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

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