Friday 20 February 2015

22 months on......

Pacer #2 is as effective as the first one - needed an adjustment done last week, and was fortunate enough to only have to wait 7 weeks for an appointment slot, so managed to deal with the returning symptoms fairly well, without going downhill too radically - it's taking a tad longer than usual for the adjustment to 'kick in', but this may be due to my also recovering from pneumonia.
I started an Access Diploma last September, with a view to taking a degree course later this year - it's 3 days a week plus homework. The college have been supportive when I've had health 'blips', and I am enjoying the challenge - if I am being completely honest, most days I find it exhausting, but as I am not willing to let that beat me, I've just had to adjust the rest of my life around my capabilities!

Saturday 8 November 2014

1 year 9 months on....

Here we are 21 months post surgery, and I'm doing well - the replacement pacer works as effectively as the old one - not saying that there is not the odd glitch, I do still get bloated, nauseous and vomit, but it is manageable.
I managed to get gastroenteritis a couple of weeks ago, and I am still waiting for my stomach to settle back into it's 'norm' - but in the past I have found that the pacer requires an adjustment following this kind of bug, so at the moment I'm just keeping my fingers crossed!
I've also started at college, doing a pre degree course. It's been challenging to say the least, as yes the stress has had an effect on my stomach and I am exhausted a lot of the time - but I am approaching this with a no pain no gain kind of attitude, and my daily mantra is 'I can do this, I can do this....' - fingers crossed I succeed.
I also still run the Gastroparesis 'R' Us support group on Facebook, and it now comes under the new resource facility called the Gastroparesis Resource Hub or GPRH for short - the new website can be found at http://gpresourcehub.weebly.com/
Take care everyone
Sammie x

Monday 14 April 2014

One year post op

Well my replacement pacer was a year old on 9th April - it's been an eventful year for me on a personal level and on a 'unrelated to gastroparesis health issues' level.
The pacer has done it's job effectively throughout this, and coped fairly well with my increased stress levels.
Approximately 12 weeks ago I began to bloat more, and within a couple of weeks the nausea/vomiting had begun to increase too - which pointed to an adjustment being due. Whilst awaiting the adjustment appointment the symptoms proved annoying but more or less manageable.
The pacer settings were tweeked two days ago and hopefully I will be back to my form of 'normal' soon.
The incision is tidy and is becoming paler as time goes by - although from the previous pacer surgery I would anticipated that it will remain pretty much the same.

Friday 4 October 2013

6 months/25 weeks post op

Despite other numerous health issues (diabetes, asthma etc) and a huge amount of stress in recent weeks, I have done relatively well in gastroparesis terms.
The stress levels have directly affected my eating and absorption capacities and led to some increased nausea, vomiting and bloating, but I am hopeful as this particularly stressful situation is resolved over the next few weeks that everything will settle down once again - can but keep my fingers crossed!

GastroParesis UK

This blog is no longer linked to GastroParesis UK

Friday 30 August 2013

20 weeks post op

Here we are 20 weeks post op - and doing very well. Nausea, bloating and vomiting are relatively minimal & more or less manageable, and are usually only an issue when stressed on when my asthma is playing up which causes coughing.
I have been really pushing my physical boundaries this past month, trying to get on top of my GastroParesis UK workload - although enjoyable, it is at times a little detrimental to my health - my diabetes has destabilised a little further this past few weeks, with no apparent reason & I am very tired but unable to sleep for more than a couple of hours at a stretch - I am therefore organising a review blood test for my thyroid as I think that maybe my thyroxine medication may need a little tweek to rectify this particular issue.
All that said I am doing fairly ok and the GPUK schedule over the next couple of months is quite full, with various meet up trips planned - and although this may prove exhausting, I'm really looking forward to just being able to fulfil this role!
For details of all upcoming GPUK events take a look at the website at:
www.gastroparesisuk.org
  

Thursday 8 August 2013

17 weeks post op

Its now 17 weeks 2 days post op - have been doing really well in terms of gastroparesis - even though its been a stressful month my stomach has stayed quite well balanced. However my diabetes has this week been really unstable for no apparent reason - hopefully it will either settle or the reason will become known!
www.gastroparesisuk.org