I owe a LOT to Crystal Saltrelli, CHC and her book Living (Well) With Gastroparesis (http://livingwithgastroparesis.com/get-help/books/). I was so lost and alone after being diagnosed with gastroparesis. My GI Dr at that time did not help me and only told me to 5 - 6 small meals a day that are low in fat and fiber. She promised if I did this, I would be all better in a year. Well, I have done this and am going over a year and feel as much pain as I did then.
Anyway, I didn't know what I was to 'eat'. So I did what any person does in this day and age.... hit the Internet. I slowly began to grasp what the GP Friendly foods were. Then had to eliminate a lot of those due to personal allergies. I looked at my options through my tears not knowing how I would survive on what was in front of me.
So, I wondered if any body else was like me. I was already on Facebook at the time to play games and interact with my friends, so I searched for Gastroparesis Groups. I found some and was frightened at what I was reading: deaths, feeding tubes, people unable to manage their pain, etc. What was going to happen to me?! I cried, in private to not scare my husband.
Then I found Crystal Saltrelli and her website, then her Youtube videos. There was a spark of hope deep inside of me that I may not die after all. This may not be a slow death sentence. I found she had a book, then looked to see if it was at a store in my town. Of course not! So I ordered it and paid for rush shipping! I could not wait to understand what I needed to do to survive GP! As the days passed, I watched all I could of her videos and followed per page. Each day, I felt like there was hope.
The book came and I dove right into it with my highlighter and sticky notes! I was determined to figure out what I needed to get me healthy again, what treatment options there were and what on earth I needed to do to 'fix' me!
Sadly, there is no cure. But I learned what options were out there, what to eat and most of all to try my best to remain up-beat so I could pull myself out of the funk and get on with my life.
From there it just snow balled. My desire to advocate for myself, get a GI Dr that I could trust, then to volunteer for a non-profit (G-PACT) and lastly, to help others like me by doing all I can to spread the word that Gastroparesis exists and needs a cure!
I owe all of this to Crystal Saltrelli. If it wasn't for her, I feel my husband may have had me committed to a white padded room with a vomit bag! I was in such a deep dark place, it was scary.
I know that the author may not read this blog, but my heart felt THANK YOU is being said and also HAPPY BIRTHDAY. She was so kind to offer a discount to people on her b-day, so I took advantage and bought her e-book on juicing. I need to learn how and what combos are best. This is my next big step to better health. So far, so good. I have maintained weight, my hair is no longer falling out and I am not vomiting as much. My life is on track of where I want it to be. Thanks Crystal!!
