Started a POLL on my blog that is related to gastroparesis and chronic illness. You can find it here:
http://melissagpfight.wordpress.com/polls-and-quizes/
MelissaGPfight.Wordpress.com
Thursday, June 20, 2013
Visit my Blog regarding Gastroparesis (GP)
I have a Blog Page on Gastroparesis that is family friendly as well as educational. The blog was started about a month ago and has about 50 posts, including links to medical sites and organizations that can help you in your GP Fight. I don't have the time to keep up two blogs, but will do my best to link the Wordpress Blog to this page. Check it out: melissagpfight.wordpress.com
Other places you can find me:
- You can find me most of the time on my Facebook account.
- https://www.facebook.com/melissa.mcelfresh.94?ref=shnm
- I also have a Google+ account.
- https://plus.google.com/u/0/118158506392835453722/about?cfem=1
- If you are on Google+, I am a Moderator for a wonderful Gastroparesis Community
- https://plus.google.com/communities/108169550159668705578
- Check out my Pinterest Page.
- http://pinterest.com/mygpfight
Thank you!!
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Bad Mouth Taste From GERD
What is GERD?
It is "Gastroesophageal reflux disease". "Acid Reflux" is what we typically know it as. So, what is that? In layman's terms: the valve (so to speak) that connect the lower esophagus to the stomach does not function properly. Allowing acid from the stomach to travel up the esophagus.
A typical person will experience this a few times in their life when they eat foods high in acid (spaghetti dinner, for example) and a burning sensation will come over them in their chest. A few Tums later, the average person will be fine. GERD is more than just one or two episodes in that person's life. It actually becomes their life filled with prescription medications, generally PPI's, to combat the issue. If left untreated or poorly treated, it can have dire consequences. So, please talk to your health care provider, if you feel you suffer from Acid Reflux more than you feel you should. I also did a blog on PPI's: http://melissagpfight.wordpress.com/2013/05/27/ppi-long-term-warnings-proton-pump-inhibitors/
GERD Symptoms (Common and Uncommon):
- Heartburn
- Difficulty swallowing
- Chest pain
- Regurgitation
- Sore throat
- Nausea
- Bad breath
- Respiratory problems - such as: wheezing and coughing
Home remedy to get rid of the sour mouth taste:
- Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa (soothes GERD for 1hr) -Alley
- Brush with a baking soda based toothpaste -Alley
- Peppermint Hot Tea (to drink and as a mouth wash) -Lyn
- Hard Mint Candies -Diana
- Halls -Sande
- Breath Savers Candy/Mint (blue wrapper) -Diane
- Wintergreen Candy/Mint (green wrapper) -Diane
- Listerine strips -Kirsten
- Cinnamon Disc's (candy) -Deborah
Thanks Facebook GP Family!!
What Should We Eat?
- Avoid Acidic Foods
- Consume Alkaline Foods
- Neutral Ph Foods are a good choice too
- Here is a link that lists these different 'food' options (so many I could not list): http://rense.com/1.mpicons/acidalka.htm
LINKS:
GERD = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroesophageal_reflux_disease
Home Rem = http://www.mademan.com/mm/bitter-taste-mouth-remedy.html
Food = http://www.livestrong.com/article/305189-a-list-of-acid-alkaline-neutral-foods/
Bitter Taste Remedy = http://www.mademan.com/mm/bitter-taste-mouth-remedy.html
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
The GP Ripple Effect (Gastropareis needs a CAUSE)
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="182"]
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?!
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.
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/
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/
Saturday, June 15, 2013
Gastrparesis in 2010 via Carissa's Blog
Gastrparesis in 2010 via Carissa's Blog
It is now 2013. THREE YEARS later this blog (link above) still remains true. Sadly!
I have seen a very slow progress in the GP Community. Apparently, it is so slow that a blog from 3 years ago can hold true today!
The blog describes GP perfectly as well as the over all impact. Please take a moment to read it. I have gone a step further to print it out and will take it to my next Dr meeting (just in case I need to educate a 'new' person).
Today more than ever I have realized that we need to band together and fight to be herd so a cure can be found (I would settle for better treatment options).
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Thank You
Today I noticed that my blog has over 1,000 views in 12 different countries. I would never have dreamed that it would get much attention. My goal was to have informative gastroparesis topics to share in groups, where I feel I could help.
Later I will post GP Friendly Recipes and Links to help you in your gastroparesis fight. I see some of you have clicked on those tabs. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will have more time to work on this.
Thank you again for your continued support!
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Botox Step By Step, Blog By Emily
Botox Step By Step, Blog By Emily
My friend Emily had a botox injection today to help her gastroparesis. She was good enough to tell us about it step by step in her blog. If you ever wanted to know more, check it out!
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