The GP Ripple Effect[/caption]I know I always say that I want to find a cure for GP (gastroparesis). That is true. But can be a misleading statement. The fact is, Gastroparesis needs a cause.
What do I mean? Well, GP is a functional disorder. Something must cause the motility disorder (GP). One day you just don't wake up and have a puppy in the room. Something must have caused the event.
Unfortunately, the 'experts' do not know all of the causes for GP. This would be why I have been labeled 'Idiopathic'. Which simply means 'of unknown cause'. So helpful, right?!
List of the known causes of gastroparesis:
- Surgery where the Vagus Nerve is damaged
- Diabetes - Over time, high blood glucose levels can damage the vagus nerve.
- Chronic Illness - such as: HIV, Parkinson's and Pancreatitis.
- Medications/Treatments - such as: narcotic pain medicines, cancer treatments, lithium, and tricyclic antidepressants.
- Post-Infectious of Post-Viral Gastroparesis - the following viruses have been documented to cause GP:
- Norwalk virus (stomach flu)
- Epstein-Barr virus (mononucleosis)
- Herpes simplex virus
- Cytomegalovirus
- Parasitic infections—Chagas’ disease and schistosomiasis infection, for instance.
- Varicella virus (Chickenpox)
- Rotavirus (causes inflammation of the stomach and intestines)
So now you will understand that when I say, "I want a cure for gastroparesis", that this statement is not fully accurate. To be able to 'cure' gastroparesis, we need to know how each one of us acquired gastroparesis, then find a cure for every possiable cause (known and unknown). This is going to take a lot of time and research money. Right now we are struggling to get our Bill HR 842 passed; which would aid in the research needed for gastroparesis. More info found here: http://melissagpfight.wordpress.com/2013/06/04/representative-welch-of-vermont-co-sponsors-hr-842-congressional-call-in-day-for-functional-gastrointestinal-and-motility-disorders-is-june-5-2013/
Once we find the cause to our individual GP, then (and only then) can we adequately treat our self.
This is also a big reason why many of us have different GP symptoms, trigger foods, and tolerances; that you may have seen in the GP Groups that are out there. We must always keep in mind that we are all different and know that when we share what works for us, it may not work for the other person.
I call it:
The GP Ripple Effect
The stone you are about to toss into the water is the 'GP Cause'. You skip the stone across the calm mirrored pond with such great skill. It skips several times. Your best ever! Leaving in its path ripples on the water. The first ripple is Gastroparesis, the second ripple (name your next illness due to the primary cause), the third ripple (name your next diagnosed illness due to either 'ripple') and so forth. The GP Ripple Effect. Which should really be The Primary Cause Ripple Effect - but I like mine better <wink>.
LINKS:
Idiopathic Meaning = http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3892
Diabetic Gastroparesis = http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3099072/
Chronic Illness and GP = http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/symptoms/gastroparesis/causes.htm
Medications = http://www.atlantagastroenterologyspecialists.com/gastroparesis.php
Virus 1 = http://www.digestivedistress.com/who-gets-gp
Virus 2 = http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/561873_4
Other = http://www.gastroparesis.webs.com/
