J Cooper Photography

{The pictures in this post have absolutely nothing to do with the topic at hand.  Just my cuties celebrating their day off school with a donut run}

From time to time I get questions about my health.  And since my health has been less than stellar since our move…I thought I’d do a quick post on my condition and how it affects our lives here in the Cooper house.

I have Idiopathic Gastroparesis.

Gastroparesis, also called delayed gastric emptying, is a medical condition consisting of a partial paralysis of the stomach, resulting in food remaining in the stomach for a longer period of time than normal.

Idiopathic means that I have always had the disease and didn’t get it from some other underlying cause.  My stomach functions at about a 50% pace.  The average stomach empties completely in four hours…mine takes eight.

Today was a GOOD day here at my house.  I ate.  I played with the kids and got our chores done.  But even GOOD days involve nausea, stomach pain, and blotation.  BAD days go downhill FAST from there and include symptoms you’d rather not read about on my blog

Looking back…I have probably always had this disease although it was only diagnosed a few years ago.   I can’t even count the trips to the ER I have made in my lifetime for excessive vomiting and stomach pain.  My family nicknamed me “The Porcelain Queen” early on!! Motility disorders are largely underfunded by the government so until the past year or two, there was little research in this area.  I have been to FOUR gastroengerologists and have heard conflicting information in every office.   It is not a curable disease….leaving patients to try to manage their symptoms through diet and medications.  I have tried EVERY medication available in the US market.  Now I am taking an experimental drug that is not FDA approved as part of current research happening in the US.  So far so good!  I’m still standing…and my heart is still beating!  (I had heart surgery in high school to correct an electrical issue with my heart…and this drug has a slim chance of producing electrical issues in that organ!)   There are A LOT of things I cannot eat.  I try REALLY hard not to think about those foods…and instead…try to focus on what I CAN eat (although the list is pretty small in comparison).

{Dude…where’d you put my donut?}

Eating for Gastroparesis doesn’t exactly line up with what you would think of as “Healthy Eating”.

What can I eat?  Foods that are low in  fat and low in fiber.  Soft foods that are closer to liquid form (pureed or smooth).  ”White foods” like white rice, cream of wheat, and white bread.  Pureed fruits and veggies (some).  Low fat protein like chicken and fish.  Foods that are easily digestible.  Basically anything you would think to eat after having the stomach flu  Sound yummy?  Baby food is surprisingly tasty when you haven’t had a “real meal” in awhile!

And to throw a wrench in the menu debaticle at our house…we also recently confirmed that I am lactose intolerant.  So that rules out ALL DAIRY  Praise the Lord for Trader Joe’s soy yogurt!

Weight is always an issue for me.  I try really hard to eat enough calories to maintain my weight without making myself sick.  Last night I crossed the line with a snack before bed and paid the price.  I get random comments from strangers about my weight.  And although I know most people mean well…I’d really rather weigh 20 lbs. more and just eat a TACO already!

So that’s the scoop on my mystery illness.  It is a pain.  It gets in the way of my social life.  It makes me feel depressed (sometimes) and isolated when I can’t participate when food is involved.  BUT…this is how God made me.  And for some reason….He has a purpose even in this!  I’m learning to live “HEALTHY” for me and what that involves.  I’m learning to cook for my disease (GASP…I said the “C” word!!)  And my kids are learning compassion and empathy…and hopefully a bit of grace as they watch me navigate this bumpy road!

So enjoy that taco tonight!  Go ahead and dip yourself another scoop (or two) of ice cream….eat one for me  If there is one thing I have learned…there is ALWAYS someone who has it worse than you do.  And this really isn’t “that bad”.  And if eating baby food keeps me healthy and able to thoroughly enjoy my family…then I’ll embrace it!