Hello, my name is Stacey Moisant and I am chronically ill. My story began about 35 years ago when I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type I. I was sent to a hospital locally and for 2 weeks. I was taught how to take insulin multiple times per day and how to eat by measuring out my food; back then it was a ½ cup of this, 4 ounces of this, a small handful of that. I have since learned how to carb count and have been on an insulin pump for almost 20 years.
Diagnosis After Diagnosis
Then around 13 years of age, I began falling and having issues with both of my knees swelling terribly and being very painful. After four surgeries I was diagnosed with a “rare” form of Rheumatoid arthritis. I call it “rare” because it doesn’t show up in any of my blood work it only shows up in the fluid surrounding my knees. After multiple physicians telling me nothing was wrong or I no longer had rheumatoid arthritis I finally found a doctor who ran a test called Vectra DS which shows how severe my condition was. The results came back zero to 29 is low severity, 30-44 is moderate and 45 to 100 is high; mine came back as 52. My joints had already began to disfigure so my new physician started me on Humira. My hopes are that my joints stop moving and my pain decreases.
In the midst of trying to find a doctor to believe me about the rheumatoid arthritis, I started having severe abdominal swelling, I couldn’t eat without throwing up and in a great deal of pain. I was diagnosed with Gastroparesis. On top of being Diabetic, I had to learn what I could and couldn’t eat with this disorder. Pasta, pizza, potatoes, you know all the good stuff, was now off limits or at least limited … do I want to hurt, is that food worth the pain? Sometimes the answer is yes and sometimes it’s no.
A few years went by with no new symptoms, no new diagnoses, just living day to day. I woke up and my husband and I decided to go to the grocery store and I had a twinge of pain in my right back but really didn’t think much about it until half way through our shopping trip I doubled over in pain. We rushed home, I just wanted to lie down for a little while and see if it would subside. By this time my pain tolerance was very high and what use to by a 10 was now about a 6, so I lay down and about ten minutes later I rushed to the bathroom thinking I had to urinate and nothing, just more pain. I got my husband and he rushed me to the hospital to find out I had papillary necrosis in my right kidney. After about 15 surgeries to fix this, I am happy to report I have no further issues with my kidneys. They are hanging in there for the long haul.
At this time, I am now around 37 years old and I believe that my gastroparesis is acting up and I go to see my doctor after being in the ER due to vomiting and nausea etc. He took a CT scan and decides he needs to do a procedure to go in and look at my stomach and pancreas, the procedure is called an ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography). After my first ERCP I was diagnosed with a Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and had to have a stent placed to keep that area from swelling shut. Then, I had to have another and another and another. One of the side effects of this procedure is pancreatitis and after the second procedure I again doubled over with pain and was rushed to the ER to find out I indeed had pancreatitis. Now you talk about pain but until you have experienced pancreatitis you have no idea what pain is. I thought I was dying. Due to the pancreatitis I have had multiple ERCP’s, 3 GJ tube placements, multiple hospitalizations and countless doctor visits. My GI doctor and I feel like family. He is an amazing man who has kept me alive for 11 years now.
Keep Living, Keep Moving & Finding Joy
I worked in the medical field for years; working at our local children’s hospital helping children to realize that yes they are sick and uniquely different, nevertheless you keep moving, keep living, keep finding joy in life and “if there is a will there is a way”. I have since been deemed disabled but I still make it one of my missions that with all of the above diagnoses and along with multiple others like hidradenitis, cellulitis, Morton’s neuroma, dyshidrotic eczema, GERD, fibromyalgia, high cholesterol, thyroid disorder, obstructive and central sleep apnea, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression and anxiety to name a few I can still get out of bed and live a productive life taking care of myself and my family.
I am now 46 year old and truly believes that because I am chronically ill doesn’t mean I can’t find good things in life. I keep myself busy with crafts and pen addictions and taking care of my ailing parents. I try to do everything with a smile on my face and love in my heart. I have one child in which we adopted at the age of 3 now going on 20 years old. She is my greatest achievement in life. I never thought I would have children or be able to raise I child due to all of the pain that I go through on a daily basis but with God’s help and direction I keep moving forward.
Check out Stacey’s instagram to follow her chronic illness journey.
I have been awake all night. Not that that’s unusual. I have 
Gastroparesis literally means “Stomach Paralysis” according to the straight Latin definition, but most cases are only partial paralysis cases. This means that food moves through the stomach more slowly than it should. Also called slow motility, Gastroparesis affects approximately 1.5 million Americans with 100,000 suffering from a severe form and 30,000 failing to find relief from conventional medical therapies. Diabetics, for some reason, are more likely to develop this condition than the general population.
So this morning, after being up all night not digesting my dinner, my stomach was sending me mixed signals.
Within an hour of eating, the pain started. And the queasiness. And the burping. I know gas isn’t listed as a common symptom, but I get it so bad that my husband calls me his ‘Little Sailor Girl’. And all I wanted to do was lay down, but getting comfortable was impossible. So was moving around. I could feel the food moving in my stomach whenever I changed positions. And whenever that happens, my body wants the food out. Sips of cold water help to ease the nausea, but on nights like this, I can’t take any medications, so painkillers or nausea pills are out. It’s a “ride it out” situation that will finish with one end or the other, not surprisingly, in the bathroom.
At times like this, when my Gastroparesis is in a flare, I have a ‘go-to’ list of foods. The most common is Maple/Brown Sugar flavored Cream of Wheat. It’s mushy and bland with just enough sweetness to be appealing. And when I was pregnant, my OB told me sugar settles the stomach and to keep popsicles on hand for my ‘morning’ sickness. (I still do this; only now, I use them for Gastroparesis.) My other go-tos are cinnamon toast, Ritz crackers, chicken soup, jello, popsicles, rice pudding, and Gatorade. I will resort to these foods until my pain and queasiness dissipate. Then I will replenish my stock for next time. Because unfortunately, Gastroparesis flares can happen even when I make good food choices.
There is no single cause of Gastroparesis, though it’s known that damage to the Vagus nerve is usually involved. This nerve controls the muscles of the stomach. What causes damage to that nerve however, can be one of a multitude of things, from surgery to diabetes (the most common cause) to medication. There are also cases that cannot be clearly diagnosed and are labeled ‘idiopathic,’ meaning of unknown origin. In my case, it’s the fact that I have Sjogren’s along with some of the medications I take that is causing my Gastroparesis. Connective tissue diseases are also listed as causes for Gastroparesis. The fact that I recently had abdominal surgery and then my condition worsened is not coincidental, either.
Sharilynn was born and raised in Rochester, NY. She was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome four months after her second son was born. Her boys are now in their 20s and she has since developed MCTD, Inflammatory Arthritis, and Fibromyalgia. Sharilynn raised her kids, worked a career, and continued to run a household with her husband all while being diagnosed with these autoimmune conditions. She currently writes about these experiences while being a volunteer kitten cuddler at a local rescue.
People with gastroparesis usually suffer from a variety of GI concerns due to low motility. Our gut flora is often out of balance and we often have IBS or SBBO (Small Bowel Bacterial Overgrowth). The use of 
Stinging Nettle Tea
The most important vitamins to replenish are usually Vitamin D, Vitamin C (for immune health), Magnesium, B vitamins (we tend to be particularly deficient in B12, but B2 and B6 are very important for migraine sufferers, and all B vitamins help provide added energy), and iron. A doctor can test your levels and tell you for certain where you’re deficient and whether or not you’re taking enough once you begin supplementation.
Peppermint is an excellent antiemetic that also improves motility. I find it works best with a little sugar and usually use Red Bird peppermint puffs or Altoids, as these mints contain pure peppermint oil and sugar both without too many other ingredients. One mint usually gets me 20-30 minutes of nausea relief. You can also chew directly on mint leaf, drink mint tea or get mint oil. If you go this route, you should consume it with food, as it can cause heart burn. This is why I usually use mints. With their accompanying sugar, I don’t have to try to eat anything on top of it to avoid heart burn.
It isn’t hard to see why gastroparesis tends to run concurrently with a variety of other health conditions. There are many ways to help stimulate the vagus nerve to improve function. The goal is to relieve stress and encourage relaxation. Therefore things like massage, meditation, yoga and deep, controlled breathing exercises are all high on the list of things recommended to stimulate the vagus nerve. Even singing, chanting, and laughing can have a positive effect on vagal tone. The vibration of the vocal chords helps to stimulate our organs and the vagus nerve. So go ahead, sing in the shower, laugh with friends, watch those comedies. It’s good medicine!
Capricious Lestrange is a former educator who loves to write. When brain fog prevented her from writing the fiction and poetry she loves, she turned to 
In its early stages, GP can also be referred to as dyspepsia. Some people with gastroparesis experience few symptoms, while others are plagued by severe symptoms. Some researchers have proposed a classification system for GP, ranging from mild, or grade 1, to severe, or grade 3.
One of the simplest ways to improve gut motility is to eliminate or replace any medications you are taking which slow motility or have an anticholinergic effect, if at all possible. The best way to accomplish this is to consult with your pharmacist about the medications you are currently taking and see if they can recommend alternatives for any that are suspect. If you choose, you can often find natural supplements that are just as effective, but don’t have an anticholinergic effect. Popular medications that slow digestion include most gastrointestinal agents including proton pump inhibitors and antacids, antiemetics (e.g., promethazine), and anti-diarrheals; tricyclic antidepressants and other psych meds, opioids, some heart medications, and more (see a full list 
The lactose carbohydrate found in dairy is usually particularly hard on people with GP. But often they have difficulty processing a variety of carbohydrates, such as fructans (i.e., onion and garlic), polyols (i.e., stone fruits, berries, and artificial sweeteners such as xylitol and sorbitol) and other high fiber fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.
With fresh vegetables, you will generally find the higher the insoluble fiber content, the harder it is to process them, raw or cooked. There are handy cheat sheets to help if you utilize the FODMAP diet.
