Gastroparesis: My Personal Journey

About the Book

Gastroparesis is an illness that is not commonly known or understood. Some of its symptoms include nausea, vomiting, early satiety, bloating and abdominal pain. Sounds like a routine GI problem. Until I was diagnosed with it in the fall of 2000. I knew that as a nurse, I had to dive into the research realm of this condition and figure out how to best treat myself. Throughout the years, I have tried gastric pacemakers twice, feeding tubes twice, botox injections into my pylorus three times and pyloroplasty procedures. Not willing to give up and let gastroparesis get the best of me, I decided on one more surgery. Would it be the last one for me?

This is my story about how gastroparesis has entered my life and how I managed to accomplish my goals while dealing with symptom management on a daily basis. From doctors who told me it was all in my head to doctors who took the chance and gave me a new lease on life. My story includes how I found treatment, the surgeries I endured and my quality of life throughout.

My hope is that through reading this, you will understand more about gastroparesis and what can be done to achieve the best symptom management possible for you or someone you know.

About the Author

As a patient and also a registered nurse, I have suffered with gastroparesis for over eight years and I thought it was time for the public to know and understand what this illness is. I have gone through all of the latest and greatest treatments to control the symptoms that accompany this disease. I have had the gastric pacemakers, feeding tubes, botox and pyloroplasty all which have worked in the short term, but no long-standing relief. That is, until I met a doctor who quite possibly helped me to put my gastroparesis in remission. I currently reside in Northeastern Pennsylvania with my husband and son and I work as the Director of Nursing for a Practical Nursing Program. I have a Masters of Science Degree in Nursing and I am also an Oncology Certified Nurse. This is my first publication.