Jessica Beating Gastroparesis
Donation protected
Gastroparesis (GP) is when your stomach doesn't digest food properly. It can take up to several hurs, or even days. GP can cause malnourishment, fatigue, weakness, anemia, weight loss, along with a list of other things.
There are very few treatment options for GP: medicatins, stomach pacemakers, feeding tube(s), TPN, and stmach removal. Most can be managed by medications, but for the unlucky ones, our's are managed through feeding tube(s), pacemakers, or having our stomach removed.
In September of 2013, I had a GES (Gastric Emptying Study). My test came back severely delayed, only digesting less than 20% in two hours. A normal GES would have shwn the food completely digested, if not mostly digested. I didn't respond to medications, even ones I imported in from other countries. I had three options for treatment: pacemaker, two feeding tubes, or be labelled failure to thrive (which means to be dying). I chose the most logical option; two feeding tubes.
My nourishment comes from my feeding tubes. I do baby formula anywhere from 12 to 24 hours a day in order to meet my calorie intake. Sometimes I'm fortunate enough to enjoy a small jar of babyfood, but most of the time I'm NPO (nothing by mouth). I also have a port for hydration since it's hard to stay hydrated.
Daily life has proven to be a struggle for me. Nausea, vomiting, pain and bloating are all part of my daily life. I take anywhere from four to six different nausea medications a day to help control my nausea and vomiting. I'm als on a Fentanyl patch to help with my daily pain. There are days I can't get out of bed, get dressed on my own, or use the potty on my own from the weakness and malnourishment the GP causes.
In the beginning of May, I found out my GI tract is shutting down. I'm slowly dying from it. It's a very painful process. Once my GI tract shuts down, I will have to rely on a new treatment: TPN. Most of my time is spent in the hospital, unable to take care of myself and severely malnourished. If there were to be a treatment option that I responded to, I'd be able to spend more time at home with family and friends. I pray every day for a treatment that can give me part of my life back.
There are very few treatment options for GP: medicatins, stomach pacemakers, feeding tube(s), TPN, and stmach removal. Most can be managed by medications, but for the unlucky ones, our's are managed through feeding tube(s), pacemakers, or having our stomach removed.
In September of 2013, I had a GES (Gastric Emptying Study). My test came back severely delayed, only digesting less than 20% in two hours. A normal GES would have shwn the food completely digested, if not mostly digested. I didn't respond to medications, even ones I imported in from other countries. I had three options for treatment: pacemaker, two feeding tubes, or be labelled failure to thrive (which means to be dying). I chose the most logical option; two feeding tubes.
My nourishment comes from my feeding tubes. I do baby formula anywhere from 12 to 24 hours a day in order to meet my calorie intake. Sometimes I'm fortunate enough to enjoy a small jar of babyfood, but most of the time I'm NPO (nothing by mouth). I also have a port for hydration since it's hard to stay hydrated.
Daily life has proven to be a struggle for me. Nausea, vomiting, pain and bloating are all part of my daily life. I take anywhere from four to six different nausea medications a day to help control my nausea and vomiting. I'm als on a Fentanyl patch to help with my daily pain. There are days I can't get out of bed, get dressed on my own, or use the potty on my own from the weakness and malnourishment the GP causes.
In the beginning of May, I found out my GI tract is shutting down. I'm slowly dying from it. It's a very painful process. Once my GI tract shuts down, I will have to rely on a new treatment: TPN. Most of my time is spent in the hospital, unable to take care of myself and severely malnourished. If there were to be a treatment option that I responded to, I'd be able to spend more time at home with family and friends. I pray every day for a treatment that can give me part of my life back.
Organizer
Jessica Hall
Organizer
Lenow, TN
