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

Evelyn's Real Healing Story - Thrive with Gastroparesis

One thing I hear a lot when people read my personal healing story is “wow, it was so great reading this, as it gives me hope I can feel better one day”.

However, sometimes, it’s also nice to hear from others, and not just one person, on how their healing journey has gone.

So, I decided to start a blog series about some of the real healing stories my clients have gone through. I asked each one of them if they would like to participate and if so, we would do it question and answer style, so almost like a little interview. I sent them the questions and they sent back all of their answers.

Today, I introduce you to Evelyn

First off, I absolutely ADORED Evelyn. She started out with the very first round of the Thrive with Gastroparesis program when it was still a group coaching program. She found some healing through that, but really felt she would truly thrive by doing one-on-one work to take it even further. The one-on-one work was all of the current Thrive with Gastroparesis program, but we also did weekly check-ins, video calls and personalized plans.

*The following are all Evelyn’s answers and have not been changed in any manner

Do you know how you got Gastroparesis?

Possible food infection.

How did you find Real Peel & Aubrey?

Google Search

What were your main symptoms and how were you feeling before you started working with Aubrey?
Nausea, dizziness, not tolerating any food, anxiety, depression, and weight loss.

What made you feel like working with Aubrey was the right decision for you and your Gastroparesis?
It was all healthy. The juicing and the food recommendations. Also her experience.

What was the hardest thing about the Thrive with Gastroparesis Program?
Being disciplined. I knew what I had to do but i had really bad eating habits.

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?
Initially yes. I had to change my routine and I wondered if all the work was going to be worth it.

What was the turning point for you during the program where you started feeling better?
When I was able to tolerate more foods.

After the 12 weeks, how did you feel?
A lot better. I felt confident about being able to move forward with the changes I had begun in my life.

How long has it been since you completed the program? And how are you doing now?
A year or two? I’m doing well. Have some flare ups but nothing like how I was when I first started the program. I did gain some of the weight I had lost. And so I am looking towards eating clean again and this time staying on a healthy lifestyle because I have seen some of the tired feeling come back again.

I then had a free box that she could fill out if she had anything else to say, and this is what she said…. This program was a real blessing that helped me to learn to eat clean and change my lifestyle. I highly recommend this program to anyone who is dealing with gastroparesis or looking to learn to eat healthier.

My thoughts on the time with Evelyn

She said it herself, she struggled to stay disciplined. However, that was more motivation for me to keep her going. I knew she could feel better, but it’s all very hard work. I pushed, encouraged and we switched things up as much as we could, until we found a rhythm.

Once she got that motivation AND discipline, she soared. I clearly remember the last month, our check-ins and calls were so short, because she was feeling so good.

I am so proud of her and honored to be a part of her journey. I also love that she was honest in that she has had flares and had some shaky ground, but she recognizes it, and knows what she needs to do to get back on track.

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 looking to move forward with your healing, keep an eye out for the Self-Paced Thrive with Gastroparesis next round.

Or, if you are wanting more one-on-one, please send me an email at info@realpeeljuice.com to check availability or join the waitlist.

Until next time,

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

Aubrey

3 Things I Did For My Gastroparesis

What’s the secret? What’s the magic pill? What’s the trick?

What’s the fastest way to heal my Gastroparesis?

All of these are pretty usual questions or starts to questions that I get when people come to me asking for help with Gastroparesis.

They see how I am now and think I got this way overnight. Well, I didn’t develop Gastroparesis overnight and I can promise you that I didn’t fix it overnight either.

It took me years, A LOT of trial and error and commitment to getting better to feel the way I do now. So, that’s why I started Real Peel. To help you improve your Gastroparesis MUCH faster than I did, but it still won’t be fast.

YOU NEED TO BE COMMITTED, EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T WANT TO.

So, here are a few things I did pretty much every single day for an entire year that helped me fast track my healing journey.

1. Warm Lemon Water. Yes, I talk about this in literally everything I have, but there is a reason why. It is so incredibly helpful for your digestive system. It takes some time for your body to adjust to it, especially if you have reflux issues. I started with just a slice of lemon in a coffee cup size of warm water, and now I use a half lemon daily and then I transfer that lemon to my water I drink all day, Why is it so important?

   • helps combat dehydration

   • stimulates the digestive system

   • provides you with vitamin C

   • aids in digestion

   • helps prevent kidney stones (I get these too, sadly)

   • provides a potassium boost

   and plenty of more benefits I didn’t list

2. Morning Walks. Every single day. y’all. I would start my morning with lemon water and then go for a 20 minute walk. Walking before you eat anything actually helps stimulate your digestive system, burns fast and helps your metabolism. These days, my day starts a little differently since I have a baby, but I do this general order still.

3. Smoothies & Juices. Yes, there was a time that I was only consuming smoothies and juices all day long. That didn’t last a year, though. However, I did continue consuming a smoothie and a juice every single day for a year. This helped me combat my malnutrition and help me get in vital nutrients that I hadn’t been getting due to not eating previously.

Have I talked about all of these things before? Yes.

So, why am I talking about them here, again? Well, sometimes, it makes more sense to break things down into easier to digest pieces….pun intended.

Sometimes, when you are trying to figure out where to start with this stupid condition, it’s overwhelming to try to fix diet, lifestyle, mindset, etc. all while still feeling like crap and not having enough brain power to put together a plan.

So, if you can do just 3 things every single day that do not take much effort, it’s much easier to keep going on this journey.

To read more about my story, head here.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out.

Until next time,

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

Aubrey

Dos and Don'ts of Gastroparesis

The Dos and Don'ts of Gastroparesis, but for Friends & Family

That's right. This isn't for those of us that suffer from Gastroparesis, this is for those of you that are family and friends and are *trying* to help or understand what we are going through.

If you don't quite understand what it's like to have Gastroparesis, you can read a little about it here.

A lot of friends and family mean well, but there isn't enough education on Gastroparesis for them to understand what it's truly like and how to approach their loved one. Unfortunately, a couple of things end up happening:

• you end up saying or doing the wrong thing and it upsets us

• you get frustrated with our health state and stop listening to us

• you get frustrated with our lack of knowledge on what to do and stop wanting to know anything about our illness

So, I have compiled a list over a period of time of things that family and friends have said, done or suggested to those of us with Gastroparesis, and I am basically giving you a cheat sheet on how to communicate with us. (these aren't all my personal experiences)

Don't Say, Do or Act:

• DO NOT say "wow, I want to be on your diet, since you are losing so much weight". This is not helpful or funny. Most would give ANYTHING to eat normally and gain weight, so please keep those thoughts to yourself.

• DO NOT say "you really need to eat better, and you won't gain so much weight". So, yes, there is a flip side to the first one. Some are gainers and it is mind blowing, because we barely eat, so we don't know how it is happening

• DO NOT suggest some random 1-off tip like, "if you would just take shots of apple cider vinegar every day, you would be fine". That's literally not how it works, but okay.

• DO NOT say or suggest that this is "all in our head" or "it's just a stomachache". These are incredibly rude, for one, and two the pain is incredibly real. Yes, it does take a mental toll, which can worsen things, but we didn't wake up one day and decide to will ourselves sick, I can promise that. Also, it is WAY more than just a stomachache, we just don't know how to describe the pain any other way. It is NOTHING like the stomachache you might get.

• DO NOT try to one up our illness with yours. We don't want to be in any competition like this, and if you do actually have a chronic illness, we should make time and space for both of our illnesses and can discuss them at appropriate times, so we both feel heard and loved on.

• DO NOT stop inviting us to places, because we say no too many times. I know it gets annoying, but we say no a lot because we truly are so sick and/or don't want to be a downer

• DO NOT try to sell us your MLM products. I know you are just trying to make some money, but I can PROMISE you that your company has never personally dealt with someone with Gastroparesis and they were not developed for that. They will not work.

• DO NOT tell us "you need to just suck it up and EAT". Gee, never thought of that one, maybe it's time to try it out. (insert eye roll)

• DO NOT give up on us. SO MANY of my clients have had their friends or family tell them that they just can't handle hearing about their sickness anymore, because it's exhausting. We get it. We live with it every day. You telling us that you can't handle it anymore, literally only hurts more, as that means our support system is getting smaller and smaller.

I could go on, but I think that is a good overall gist of things not to do or say. Yes, it sounds and feels very negative, but don't worry, I am about to give you a list of all the positive things you SHOULD do or say!

Let's change this attitude and move forward!

Things you SHOULD do, say or suggest:

1. When we say we are in pain or aren't feeling good, it helps to either just say "I'm sorry you are feeling this way" or ask if there is anything you can do to help. Sometimes, just the offer is nice to have, even if we know you can't do anything.

2. It's totally okay to send articles or give information you found on the internet that you think could be helpful, but leave it there. Don't force it on us, but we do appreciate you thinking of us and trying to be helpful.

3. Do continue to invite us places. We will say no more often than not, but it feels nice that you want us there. Also, a little extra tip is to ask what activities we would feel comfortable doing in the future.

4. Learn, listen and be there for us. That is all we need. A good support system is just as valuable as anything.

If you are someone that is suffering from Gastroparesis and your family or friends aren't understanding what to do or say, send this to them. It's not going to fix it 100%, but a guide from someone who actually suffered through this is helpful.

If you are a family member or friend, I commend you for taking the initiative for your loved one, keep up this energy. Remember, be open-minded, be kind and be there for them.

You can also follow along on Facebook or Instagram!

Until next time,

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

Aubrey

What It's Like to Have Gastroparesis

An Open Letter to Family & Friends

Through these past two years of helping my clients suffering from Gastroparesis, I have had so many mention how their family and friends don't quite understand what they are going through, and they don't quite know how to explain it to them. So, I decided to help do it for them.

When I decided to write this blog, I thought it would be super easy, because I could just list off symptoms most have, that matched mine, and how they made me feel, until I really started planning it out. I realized I have blocked out A LOT from my memory, when I was at my sickest. So, I had to open that back up, which brought up a lot of feelings and emotions for me, so, please, be kind in my vulnerability.

Here is what it's like to have Gastroparesis.

(This is my personal experience & it's a long one, so buckle in. It can vary by person)

Admitting I Had an Illness

If you haven't read my story, you can here, but we are going to pretend like you already have, and go from there.

I was an athlete, I was in my early 20s, normal & healthy. Then, I wasn't, and that's a hard thing to cope with. I didn't want to admit anything was wrong with me. So, I went about my business, ignoring my growing list of symptoms for 3 years, before I could finally admit it enough to my mom that I needed some help. This admission came after I basically stopped eating, I could barely get myself up for work, I was throwing up, my bowel movements were out of control & more. (we'll go over these more later)

Why was it so hard to admit I was sick? The fear of many things like,

• I would look weak

• I felt like I would have to depend on others

• My friends would treat me differently

• No one wants to date the sick girl

• Being on medication forever

• People wouldn't think I was "fun to be around" anymore

• I was too young to be anything but healthy

• My family would see me as a burden

I couldn't keep up my happy & normal façade forever, and it finally broke down.

The Height of My Illness

This is where things get blurry and dark for me. This is the part I have tried to block out. To pretend like I just had a few stomach aches, to downplay the severity of what I had; what I have. This is the stuff I don't want to remember, but I feel like for the sake of my clients and those out there, I need to. We all need someone on our team, who knows how we feel.

I wasn't getting any better, no matter how many medications they gave me. My symptoms looked like:

• not eating

• feeling full after a bite or two when I did eat

• no energy

• incredible stomach pain that felt like stabbing

• endless bloating

• irritable to no end

• throwing up

• switching back and forth from constipation to diarrhea

• wild weight fluctuations that ended up in an unhealthy amount of weight loss

• acid reflux

• passing out extremely easily

• blacking out and passing out when using the restroom

How This Affected My Life

With my family: 

Family Sunday dinners suddenly were wrapped around trying to find food I could handle and trying to convince me to eat. I was missing family functions for testing or symptom management. I was afraid to eat around them to avoid running to the bathroom. I was tired of them always trying to find ways to help, and those ways weren't helping. I was mean, I was angry, I was depressed.

I had to move back in with my parents, because I couldn't hold a full-time job and couldn't pay for my rent anymore. It was embarrassing, for someone so independent like myself. I was afraid this would be how the rest of my life would go. I got angrier & meaner.

With my friends:

Eating out was an absolute nightmare for me. I would grin and bare it, pretend it was fine and eat and then go home and be sick for days. Drinking was completely out of the question, and they all thought I was just being lame. I wasn't able to hang out all of the time, and turned down a lot of their invites. Eventually, the invitations became fewer and fewer, then there were no more. This excludes my best friend, because she was the only one who understood me, somehow.

They didn't understand my pain & I didn't know how to explain it to them. They thought it was a stomachache and I pretended they were right, until the exhaustion of pretending was too much.

I stopped being the fun Aubrey they all knew and loved, and I could feel the weight of my illness carrying over into my conversations and actions around them. I stopped loving myself, and thought they did too, so I stopped being their friends, too.

With my boyfriend (now husband):

I did a lot of pretending here, too. I wanted to be normal in this new relationship we were starting. I couldn't, so the commitment issues rolled in. I was afraid to commit fully, because who wants to be with the sick girl? Who wants to carry that responsibility?

Going out most of the time was out of the question, eating out was even harder. I was tired and in pain ALL OF THE TIME, but I pretended I was just fine. I wanted to be fun, beautiful, vibrant, sexy and all of the other things that come with a new relationship. This man was so patient, though. He never got mad at me, until I started giving up on myself. I started pulling away, wouldn't be intimate, and sometimes being mean. He got frustrated with that, and told me he couldn't be with someone who won't keep fighting to feel better, to try anything. I got angry at first, thinking how insensitive, but I am grateful for that now.

Where Am I Now?

After I found the path to my healing, major shifts happened. I was my old self again, but with restrictions. It's been a hard road to mentally understand that I can't go back 100% to my old self, so I am finding and learning to love my new self.

These days, my pain and aches are very minimal and definitely manageable. I have finally stopped having to pretend I'm okay. I don't throw up anymore, my weight is normal and I CAN EAT! I can go out to eat and sometimes have a drink or two, but I have to keep tabs on myself to not get too crazy.

My family life is back to normal and doesn't revolve around my illness. I'm, JUST NOW, finally getting to a place where I am letting friends back in, and that's been a hard road for me. I am setting aside my pride of feeling like I am "crawling back", but it's not like that, and I know it.

I got married, and have a very fun life with my husband. I have a steady job. I can pay my own bills and own my own home. I am living a relatively normal life with Gastroparesis, and I never thought it was possible. Finally, I have accepted that I do have a condition, but I don't let it define me and I don't talk about it much in relation to me, because it's not part of my identity, and I don't want it to be.

To My Family, Friends & Husband

I am sorry I couldn't explain it better to you when I was at my sickest. I am sorry that I shut a lot of you out. I'm also sorry I didn't try to help you understand, when you were trying to understand. But I am SO THANKFUL for those who kept pushing alongside me, and pushing me to get better. I am thankful for the patience and grace. It's no one's fault here, because we were all in uncharted territory, but I am glad I am wading out of it. It is something I will always have to deal with, but I am glad I can finally help you understand.

However, I am not blind to the fact that many of us aren't where I am now. They are still in the part I used to be in, but I want them to know they can get where I am. Hence, writing this to let them know that I know how they feel. I am on their team, and I want to help them heal.

This brought me back to a dark place, written through some tears, but my hope is to help someone out there be able to share with their family and friends and explain what it's like and how it feels to have Gastroparesis, then it's worth it. Even if our experiences aren't exactly the same, I know they are similar in some ways.

This is just part 1 of a 2 part series about how to handle Gastroparesis with family and friends. In part 2, I  go over things family & friends should and shouldn't say or do or suggest. You can click here to read that!

This is a chronic condition, there is no cure, but to understand how we feel and how to approach it can change everything.

Until next time,

Aubrey

Sex Drive & Gastroparesis Part 2

In our last blog about sex drive and Gastroparesis, we talked about the possibility of the connection between the two and the signs & symptoms to look for.

As promised, in this blog post, we are going to discuss how to naturally increase your sex drive and how to talk to your partner about your struggles, so that they understand how you are feeling.

Let's get started.

Ways to Naturally Increase Libido

While these aren't foolproof, and not many studies have been done about the natural increase in libido, making these changes or improvements will help improve your overall health. Improving your health, will improve your hormone function, which will then improve your libido.

• Limit your alcohol intake

• Limit the amount of processed foods

• Up your intake of fruits and vegetables

• Get good sleep

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Quit smoking

• Keep your stress and anxiety to a minimum

• Focus on your relationship (date nights, quality time)

This list might sound pretty basic, but that's what it is. Majority of hormonal issues and libido issues stem from poor diet. (of course this leaves out genetic hormonal issues) With Gastroparesis, this can make things more difficult.

When you can't eat, get sick every time you eat or throw everything back up, it can make it much harder to stabilize hormones. Then, it's a domino effect. This is something to work on, but that's for another blog. For now, let's talk about how to address this with your partner to help them understand.

How to Talk with Your Partner

You know what's awkward? Feeling like you want to throw up or maybe use the restroom when your partner is wanting to get intimate. Yikes.

Unfortunately, this happens sometimes to those suffering with Gastroparesis, and it's really hard to explain or to help your partner understand how you're feeling.

As with any other topic in a relationship, communication is key.

1. Make sure you explain what Gastroparesis is to them fully. Those who never experience the pain and feelings we go through, will never fully understand how we feel. So, explaining what GP is, is extremely important. I'm talking GET DETAILED.

2. Explain How it Makes you Feel. I am talking about both GP & how uncomfortable sex can be when you feel so sick. If you just tell them you aren't in the mood, they won't know it's because of your GP. But if you tell them the pain is so severe you are in a constant nauseous state, then they might be more understanding.

3. Try to Put Yourself in Their Shoes. Just like you want them to understand how you feel, try to switch places and think about how it would feel if your partner never wanted to get intimate or always said it made them sick. That would start to make you feel pretty down. While both sides' feelings are totally valid, they both need to be considered. Try to let them know that you understand how difficult this situation is, but that you appreciate them being patient with you. Sometimes, a little affirmation, can go a long way.

While I can't give you the exact words on what to say, keeping these 3 tips in mind, can keep your communication open, calm and informative. Both sides will be adjusting to each other & it's a process.

If nothing else, hopefully this helps you feel like you're not alone in your struggle. There are many out there struggling with this exact topic.

Always remember, communication is key!

Until next time.

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

Aubrey

Sex Drive & Gastroparesis

Alright, let's get a little uncomfortable this week and talk about your sex drive.

No one wants to think they have a low sex drive, or that their illness could be affecting it. Unfortunately, MANY of those who suffer with Gastroparesis, also deal with many side effects, one of those being low sex drive.

Something I wasn't ready for when I started seeing clients for their Gastroparesis, was how many would ask me why their sex drive was low, or if was because of their Gastroparesis. This is not my area of expertise and at first I would just have to tell them I am unsure, and maybe it was just being tired from fighting this condition.

Well, after getting this question many more times, I decided that I needed to be able to give my clients a little bit of a better answer, so I started doing a little bit of research on my own.

What Does Low Sex-Drive Look Like?

In it's simplest form, low libido is,

• lack of interest in sex

• lack of ability to engage in sex

Underneath the main symptoms, many feel

• depression about low sex drive

• guilt because they don't want to let their partners down

• fatigue due to chronic illness

• irritation with yourself

All of these are completely normal.

So, you might ask what is the correlation with Gastroparesis? Well, while there are no official studies out there connecting these two, the nature of Gastroparesis and how libido actually works has some interesting connections. Let's take a look

How Does Libido Work?

What actually determines sex drive, or libido?

The definition states that, "Libido is influenced by biological, psychological, and social factors. Biologically, the sex hormones and associated neurotransmitters that act upon the nucleus accumbens (primarily testosterone and dopamine, respectively) regulate libido in humans. Social factors, such as work and family, and internal psychological factors, such as personality and stress, can affect libido. Libido can also be affected by medical conditions, medications, lifestyle and relationship issues, and age."

So, breaking that down, libido is influenced by the production of particular hormones & associated neurotransmitters. Being that Gastroparesis is a nerve issue, there is a high possibility that the damaged nervous system hinders the ability of the hormones making it to the destination to activate that sex drive.

There is the other factor from Gastroparesis, that our bodies are just exhausted and stressed from constantly dealing with the many symptoms and pains. Combine these two things and it's a perfect recipe for low libido.

If you have been down on yourself and questioning why this was happening to you, hopefully this gave you a little peace knowing you aren't alone in feeling this way. Many of those with Gastroparesis are feeling this & searching for answers. Of course, this is not an official answer, but until someone does the research to correlate, this is all we have.

In our next blog, we will talk natural ways to increase your libido and how to address this with your partner so that they are on the same page & understand what you are going through. These two important factors will help relieve some of the stress and guilt you might be feeling. (click here to read part 2)

Until next time,

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