Gastroparesis Awareness Month-A Pie in the Face for GP

August is Gastroparesis Awareness Month as well as Digestive Tract Paralysis Awareness.  As you know I have gastroparesis as well as small intestine paralysis and this past year have been diagnosed with many diseases that are hopefully the underlying cause for my GP and DTP.  Being diagnosed with GP is a relief at first because you finally have a name for what's happening with your body, but little is known about GP and so most treatments focus only on helping with the symptoms related.  There is no known cure for GP, but there is hope when doctors are able to find the underlying cause.  I have been so blessed to have a doctor who has done more for me than just treating my symptoms.  He has researched, collaborated with other doctors, and run every test he could think of.  Because of him I know that my GP and DTP most likely are symptoms of having SMAS and MALS.

I have been given answers and hope that someday my digestive system could work again and allow me to keep down food!  But there are so many out there that have GP or DTP and don't know it, or have been diagnosed and are treating the symptoms but don't have a doctor that knows what to test for to figure out why they have these issues.  G-Pact is an amazing organization that specializes in GP and DTP research.  They are doing studies to try to find similarities between cases, what to look for, and give those dealing with these issues a place to search for specialists that might be able to help them.  www.g-pact.org has a place where those that are able can donate to help fund the research that they are doing.  It is also where the money raised from #GPPieFaceChallenge is going.

I made a short video that tells a little bit of my journey through all of this as well as to help spread awareness this month.  I know that you've all been so great through all of this with keeping my family and I in your prayers and with helping to spread awareness for the different diseases that I have.  I am so grateful for all that you have done.  Next week I go in for surgery and will be out of commission for awhile so I will not be able to be a big advocate for GP this month.  I'm going to do the #GPPieFaceChallenge one more time before surgery and then I'm hoping that you all can keep the challenge going through-out the month of August!  I will nominate as many people as I can, but if you see the video or this post consider yourself nominated. :) It is really simple to do.  All you need is a can of whipped cream and a paper plate.  You get to nominate as many people as you want and then smash the pie in your face, share it on social media with the #GPPieFaceChallenge, and then if able to donate to help fund research at www.g-pact.org

Click here for the video: Rachel's Health Journey Video