dedicated the last several years to creating educational blog posts, videos, books, and programs for GPers. But what good is that foundation if you don’t have a life to put on top of it?
That doesn’t mean pretending that you don’t have gastroparesis or neglecting self-care or forgetting about your management plan. It means remembering that you also have hobbies, family, friends, and interests. Remembering that you are still You; you have not become Gastroparesis. Yes, gastroparesis is a part of your life (for now, anyway). It will certainly play a role in the choices that you make and the way you live your life, but there’s so much more to life than gastroparesis.
I remember the days when I would spend every spare minute researching gastroparesis on the internet, reading all of the message boards that were more about complaining than helping, trying everything that anyone else found remotely beneficial, obsessing over all of the “maybes” and “what ifs.” Word to the wise: don’t do that. All it did was make me feel worse — emotionally and physically. I literally became more symptomatic.
So many of us are consumed with gastroparesis, devoting all of our free time and energy to figuring it all out. Guess what? I still haven’t figured it all out and I’m pretty sure I never will. What’s more, I’ve discovered over the past eight years that the less I fixate on gastroparesis, the better I feel.
So, after more than two years of devoting nearly all of my time to writing and talking about gastroparesis, I’ve decided to see what happens when I focus less on the condition and more on living well. That’s not to say I won’t continue to share things that relate to managing gastroparesis, but my personal focus is shifting and I’m inviting you to join me on the journey. I can almost promise you that it will lead us both closer to a healthier, happier life!
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2 Responses to “Life is About More than Gastroparesis”
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I have just found you on the internet and I love your videos and blog. Like you, I’m trying to move-on and live each day as best I can. Somedays, rest is my best friend – other days, I’m doing chores, playing with my little grandkids, going to the zoo or the beach, sewing or scrap-booking. I have started a GP journal with a sticker on each page summarizing my GP Daily Management Plan. On the sticker I’m tracking my morning blood sugar (I’m a diabetic), my modalities (Bath, Breathing, Heat, Music, Stretching, Rest), boxes to check off for number of Liquids, LoGlycemic Carbs, Fruits (canned w/o skins), Proteins, LowFat Dairy, and Veggies (cooked w/o skins), and finally a place to write down how much I’m walking or exercising (in minutes). On the journal page I write down what I’m eating and times (trying for mini meals at 7am, 10am, 1pm, 4 pm, and 7pm). I’m also trying to give myself a symptom score. I’ve set 5 short term goals (with the aid of a nutritionist) to focus on. Soon I will tackle breaking down key long term goals (finishing a wedding quilt and doing an art display) into small weekly steps which are doable and thus completing my ultimate goal within say a 2 month period. Thank you for your positive attitude and encouraging ‘voice’. It is such an inspiration to see you living ‘well’ and accomplishing your goals. You are an amazing person.
Thank you so much for this post, Crystal! It seemed like my symptoms had been getting worse since Thanksgiving, and I couldn’t figure out why. So over the next two months, I eliminated things from my life until I was not doing anything except for trying to manage functional dyspepsia (very similar to GP). Despite my best efforts, or so I thought, things continued to get worse, both physically and mentally. I was getting so frustrated and my situation seemed hopeless. Then I realized that the only good week I had recently was when a friend from college came to visit. I still had time for self-care, but I was having a good time and doing something other than thinking about my illness. It was wonderful. But my health declined within days after she left, when fuctional dyspepsia consumed my life again.
Recently, I have gone back to school online (more flexibility if I wake up feeling nauseous) and started a part time job. I still have time to sleep 8 hours, eat proper meals and snacks and exercise every morning, but I am slowly starting to feel like myself again. Obviously, my lifestyle is different than it was before I got sick, but I can still enjoy life. Thank you so much for all of your help and inspiration!