Arlene's Real Healing Story Pt. 1 - Thrive with Gastroparesis

Our next Real Healing Story is actually part 1 of a 2 part series.

Arlene has completed the initial program of 12 weeks, but decided she wanted to continue working together to really further her Gastroparesis healing. She made so much progress in the initial program, but now she’s really soaring.

Introducing Arlene

Arlene came to me in late December. Our first call was actually the day before Christmas Eve, which was a Friday. I got her call request later into the evening, and normally, I wouldn’t have called back right then and would have waited until after the holiday & weekend was over, but something about her made me call back that evening and I am so thankful I did.

She has battled through so much in her life with cancers, family illnesses and deaths and more in a very short time period. Not only has all of that piled onto her, she was diagnosed with Gastroparesis.

And of course, she went through the gammet of doctors prescribing pills, unhelpful advice and then ultimately no help. Then, she started searching the internet and all she could find was doom and gloom, like so many of us find when we search about Gastroparesis. Then, she found me.

We talked for a while and she explained her struggles, fears, uncertainties with even going a more holistic route. She was always used to sticking with doctors and their approaches. All very normal and I explained how I marry both holistic approaches and science together to create a program that is so incredibly helpful, and the same methods I took myself through.

She took the leap and we started in February. Her transformation has been beautiful, incredible to see and inspiring to me and I think to all of you, too.

So, without further ado, here is part 1 of Arlene’s story.

Do you know how you got Gastroparesis?

No.

How did you find Aubrey & Real Peel?

Searching the internet for information on how to treat my severe Gastroparesis. My Gastroenterologist wanted to proscribe medications that would also cause serious side effects physically, and side effects on mental health well-being.

I already have Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that developed 7 years ago, which I am being treated for now. I was also informed that the medications, the same exact medications that Aubrey herself was informed of by her own Doctor, would only be effective for a short time. I felt terrified and hopeless at that point.

What were your main symptoms and how were you feeling before you started working with Aubrey?

My worst symptom was severe nausea 24 hours a day nonstop. Intense, at times unbearable pain in my upper abdomen, that would some days, possibly 4 to 5 days per week and travel to other parts of my stomach. Daily, several times per day, or even more, holding on to something in my bathroom and vomiting. I was not eating except for 3 spoons of yogurt per day so there was nothing to vomit, at many times mucus and blood.

What made you feel like working with Aubrey was the right decision for you and your Gastroparesis?

The medical community offered me virtually no options for treatment without drugs with severe side effects. I read Aubrey's own Gastroparesis story online and how she regained back 85% of her health through juicing and many additional lifestyle changes and I was willing to try any suggestions of hope and help.

I reached out to Aubrey and through a very pleasant, supportive phone call, her vast nutritional knowledge, her initial first-hand experience with this devastating disease, and her devotion to helping others on a journey to recovery all made my decision to work with Aubrey the right decision for me.

What was the hardest thing about the Thrive with Gastroparesis Program?

Looking back now I must think on this, because this program formed a new way of life that I am still continuing daily.

Perhaps the most difficult aspect for me was not the program itself, but my believing that there was hope for me. Most articles on the internet were grim and filled with stories of painful, hopeless, helpless suffering and even death. I am already a 4-year survivor of invasive breast cancer, which runs very high in my family, and lung carcinoid cancer, and I still must go for wellness scans, but Gastroparesis was terrifying for me.

Did you ever feel like quitting or felt like it wasn't going to work for you? If so, how did you move through those feelings?

My self confidence in anything working to help my Gastroparesis at this point was low to non-existent when I began. I had to open up my mind to accepting new methods of healing that I had never been exposed to.

At that time, I was exposed to only the medical community and the fact that drugs were routinely prescribed for almost every ailment. The Thrive program is very different. I was introduced to the terms such as vagus nerve toning, jucing and eating specific foods for healing, and acquiring a mindset for healing just to name a few, which allowed me to learn to stay more positive and this required much work on my way of thinking.

I recently had a breakthrough in this part of the program where I can now look at my future in a more hopeful way. I can honestly say that I never thought about quitting, but my self-esteem and confidence levels are still a work in progress. Aubrey was and still is a great source of strength, when those days sneak in when I cannot muster it for myself, and an exceptional example of what can be achieved if I comply with this healing program.

What was the turning point for you during the program where you started feeling better?

I believe that it really did take my working with the program 10-12 weeks to feel significant improvements which are still now as I write this, developing. That is why I signed up for an additional 12 weeks. In my first month I had a three-day glimpse of what the future may hold, as some of my symptoms started to take steps toward improving. But as Aubrey did tell me recovery is not linear. Some days you move forward, and somedays the road to healing will take you back temporarily. My greatest turning point for me personally came later in the program.

After the initial 12 weeks, how did you feel?

I went from being literally bed ridden with Gastroparesis for at least 7 months to minimal bouts of nausea,

I find it difficult to comprehend once again being able to make my own healing juices, smoothies, and meals, I take short daily walks, mt self-confidence has improved, I have what we call just Flare ups of pain, which Aubrey said will be less frequent and severe with time.

I no longer have constant pain. This program taught me among so many other things how to keep my blood sugar in balance so I can eat and not feel dizziness. I can eat and drink a variety of delicious healthy foods, even my husband enjoys what I share with him. I am sure there is more that I can add here and I cannot recall at this moment, but I ask and give permission for Aubrey to join me here. (I will add more to Arlene’s progress at the end)

This is just a free response if there was anything else you would like to add that I missed.

There are no words adequate to express my gratitude and appreciation for Aubrey's creation and dedication to my Thrive program. I can honestly say I do not think I would be alive without this, as my Gastroparesis was progressing further. These are strong words, but I had no other options that would not endanger my life further. I Thank God Daily for Aubrey and Thrive. I am greatly looking forward to my additional 12 months and what my future will hold.

My Input on Arlene’s Journey

Now y’all, Arlene summed up a lot of what she has been through over the 12 weeks, but I want to add more.

She has come so far and sometimes, like so many of us, it can be hard to quantify and identify all of those changes.

What I saw after 12 weeks:

  • Her activity level is up compared to when we started, she was bedridden and is now going for walks, getting outside more, and even making plans for the future.

  • Her food consumption is way up and venturing into more and more solid foods

  • Her food consumption now has more variety than it did before, with so many fruits and vegetables and trying proteins and more

  • Her independence is soaring. Previously, she was having to rely on everyone to help her and that was hard for her, and now she’s doing her own grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning and more!

  • Her symptoms, although not always consistent, have vastly improved overall and she’s getting relief when she previously wasn’t.

  • Her motivation and determination has soared to where she wants to keep pushing more and more to find that normal life again.

Her willingness to try anything and do every recommendation is what has brought her so much success thusfar. And it’s that same willingness that will continue to take her healing to the next levels

I’m so proud of her, and I tell her that often on our calls, but truly it is my absolute honor to be a part of her healing story and I am excited to see where she will be after our next 12 weeks together.

Stay tuned for part 2, because I just know it’s going to be even more inspiring.

And if you are lost on where to start your Gastroparesis healing journey, make sure you download the FREE 3-Day Healing Guide.

If you have already done that, but are so ready to move forward with your healing, request a free consult call to learn more about working 1-on-1 and how I can help you with your Gastroparesis. Head here to make that request by filling out the quick form at the bottom of the page.

I can’t wait for your story to be next.

Until next time,

Keep it Fresh. Keep it Simple. Keep it Real.

Aubrey

My Gastroparesis These Days - An Update

A few years ago, I wrote a blog called Juicing Cured My Gastroparesis, and I never even imagined it would be as important as it has been in these last few years.

I wrote it to really help explain to my family & friends what I had been through in the previous years and to explain how juicing has really helped me and why I had started this juice business.

What it became was so much more than just a quick explanation.

It became a beacon of hope for so many people suffering with Gastroparesis. It became that thing that finally made them feel heard and validated in their condition. It became pretty much the only positive thing about Gastroparesis on the internet.

Finally, it became the main reason I decided to further my education and help those just like me, suffering with Gastroparesis, but finding no real help anywhere else.

And I couldn’t have been more honored and still can’t even believe the impact it has had.

So, after helping so many clients with their Gastroparesis, I decided it might be time for an update.

Is My Gastroparesis Still Cured?

Let’s start over with a quick note that I didn’t totally clarify in that previous blog. There is no technical “cure” for Gastroparesis, so I guess I can’t say that it is cured.

What I can say, though, is that I have complete and total control over my Gastroparesis.

I very rarely have pain. I have virtually no nausea, ever. I can eat pretty much whatever I want, when I want.

I am able to get out of bed, every single day. I am able to exercise freely. I am able to go to friends and family’s different gatherings and out to eat without worrying what I am going to eat.

It’s a rare moment when I have a flare, and when that does happen, I can get a hold of it really quickly and knock it out.

It feels so good to have so much control back over my health and my body after so many years of pain and suffering.

What Have I Done to Continue This Progress?

That blog was just the beginning of what I did for my Gastroparesis. Yes, juicing and smoothies took me reeeeeeallly far, but then I took it further.

Here are all of the facets I included in my healing journey:

  • Juicing

  • Smoothies

  • Broth

  • Warm Lemon Water

  • A diet that is the EXACT OPPOSITE of the recommended Gastroparesis diet. (this was done as a gradual buildup, though)

  • Fixed my stomach acid production

  • Supported my liver and gallbladder

  • Acupuncture

  • Massages

  • Daily Walks

  • Increased exercise

  • Yoga that supported digestion

  • LOTS of daily sun exposure

  • Nerve Toning to help regenerate those connections in my nerves

  • Fixing my microbiome

  • Worked on keeping my blood sugar balanced

  • Worked on my mindset and shed the identity of Gastroparesis

  • Focusing on things that took my mind off my Gastroparesis totally

Yes, it sounds like A LOT, and at times, it was, but I would do it over and over and over again to have these same results and this same control over my health.

And had a doctor suggested any of these to me, that would have been a game changer, but nope, it was medications, a terrible diet and surgeries and then sorry I don’t know what else to do.

Finding a routine with it all and the right combinations took me quite a long time, but then I refined it and stayed super consisitent with it. And then, I carried that refinement into my work with clients, so that they don’t have to work so long to find relief.

What Do I Do Now?

Well, thankfully, these days I don’t have to be so strict on my body to feel good. My body has fallen into a healthy rhythm thanks to all of that work I put in.

On a regular basis:

  • Lemon water

  • Walks

  • Juice

  • Smoothies

  • Broth

  • A diet that is full of nutrient dense, whole foods and very minimally processed.

  • Lots of daily sun exposure

  • Exercise

If I find myself in a weird state or going into a flare, I still implement all of the above,but I add in:

  • Nerve toning

  • Acupuncture

  • If needed, going full liquid diet for a few days

  • Up my stomach acid production

Then I utilize the Gastroparesis Flare Kit over and over, until it fades away.

These days, that usually is only a day or two when it does actually happen.

What Have I Been Up To?

Since my life no longer revolves around my Gastroparesis, I have gotten back to my old self.

I’ve gone on vacations.

I love hanging out with my husband, making us delicious meals and not worrying about how I will feel.

I work full time, with no more stomach interruptions.

I have focused my practice on helping those with Gastroparesis.

I have had 2 pregnancies and 2 beautiful baby boys with no complications from my Gastroparesis.

I am fortunate enough to stay at home with him and still work and still help clients.

I’ve gotten back into baking and really enjoying it.

I’m doing almost all of the things I loved to do before I got so sick. Some things I just don’t have the time for right now, but that’s okay, it’s all part of the phase of life I am in.


So, to wrap it all up I am going to speak in final terms

YES, my Gastroparesis is still “cured” and I am so thankful for it.

But while it’s easy to see me at this phase and find it hard to imagine me so sick, you have to remember that I was right where you are and I just decided enough was enough. I took action that was against all of the recommended actions and it paid off, over and over again.

And I want to help you get to this phase. Where people can’t even imagine you being sick.

It starts with downloading the free 3-day Guide.

Grab this guide and work through it.

If you have already done that or you do get through it, then I would love to continue helping you along your Gastroparesis journey.

We can work together 1-on-1 to help you get to this point in your health and life.

My goal truly is to one day see that there are more of you that feel like me and that you can get back to thriving in your life.

Until next time,

Aubrey

Gastroparesis Flare Emergency "Kit"

When you’re in a “flare” it can be hard to focus enough to figure out what you need to get yourself back to stable ground. So, I put together a quick “Gastroparesis Emergency Flare Kit”.

These are all of things I do for myself when I was having constant flares and even so many years later when I have a rare flare. These are tried and true for me.

What’s a Flare?

This term is used amongst the Gastroparesis community and so it can be varying in description depending on who you talk to. But, my description of a flare would be:

Pain, nausea, bloating and extremely full, all more than the normal daily symptoms you face. It can be debilitating and lead to vomiting, extreme constipation or diarrhea. The lack of appetite, due to feeling so full, can create more nausea and pain.

Sucks, right?

How to Calm a Gastroparesis Flare?

Well, each thing in the emergency kit helps each part of your flare, even if it looks a little different than what I described. Let’s go over each one.

Warm Lemon Water: if you have been around here long enough, you know I basically require anyone visiting my site to have warm lemon water. The warmth is soothing for your belly and the lemon helps aid in digestion and also soothes the stomach.

Warm Bone Broth: again, the warm liquid is soothing on the body, but bone broth has numerous benefits. Mainly, it helps reduce inflammation and helps to repair the lining of the gut. It’s also providing you protein and fat in a way that’s easy to digest.

Walking: you might not feel like getting up to do much during a flare, but I promise, walking is so helpful. It helps aid in digestion and gets your metabolism going to help reduce that full feeling. Being out in the fresh air and sun can also aid in creating a good environment for those important bacteria in your stomach that help with digestion.

Heating Pad: sometimes, you feel like you have a rock just sitting in your stomach. Using that heating pad helps relax the stomach muscles and can help gas move through and relax your body.

Safe Foods: Juice. Juice is always a safe food for me. I am getting nutrients that I need but don’t want to work to digest in that moment. A smoothie would also suffice here. But also, even if you don’t feel good and don’t want to, consuming something is still important. Any of the recipes from the Juicing for Gastroparesis Ebook or the Free 3-Day Guide would be good ones here.

Rest When Needed: after everything else, sometimes you just need to rest your body. I usually try it all first and then if my body is still flaring, I just try to rest when I can. I try to get some decent sleep to let my body rest and digest.

So, next time you are in a flare, come back here and start with step 1 and keep moving through all of these steps until you start feeling some relief!

Hopefully, that was helpful for you.

Until next time,

Aubrey

Ps… if you would like to know more about how I can help you personally with your Gastroparesis, click here.

Medical Treatments for Gastroparesis - Why I Don't Talk Much About Them

Occasionally, I get requests from people coming to the site asking me to talk more about new medications and procedures for Gastroparesis.

They wonder why I don't have much information on what the new medications are and what procedures are being done to help Gastroparesis and I usually respond to them with the reason why and it's not always what they want to hear.

​So, let's chat a bit.

First off, I don't talk much about these methods, because I am not a doctor and while I have a lot of knowledge on Gastroparesis, the digestive system, nutrition and health, I don't have the credentials to talk about different medications and whether they work or not. It would be irresponsible and I would be terribly upset if someone took my words as a way to treat themselves with a medication or procedure and it turns out wrong or makes them worse.

Second, I don't talk much about them, because that's not where I found my personal healing. None of the options available worked for me or I wasn't interested in trying them. My doctor laid out the options for me and gave me realistic expectations of how they would work and they weren't worth it. I tried Reglan, it was horrifying. I tried Erythromycin, it was shocking how horrible it was. I didn't want a procedure so young and I didn't want to keep pumping my body with medicine that "might" help.

Finally, that's not where I focus when I am helping my clients with their Gastroparesis. My goal for them is to work with natural methods, nutrition and the occasional supplement if it's needed. So, it would feel disingenuous for me to come on and promote medications and surgeries.

​Am I Against All Medications and Procedures?

Let me be clear, I am by no means against those options for you. I am not against the medical community. In fact, I do plan on going back to school one day to be a doctor, which was my original plan before I got so sick with Gastroparesis. Even if I do that, these options wouldn't be my go-to for Gastroparesis.

So, yes, there are some medications that can be helpful for some and I do mention those in previous blogs and my story. Yes, there are some procedures that can be helpful, but the reality is, they don't address the root problem.

The medications and procedures serve as a bandaid. And I get it, sometimes we just need the relief, sometimes it's a necessity to have at the moment and sometimes you don't have the energy to fix the problem, but that's not where I focus.

I want to help the root of your Gastroparesis. I want to help you work the nerves again. I want to help you nourish your body with proper nutrition that your body builds up to handling more and more.

I want you to have a life that doesn't depend on medication for Gastroparesis. I want you to have a life that isn't altered by a procedure that oftentimes doesn't make things much better.

I want you to feel like a normal person again that isn't attached to medications, a feeding tube or anything!

If that's not something you are aligned with, and you want a medication or procedure, that's perfectly okay.

But, until there is a groundbreaking discovery that some medication magically cures a vast majority of those with Gastroparesis, you won't catch me supporting those options publicly and advocating for them for my clients. I am often keeping a watch on what doctors are doing and saying and trying when it comes to Gastroparesis, but so far, nothing is sticking with me.

I'll continue to watch and learn, as well.

So, if you have ever wondered why I don't discuss them much, or why I don't send out information on those topics, that is why.

Hopefully, you understand where I am coming from.

However, I do want to keep the door open to asking me questions privately about these topics. I am happy to point you to someone who is qualified to discuss these, or give you proper resources.

If you would like to learn more about the methods I take with clients, please feel free to

  • reach out to my email info@realpeeljuice.com

  • download the free 3-day Healing Guide

  • search through the website for more information

Until next time,

Keep it Fresh. Keep it Simple. Keep it Real.

Aubrey

Can a Nutritionist or Dietician Really Help My Gastroparesis?

Ahh yes, this question is a good one.

I am in a few Gastroparesis support groups on Facebook and between that and my emails, this is a POPULAR question with a lot of varying answers.

Why is this so popular? Well, doctors often suggest change in diet for help with Gastroparesis, but they have either zero suggestions or they give you those sheets that are created by someone who has never experienced Gastroparesis and must think eating garbage is good for you… I digress.

And then along with that, they refer you to a dietician or tell you to seek out help from a nutritionist.

My doctor did the same…. and I think we can guess how that went.

Let’s start from the beginning, though.

What is a Nutritionist or Dietician?

A simple Wikipedia search gives us the definition of each.

“A nutritionist is a person who advises others on matters of food and nutrition and their impacts on health. Some people specialize in particular areas, such as sports nutrition, public health, or animal nutrition, among other disciplines.”

Typically, nutritionists have certifications, not degrees. They also cannot diagnose or technically “treat” any disease or condition. Unfortunately, this leaves a lot of gray areas, and for those who do go through rigorous certification programs, it can be frustrating when people call themselves nutritionists and all they did is just decide they wanted to be one.

To contrast this,

“A dietician is an expert in identifying and treating disease-related malnutrition and in conducting medical nutrition therapy. Many dietitians work in hospitals and usually see specific patients where a nutritional assessment and intervention has been requested by a doctor or nurse, for example if a patient has lost their ability to swallow or requires artificial nutrition due to intestinal failure. Dietitians are regulated healthcare professionals licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat such problems.”

Dieticians can be wonderful resources in the medical setting and can diagnose and treat different situations.

There are pros and cons to both.

So, can they help with Gastroparesis?

Yes. If they know what they are doing.

There are a few things you need to ask your nutritionist or dietician before working with them:

  1. Are they familiar with Gastroparesis?

  2. How many clients/patients have they had with Gastroparesis?

  3. What is their success rate with those clients/patients?

  4. Are they open to trying non-traditional methods to help with Gastropareis?

If they can answer all of those with a yes or a good success rate, then I think they are 100% worth it and can be incredibily helpful. If not, then they won’t be much more help than the internet searches that tell you the same things over and over.

When I saw the dietician, she had only heard about Gastroparesis, but had never worked with a patient with it. Not her fault.

I stayed open to what she was advising, but unfortunately, it was just more printouts of what I had already seen from top clinics and what my doctor had mentioned.

It didn’t work, and she didn’t have enough familiarity with the condition to try new approaches. I don’t fault her at all, but for me, it wasn’t worth it.

Hence why I went through a few years of training to become a nutritionist and go through my own journey of healing to help those of you suffering with Gastroparesis.

So, I will answer those questions myself:

  1. Are they familiar with Gastroparesis? Well, ummm, yes. lol

  2. How many clients/patients have they had with Gastroparesis? I have clients, not patients since I am not licensed. I have helped 15 clients in the last 3 years. I took a break during 2022 and didn’t take on any client during the year.

  3. What is their success rate with those clients/patients? Currently, my success rate is a 93%. I can give clients my absolute all, but if they don’t/can’t put in the work, then it won’t be successful.

  4. Are they open to trying non-traditional methods to help with Gastropareis? Let’s try whatever it takes! I am all about trying different methods. I am open to medical options, natural options, etc. I think we can all work together to find different methods to help you with your Gastroparesis. And that’s how it should be. If you come to me with something you’ve heard, we will discuss it and see if it’s worth trying, because in the end, it’s not about me, it’s about you and your life and your health.

I hope this has been helpful for you if you have been wondering about seeing a nutritionist or dietician. Maybe your doctor referred you, but you are skeptical, and that’s 100% understandable. Take those questions I metioned above and ask them. Once you have their answers, you can make an informed decision if they will be the best help for you or not.

If you are interested in learning more about working with me, I would love the opportunity to chat.

Learn more about the 1-on-1 program I offer to help you with your Gastroparesis here.

Until next time,

Keep it Fresh. Keep it Simple. Keep it Real.

Aubrey

Current Treatments for Gastroparesis

How do you treat Gastroparesis?

Well, today I am going to discuss all of the different treatments currently offered, how effective they are and my thoughts on them.

Spoiler alert: I’m not fond of most of these

Treatments for Gastroparesis

  1. Diet Changes

    While normally I would be all down for this one, the diet recommended is AWFUL. And I mean AWFUL. The mainstays of this “diet” are to remove fiber, fat and cook your fruit and veggies down to mush. If you have read any of my other blogs, then you know I like to go against this, because it only makes you more sick. There are ways to build back up.

  2. Medications

    Reglan, Erythromycin and Domperidone are the main ones that come to mind. While these work for some, they come with very scary side effects and they are not a cure nor are they even a long-term solution, because you cannot be on them for long periods of time. They don’t do anything to get to the root cause of your Gastroparesis, but they can help with some of the symptoms. They are meant to help with contractions in the stomach and bowel to help move food along. I tried a few of these and my side effects were incredibly scary after only 2-4 doses of each.

  3. Surgery

    There are a few surgical options that help widen the pyloric sphincter to make food pass through easier and feeding tubes. While I am not a huge fan of these options, sometimes the feeding tube is 100% necessary to reverse or prevent malnutrition until you get to the point of being able to tolerate food orally again. There are some much riskier surgeries like gastric bypass or a sleeve and these make zero sense but they are still offered to those who are just desperate for any help.

  4. Gastric Stimulator

    This is about the only actual option that makes sense. It sends electrical pulses to the stomach muscles, like your vagus nerve would, to make it contract like it normally would, but there isn’t concrete studies that show its effectiveness. It’s also a surgery and that’s a scary option for a lot of people. This was the final option for me and I just did not want that for myself, so I found other ways.

That’s it, y’all. Those are your current options. In my opinion, none of those are all that great, but until there is more research on how to help with Gastroparesis, that’s what it is.

So, what else can you do?

Well, my route was to change my diet, tone my nerve and create habits that support my healing over any of those options. And I did just that.

If you are need a place to start, check out my FREE 3-Day Healing Guide. It is based off of the current 3-day diet that is often handed out by doctors, but it actually has nourishing foods instead of coke, crackers and bouillon.

Until next time,

Keep it Fresh. Keep it Simple. Keep it Real.

Aubrey

Is Gastroparesis Terminal?

This is sort of a complicated & grim question. So, I am going to make it easy, at first.

NO. Gastroparesis is not terminal…..

….on its own.

…. but it can be, and it really, really doesn’t have to be.

Will My Diagnosis Kill Me?

It’s so sad that it has to even be a thought about this digestive condition, but unfortunately, the lack of information and research on it, leaves too much room for wondering. Doctors are just taking stabs in the dark on how to cure it, and sometimes, they land on something that works for a few people. As of right now, there is no ONE cure that is sure-fire to work.

This condition is not like other digestive conditions where you can take one particular medication and it helps or fixes it. Sometimes, one medication works, diet changes, full lifestyle changes and more to help even 1%.

So, to circle back, will having Gastroparesis kill you? NO.

But the other issues that come along with it definitely can, and sadly, already has others.

What Are Those Other Issues?

Gastroparesis causes a myriad of other issues that can be terminal, so let’s go over what those are:

  1. Malnutrition. This is the biggest one. Not being able to eat for months and eventually years has led some of the GP community into terrible situations or death. If you can’t tolerate any food at all, even liquids, you need to discuss with your doctor about getting your nutrition through other avenues.

  2. Dehydration. A lot of clients that I have worked with couldn’t even drink water when they started. This is a fairly common issue, and the dehydration eventually can take its toll on your body.

  3. Vomiting & Diarrhea. To piggyback on the previous two, the often chronic vomiting and/or diarrhea that comes along with Gastroparesis can lead to severe dehydration and malnutrition that can lead to death.

  4. A Bezoar. When the food doesn’t empty out of the stomach, it has the potential to turn into a bezoar, which is a solid mass. This can block the blood flow out of the stomach.

  5. Giving Up. Sometimes, after years of pain, suffering, a combo of all of the above and the fact that no one has answers, understands, or can help, leads to some just giving in to the worst of it and when you lose that hope and will to live, your body shuts down.

It Doesn’t Have to be This Way

It breaks my heart every time I hear of someone with Gastroparesis passing from one or more of the above issues. It doesn’t need or have to be this way, and I wish doctors would get on board with helping their patients in different ways.

Your Gastroparesis is NOT, but also, DOES NOT HAVE TO BE terminal.

Keep fighting for answers and help.

If you are looking for a place to start, I have a FREE 3-Day Guide. It is not the cure-all, but it is a start. Some have found full healing from following the guide, and some have gotten an incredible jumpstart to feeling better. I want that for you.

So, no, your Gastroparesis won’t kill you. But don’t let the other issues it brings take their toll on you.

You deserve to find healing, too.

Until next time,

Keep it Fresh. Keep it Simple. Keep it Real.

Aubrey

Tips for Working with Gastroparesis

Let’s talk reality here….

  1. Pretty much all of us need to work to make a living.

  2. Getting disability is incredibly hard with Gastroparesis

  3. Working with a chronic illness feels almost impossible

While I never tried for disability myself, I had a very hard time working when I was at the worst of my symptoms. So, how did I push through?

I am going to offer some tips that helped me get through. Of course, these aren’t fool-proof, and sometimes you are just too sick to work. So, keep that in mind and remember, there isn’t a magic pill in the world to make your Gastroparesis better.

Also, this can all be dependent on the type of work you do. Some tips will apply to everyone, some won’t.

Tips for Working with Gastroparesis

  1. Figure out if mentioning it to your managers, boss, superiors is worth it.

    I am someone who likes to think that that people aren’t mean-hearted for the most part, and maybe I have just been lucky to have very kind and understanding bosses. So, talk to them, disclose your illness to the degree you are comfortable with, maybe even refer them to some of these blogs, so they get a full understanding of Gastroparesis. Figure out together what accommodations can be made for you.

    Does that look like working from home? Working longer shifts for less days? Being able to leave when you are too sick? All you can do is communicate with them, because the more they know and understand, the easier it is for them to empathize and not think you are just trying to get out of working. (I know, that sounds mean, but it’s the truth)

  2. Build the rapport with your colleagues.

    So, not only do you need to do this with your managers, so that you are comfortable sharing. Do this with your colleagues. You don’t have to share intimate details, but you can let them know you suffer from a chronic condition and sometimes accommodations have to be made, but you are a team player and you will get your job done and it won’t get thrown on them.

    If you follow social media’s advice, you’ll see plenty of info about be there only for yourself and look out for yourself, and while there is a degree of truth to that, there’s a lot of that that’s gross. Your colleagues are there just like you, to make a living and do their job. It’s not you against everyone.

  3. Build a good rapport with your doctor

    You might wonder how this works or why it’s important, but it is. If your manager has questions about your condition or needs any paperwork, you can either send them to your doctor or have your doctor write notes for you that require certain accommodations.

  4. Make Lists

    Oftentimes, with Gastroparesis, we get brain fog and remembering all of our task and duties can be daunting. So, make lists. This is something I do daily. Each morning and evening, I sit down and write my to-do’s for the next day. This will help you take the load off your brain and reduce some stress, which is a factor with Gastroparesis.

  5. Rest as much as you can

    When you aren’t at work, rest. Allow your body to take the pressure off. This also applies to sleep. There is a ton of research on “rest and digest” and how your body goes through so much digestion and repair while you sleep, so getting good sleep is important. I know sometimes it can be hard when you feel like crap, but establish a good routine and try to relax.

  6. Fuel your body with the best possible food you can tolerate

    This one is the hardest, because GP is so finicky with what you can and can’t eat. However, when you can, make the choices to eat food that will provide you with energy that will last and not just processed food that will burn off quickly and make you crash.

  7. Understand your limits

    Some days, you just can’t. And that’s okay. You need to listen to your body for when to push through or when to take a break for 10-15 minutes and lay down, throw up, go to the bathroom, etc. And if it’s too bad, maybe even take the day. This is where having that good rapport with your team comes in handy.

  8. Grin & bear it

    And to combat the previous one, some days, you have to just work through the pain. We have all been there and sometimes it’s necessary. If you’ve taken too many days off, if you have a big deadline, whatever it may be. Sometimes, you have to push through and then go home and crash, and that’s the unfortunate reality of a chronic condition.

  9. Take time for yourself

    And when you can’t do it anymore, sometimes you just have to stop working, go part-time, or even switch fields to something less demanding on you. Don’t be ashamed of it either. I was in that situation of doing something less demanding or stressful and it helped me on days when I didn’t feel like I could even get up. These days I have a full blown career and Real Peel, so remember, it doesn’t have to be forever.

While this list seems pretty straight forward, it can be so helpful to apply them all together. Maybe there is a point or two you never thought about.

I hope that you found this helpful and if you are looking for a place to start with your Gastroparesis Healing Journey, grab the FREE 3-Day Healing Guide.

Until Next Time,

Keep it Fresh. Keep it Simple. Keep it Real.

Aubrey