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!

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

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.

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

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
  

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

108 days post op

Here I am 15 weeks post op and doing well.
Since I last posted I have moved home, unpacked and been a birthing partner to my daughter in law - all very stressful & exhausting, but all in all I have survived quite well.
My health has taken a bit of a toll in the past couple of weeks - my asthma is playing up but we think that is due to the pollen count rather than infection, and the past couple of days my stomach has been unsettled and I have felt nauseous - I think however this is due to walking home in high temperatures the other day and may be more down to overheating rather than gastroparesis - we shall just have to wait and see!
www.gastroparesisuk.org

86 days post op

Doing really well, limited nausea, vomiting & bloating. Last week I attended and helped run the GastroParesis UK stand at the British Society of Gastroenterologists 2013 conference, and this week I've been packing up my home ready for a house move this weekend - I'm exhausted but basically up to my version of 'normal' capacity once again!
http://www.facebook.com/GastroParesisUK

Ten weeks post op

Here I am 10 weeks 3 days post op and doing well.
The nausea, bloating & vomiting is minimal & intermittent - and in fairness I believe is more due to recent stress factors. I have some pain when initially digesting food but again this is intermittent & manageable.
Incision is well healed & tidy and I can even wear a bra now!
I'm well enough to be able to participate in next week's British Society of Gastroenterologists conference as a representative of GastroParesis UK.

8 weeks post op.....

8 weeks post op and doing well. Food intake is still not quite up to pre op balanced intake but I am almost 100% sure that is due to stress factors rather than gastroparesis.
Food intake is sufficient to keep me going. Bloating under control, vomiting minimal.
Incision fully healed and soreness around pacer site is now limited - pressure on site/pacer when wearing a bra is still causing some discomfort, but improving day by day.
All in all doing really well!
www.gastroparesisuk.org

6 weeks post op

Here we are 6 weeks 3 days post op and doing well - adjustment has eased bloating a fair bit, nausea has been minimal with no vomiting episodes. My eating has been limited due to stressors brought on by family health issues, but I am still managing to eat in small quantities.
http://www.facebook.com/GastroParesisUK

Day 38 post op....

Its a week since having the settings adjusted and there seems to be an improvement in the bloating & digestion speed - nausea has been minimal. I now just have to retrain my stomach to eat bigger quantities, from previous experience this can take quite some time, as it has to be done gradually.
All in all doing remarkably well!
http://www.facebook.com/GastroParesisUK

Day 32 post op...

All went well at my post op check - had minor adjustment to settings. Next appointment six months. Incision healing nicely. Skin rash is an outbreak of dermatitis which is pretty much the usual case scenario with me when stressed.
Will now update blog on a weekly basis and keep you posted on how things are going with the gastroparesis symptom management.
www.gastroparesisuk.org

Post op check...

Day 31 post op check all went well - surgeon checked: incision is well healed, pacer area checked and is fine and settled. 

Medtronic technician checked settings and after discussion regarding new pacer settings were set slightly lower than old pacer settings + symptoms + aims + battery life expectancy - we actually settled on adjusting setting slightly lower rather than higher - strangely this can have the desired effect! Inpiedence was fine, pulse frequency was 2 on/3 off now 1 on/4 off (may aid bloating) and voltage strength was decreased to 2.6.

Instructions are as standard allow time to assess new setting success if no improvement in few weeks call to make another adjustment appointment and a 6 month appointment to see consultant surgeon.

Was advised I can now ease myself gently back into normal manual duties - just don't go mad!

Day 30 post op...

I am on my way to Glasgow for my post op check it will be my first major trip out on my own, so I'm expecting it to be an exhausting day.

Good news is I'm fully clothed in ordinary clothing, bad news is my bra is already driving me mad and we're only two hours in with a lot of day left to go!!!!

Day 29 post op....

Yesterday went fairly well, no nausea and only limited bloating. Travelling up to Glasgow tomorrow to attend an early morning clinic appointment on Friday for my post op check up and pacer settings check - so a fair bit of stuff to get done today before I go!
GastroParesis UK members only support group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/16102606274/

One month post op!

Here we are day 28 post op, and all things considered I am doing well.
I had little appetite yesterday but determinedly ate a small meal but became bloated and nauseous straight afterwards and ended up vomiting for the first time since surgery - however as I was 'reaching' and trying to protect my pacer site at the same time, I must have vomited from 'the wrong place' so to speak and ended up bursting blood vessels around my eyes & face - so I look a bit like I've been a few rounds in a boxing ring - hey ho sick once in 28 days is excellent even for me!
http://www.facebook.com/GastroParesisUK

Day 27 post op.....

Just coming up to a month post op and have to say I'm feeling far better than I had anticipated I would. The pacer replacement surgery has been a much easier recovery, for me, than the full pacer surgery, as it is less invasive - It's by no means minimal straightforward surgery but it is easier. I still have some way to go in terms of getting the settings at the optimal levels and readjusting my eating capabilities, but I am sure this will all happen in due course.
http://www.facebook.com/GastroParesisUK

Day 26 post op....

All is well - was just thinking that I really do need to get my act back together on the 'wearing normal clothes' front before jetting up to Glasgow for my post op check up and adjustment - I still find wearing close fitting clothes and a proper bra a tad uncomfortable and aggravating and can only manage this in short bursts - will have to come up with some kind of cunning plan in next couple of days!