GoGreenForGastroparesisAwarenessMonth

My name is Christine and I have Gastroparesis. Gastroparesis, literally, means "paralyzed stomach". Eating food is difficult for me, but is impossible for others who have this disease. Eating just a couple of bites of food, and sometimes sips of a drink, leaves me full. Many times I end up throwing up after eating because the food just sits, stagnant, in my stomach. I have lost over 100lbs. as a result of Gastroparesis, endured countless tests and doctors visits, many visits to the ER and urgent care, and tried innumerable medications in an attempt to dampen the symptoms of this disease. I have even had a gastric neurostimulator (a pacemaker) placed into my stomach, but it has all been to no avail. 

I am trying to spread awareness during the month of August, Gastroparesis Awareness Month, using the hashtags #GoGreenForGastroparesisAwarenessMonth and #GoGreenForChristine. 

Will you #GoGreenForGastroparesisAwarenessMonth during the month of August? Will you wear something green at least ONCE during the month to show support for this little-known disease and post it to social media? Would you be willing to post an infographic to one of your social media pages (because you know you have Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc) to spread awareness? It doesn't take but a couple of minutes of your time to help spread awareness about this disease, to let people know that there are people out there who suffer with invisible illness(es) everyday. 

There are MANY ways to #GoGreenForGastroparesisAwarenessMonth and #GoGreenForChristine

1. Wear something green and post a picture to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter using the hashtags mentioned. 

2. Make a sign saying you support someone with Gastroparesis and use the hashtags (be creative!)

3. Find an infographic and post it to social media and use the hashtags

4. Donate to a reputable charity (such as G-Pact.org)

5. Share links to blogs discussing life with Gastroparesis (such as mygastroparesisjourney.blogspot.com and emilysstomach.com)

6. Anything creative you can come up with!!

The point is getting the WORD and AWARENESS out there and #GoGreenForGastroparesisAwarenessMonth!

Paint Valentine's Day Green!

Valentine's Day is normally a day where everyone wears pink or red and thinks lovey dovey thoughts. Minds are consumed about what should be bought for that special someone in your life...chocolates...stuffed

animals...cards...diamonds...watches. Other people find the holiday rather loathsome because they don't have a significant other and just get to watch all of the people around them receive gifts from people while they're all alone. Others still just see it as another holiday that has fallen victim to commercialism. Just another way for The Man to get unsuspecting people to spend their money on frivolous items. This year, I suggest turning Valentine's Day on it's ear and doing it all differently...from the color you wear to what you spend your money on to who you think about to what you take pictures of.

Instead of wearing the obligatory pink, purple, or red on Valentine's Day, wear green for someone you know that is living with Gastroparesis...someone like me.

And instead of spending your money on chocolates that a Gastroparetic really shouldn't eat—but a lot of us love—why not donate it to an organization like G-PACT in our name. And those cutesie pictures of hearts and lovey-dovey quotes that get posted on Facebook and Instagram...switch them out with pictures of yourself dressed in green holding up a sign saying “I Wear Green For [Insert Name]” or “Go Green For Gastroparesis”. I'm not asking you to cancel your Valentine's Day, but lets paint it green and make awareness for this rare disease!

There is a hashtag campaign (for a lack of better words) going on through Facebook. When you wear green on Valentine's Day and you post pictures on social media, use the hashtags #StridingSisters and #WearGreen4GP so that the pictures can be tracked. This is all in an effort to create awareness for Gastroparesis, to get the word out there that this disease exists and that it is quite debilitating, but also that there are people out there who care, and that you can LIVE with it too.

Advocacy and awareness becomes a big thing when you end up with a disease like Gastroparesis. Doctors don't quite understand it, your friends definitely don't understand it, and your family tries to understand it; so you have to become your own advocate and educator. And it's not easy. Wearing green on Valentine's Day is an easy way to spread the word. It's also an easy way to tell a friend...Hey, I'm supporting you through your battle.