If you were diagnosed with gastroparesis, it means that your stomach doesn’t empty food as quickly as it should.

Gastroparesis is considered a functional disorder. This means there’s nothing structurally wrong with your stomach and no physical obstructions are present. This does not mean that it’s all in your head or that you are causing your symptoms.

There are many possible causes of gastroparesis and experiences vary widely. What works for one person often does not work for another.

If you think you have gastroparesis but haven’t been diagnosed, I strongly urge you to see a doctor for testing.

The gold standard for diagnosing gastroparesis is a 4-hour gastric emptying study. Two-hour and 90-minute versions are less accurate. Gastroparesis cannot be diagnosed by x-ray, CT scan, or endoscopy.

Gastroparesis has many symptoms in common with other conditions, some of which can be easily treated. A confirmed diagnosis should be the first step.

Creating and following a Comprehensive Management Plan tends to have the greatest benefits for symptom relief and improved quality of life.

This includes: appropriate medical treatment and complementary therapies, dietary modification and proper nutrition, lifestyle practices, and mental health and coping support.

You’ll find a great deal of information about each of those things here but the easiest way to start feeling better quickly is to follow the steps in my free eBook, The Quick Start Guide to Gastroparesis Management.

If you’re looking for a deeper dive into managing symptoms while also reducing overwhelm, worry, and frustration, the Living Well with Gastroparesis Online Program is now available on-demand.

If there was only one thing I could share with you it would be this: a gastroparesis diagnosis does not determine what the rest of your life will look like.

If you have been in social media groups, I know that may sound hard to believe, but please hear this: that picture is skewed. The people who are not struggling, whose lives do not revolve primarily around this diagnosis, are not posting about it on social media. They are out living their lives.

It IS possible to live WELL with gastroparesis and the less time you spend thinking about gastroparesis, the more true that will be. Educate yourself. Figure out what works for you. Build a team of trusted practitioners. And then keep on living your life.

My greatest hope is that the resources I provide will help you do just that!