****Info about Gastroparesis and G-PACT****

If you have gastroparesis, or know of someone who does, you are probably aware of the limited treatment options for people with this condition. G-PACT (Gastroparesis Patient Association for Cures and Treatments, Inc) is a brand new organization and the only organization in existence devoted strictly to gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is a condition in which the stomach is paralyzed or very weak. For this reason, patients experience severe nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, bloating, early satiety, severe acid reflux, malnutrition, dehydration, and weight loss. At best, a patient does well on a modified diet. At worst, patients must rely on feeding tubes and/or IV lines for all their nutrition. There is no cure for gastroparesis, and research is very slow in that area. Patients are treated with medication to control symptoms, but treatments are rarely very effective since the root of the problem has not been resolved.

****G-PACT Profile****

G-PACT was founded on Aug. 23, 2001 by nine people involved in an online gastroparesis support group. Seven of those nine suffer from severe gastroparesis. Five of those seven are on nutritional support through tube feedings and/or IV nutrition though a hickman, PICC line, or similar means. They are also on disability. The remaining two who do not have gastroparesis have become involved because a loved one is suffering from it. G-PACT also has a number of volunteers and will always be looking for more for our various projects. For background information on officers and directors, please go to the G-PACT website at www.g-pact.org and enter, click on who we are, and then meet the staff.

****G-PACT's top four purposes****

G-PACT has outlined four major goals that we are working towards

1. Increasing awareness and education of gastroparesis among patients, the medical profession, and the general population.

2. Providing financial support to patients in need of better care but cannot afford it. G-PACT will assist them financially once all other options have been exhausted. Applicants are reviewed by the Board of Directors.

3. Establishing a patient support and referral network. Patient support involves connecting patients to others in similar situations, and when possible, connect them to someone who lives nearby. G-PACT also plans to establish in-person support groups nationwide. We will base these on how many contacts we receive from people in close proximity to each other. G-PACT also maintains a list of motility doctors in our network who we will refer patients to if they need to see a doctor who specializes in this condition. If necessary, G-PACT may act as a medium to assist patients in decision making and getting quality care.

4. G-PACT intends to provide funding to certain companies conducting gastroparesis research. Our decision to fund research will be based on a number of factors and each applicant will be reviewed by the board of directors. Certain participants in the G-PACT research department will work towards studying the history of GP and polling GPers on a variety of subjects to look for common connections.