What is Gastroparesis?
Commonly shortened to “GP” can be translated to mean “Stomach Paralyzed”.
How do I get Gastroparesis?
The main nerve (vagus) that travels from your brain to your stomach will send signals to your stomach to tell it to process your food (squeezing action the stomach does). When the nerve is damaged, it will no longer be able to tell your stomach to process the food. The only way to ‘get Gastroparesis’ is if the nerve is damaged. This can happen many ways such as: surgery that damages/severs the nerve, whiplash in a car accident can stretch and damage the nerve, certain prescription drugs if taken for too long or taken in large quantities (like pain medication) can damage the nerve and certain viruses. These are some of the ways to acquire gastroparesis, but research continues to look for more. We have done a blog with more information, you can find the link HERE.
What are the symptoms?
Most people experience pain, nausea and get full after a few bits of food (early satiety). Fatigue, memory problems, dizzy spells are also common. Depending on what the person can consume by mouth, hair loss and other issues with malnutrition are common.
When will I get better?
At this time there are very few treatment options available. Depending on what CAUSED your Gastroparesis, will determine what options are available to treat the cause and in the end reduce or eliminate Gastroparesis. Sadly, little is really known of the many different causes. When a doctor can not figure out the cause the individual is labeled “Idiopathic” (meaning ‘unknown origin’). Each person is different with their GP experience and a time frame can not be given to any person.
How can buying awareness stuff help?
We need more research to be able to have a better quality of life. Research needs money. This means we need to bring AWARENESS to the masses and advocate for loved ones with Gastroparesis. To play a roll in this part simply purchasing a GP Awareness item (from our store would be nice: GP Fight Store) will bring awareness to those that see it and gives you a chance to tell them about GP. This is why EVERY FRIDAY of the year the Gastroparesis Community wears the color GREEN.
What is currently being done to bring awareness to GP for funding of research?
G-PACT.org has been hitting the pavement with other non-profits to help get a bill (HR 842) approved for just that. Money for research. Asking Congress to pass a bill where one is asking for money is no small task. But with people like you, you can put pressure on your own lawmakers. This can have a positive impact on bring this bill to life! Contact www.G-PACT.org for more information.
If I want to donate money for just Gastroparesis Research where should I go?
IFFGD.org with their grassroots arm DHA.org are must go-to sites! To start off 2014 they have 3 $40,000 grants specifically aimed at research into gastroparesis! That amount goes quickly, but is a great start to 2014. The donation is tax free and 100% of it will be donated to research (make sure you stress that fact when you send money to them).
Commonly shortened to “GP” can be translated to mean “Stomach Paralyzed”.
How do I get Gastroparesis?
The main nerve (vagus) that travels from your brain to your stomach will send signals to your stomach to tell it to process your food (squeezing action the stomach does). When the nerve is damaged, it will no longer be able to tell your stomach to process the food. The only way to ‘get Gastroparesis’ is if the nerve is damaged. This can happen many ways such as: surgery that damages/severs the nerve, whiplash in a car accident can stretch and damage the nerve, certain prescription drugs if taken for too long or taken in large quantities (like pain medication) can damage the nerve and certain viruses. These are some of the ways to acquire gastroparesis, but research continues to look for more. We have done a blog with more information, you can find the link HERE.
What are the symptoms?
Most people experience pain, nausea and get full after a few bits of food (early satiety). Fatigue, memory problems, dizzy spells are also common. Depending on what the person can consume by mouth, hair loss and other issues with malnutrition are common.
When will I get better?
At this time there are very few treatment options available. Depending on what CAUSED your Gastroparesis, will determine what options are available to treat the cause and in the end reduce or eliminate Gastroparesis. Sadly, little is really known of the many different causes. When a doctor can not figure out the cause the individual is labeled “Idiopathic” (meaning ‘unknown origin’). Each person is different with their GP experience and a time frame can not be given to any person.
How can buying awareness stuff help?
We need more research to be able to have a better quality of life. Research needs money. This means we need to bring AWARENESS to the masses and advocate for loved ones with Gastroparesis. To play a roll in this part simply purchasing a GP Awareness item (from our store would be nice: GP Fight Store) will bring awareness to those that see it and gives you a chance to tell them about GP. This is why EVERY FRIDAY of the year the Gastroparesis Community wears the color GREEN.
What is currently being done to bring awareness to GP for funding of research?
G-PACT.org has been hitting the pavement with other non-profits to help get a bill (HR 842) approved for just that. Money for research. Asking Congress to pass a bill where one is asking for money is no small task. But with people like you, you can put pressure on your own lawmakers. This can have a positive impact on bring this bill to life! Contact www.G-PACT.org for more information.
If I want to donate money for just Gastroparesis Research where should I go?
IFFGD.org with their grassroots arm DHA.org are must go-to sites! To start off 2014 they have 3 $40,000 grants specifically aimed at research into gastroparesis! That amount goes quickly, but is a great start to 2014. The donation is tax free and 100% of it will be donated to research (make sure you stress that fact when you send money to them).