Hope and Rest Gastroparesis Recipes

Complications of Gastroparesis

Gastorparesis (gastric = stomach; paresis = paralysis) literally means stomach paralysis. It is a condition in which the stomach muscle becomes slow and weakened. Following a meal, it takes too long for the stomach to empty its contents into the small l intestine.

I am not going to go into details about the symptoms or treatment if you have been diagnosed with Gastorparesis, after all there are quite a number of websites dedicated to this issue. As for the cause, no one really knows, although the most common cause is diabetes. Personally, I have Gastroduodenal Crohn's Disease , which lead to my developing Gastorparesis. What I will talk about is the complication of having Gastorparesis, and the importance of Eating!

Complication!

Complications associated with it that can and often does cause physical pain and emotional turmoil.

1. Glucose levels- If your have diabetes, or even if you don't , you still may find yourself struggling with your blood sugars levels. Serious problem with hyperglycemia ( low blood sugar) the usual signs are fatigue, sweating, shaking, hunger, weakness, faintness, and nervousness, often accompanied by a headache.

2.Fermentation and yeast infections- When food is left undigested in the stomach to long, the food items begin to rot instead of digest, causing fermentation. Fermentation results in gas accumulation, and an over growth of yeast.

3. Bezoars- Bezoars are caused by undigested food that hardens into a lump blocking the stomach or upper digestive track. Some foods are more prone to cause Bezoars than other.

4. Nausea and vomiting- although a symptom of Gastorparesis it can and often does make eating hard. After all, who can think about food when you nauseated . And yet, nausea and vomiting can lead to dehydration and malnutrition.

FOOD!

Since eating is a necessary part of life whither you are plant or animal, or fish in the ocean… you most eat to live. As human beings, from the moment of birth, we find comfort in the foods we eat. While a normal person with out Gastorparesis can eat what every they desire, and some eat more than others. A person the had Gastorparesis does not have that luxury, in fact, by the most part they find themselves struggling with the very idea of eating anything. And what foods once brought comfort, know make us sick to our stomachs. After a while, you begin to say no to your desires for certain food items, after all, who can even think about food when you feel chronically sick to the stomach . And yet, we all know that if we don't eat, we will slowly starve to death. In fact, I have know several people, including my grandmother who basically starved to death , simple because they came to view food as an enemy .

I understand the emotional trauma associated with looking at food as your worse enemy. I have watched these show were obese people were operated on, in order to make their stomach smaller. I saw the portions of food that they were supposed to eat, and wished I could eat that much. I have been known to stand in the grocery store, with tears running down my face, because I had no conception of what I show buy to eat that week. I have awaken each morning for the last 25 years, to nauseation and stomach cramps. I have had to force myself to get up ,walk to the refrigerator and force myself to eat.

For most of us suffering with the reality of Gastorparesis, medical interventions is not helpful at all. Many of us have come to realize that if we are to live our life to its fullness, we are going to have to look at our food not as an enemy , but as a friend that is vital to our health and well being.

I am not a great chef , but for self-preservation and a desire to find comfort once more in my food, I began to twist and turn recipes, to create meals that would not leave me feeling deprived of the food I love to eat, but instead would be easy for my stomach to handle.

I hope you will utilize some of my recipes in your own daily life. They are free! No Strings attached. All I ask is that you take the time to treat yourself with something comforting each day, in order to keep you emotional well being in balanced.