Voices from those whose lives are affected by GP/CIP!

I’m immersed in an article about the benefits of “going green.” It is 2 in the morning and I am glued to my blue tiled bathroom floor. My right arm still bears the black and blue marks where the nurse put the IV and I can feel the burning churning in my stomach. I hang my head in reverence to the porcelain god, vomit and go back to bed. It’s a typical night.
Sarah, 17 from Pennsylvania

I have been struggling with gastroparesis for over three years. It took two years to get a clear diagnosis. Much of the time the pain is debilitating. The presently available medications have either had bad side-effects, or were totally ineffective for me. Relief from these symptoms is nearly impossible at times. The quality of my life continues to deteriorate. Earlier this year I lost thirty-five pounds in a three month period simply because it is often too painful to eat.
Thomas from New Jersey

I have probably had gastroparesis since birth since my mom said I would vomit every time she started to give me a bottle. I was 54 years old when I was finally diagnosed with GP after a gastric emptying test. I received a gastric stimulator in 2006. I can still only eat small amounts at a time. I have told doctors that I have GP and that it wasn’t in my head but they said they never heard of it. I am an RN and in 33 years I never heard of it. I vomited for 11 months straight before receiving my gastric stimulator and all my doctors previously kept saying there was nothing wrong with me. I hear the same stories from others with it.
Linda from Maryland

My wife Vanessa suffered from gastroparesis as a side effect of diabetes. Most of the doctors did not understand what was going on. Some blamed her diet, others told her that her symptoms – including the severe pain- was in her head. We moved from doctor to doctor, most would treat her immediate symptoms, send her home, only to see her again a few days later. Finally, we had a gastric pacemaker put in. It lasted a few months with no results until diabetes reared its ugly head and caused vascular issues, which eventually led to her death. GP did not directly kill Vanessa. However, it was GP that made managing diabetes almost impossible, and led to her death at the age of 34.
John from Florida

As I lay on the nurses’ couch with extremely bad pain in my right side, the nurse talked to my mother. My mom came and picked me up. I was puking a whole lot! The doctor said “it was your typical heartburn”. I knew better. After a month or two, the doctor put me in the hospital. We packed blankets, games and food, but not for me. I couldn’t even keep a lifesaver down. I had 10 tests, 2 CAT scans, 3 MRI’s, more IV’s and every test you could imagine. At first the doctors thought it was cancer in my intestines because there was a big bump, but thank God it was just gastroparesis, when your digestive system stops working. I still have GP and regret it every day of my life. I never knew eating was a gift from God until I experienced this.
Kenzie, 12 from Texas