Another Adventure Begins

At this time tomorrow I will have arrived in Arizona.  Not exactly looking forward to a 7 am flight but I am excited about landing in 80 degree sunshine!  This trip has been in the works for a few months now and thanks to some amazing friends, family and Kona bike company we raised enough money to make it happen.  Many, many thanks to all of you!!!

As you know, I have had gastroparesis for quite a long time now and if you have kept up with my journey over the years you also know how many things I've tried to overcome it.  Some have helped, some not, but each one has given me the strength to continue exploring and not give up.  I have traveled to the east coast to visit John's Hopkins when the SIBO was out of control and wanted expert opinions, which I got (and got rid of!).  I've gone through 2 j-tubes and now TPN.  Over the summer I met with an ND in Vancouver and made weekly visits up there to see an acupuncturist, both who helped someone cure her GP.  Years of yoga, meditation and qi gong classes have helped to ground me during tough times.  Exploring diet modifications, especially a low-FODMAP, helps to keep severe bloating and nausea at bay.  But, in the end, there is still pain and dysmotility, and I'm still on TPN to survive.

Over the summer a dear friend of mine, who also lives in Bellingham, has GP and a j-tube, drastically improved her ability to eat through a treatment called myofascial release, also known as MFR.  A physical or massage therapist trained in this, works with the fascia in the body, connective tissue that surrounds muscles, vessels and nerves.  Throughout our lives this tissue can bind up and cause areas in the body to not be as fluid as they should be, particularly when exposed to physical and/or emotional trauma.
In the future I would like to do an interview with a specialist to provide more detailed information on how this works.  I'm not an expert in MFR and just beginning to understand it.  What I do know is that it has helped many people overcome painful and debilitating health challenges.  I have been working with a practitioner in town over the last couple of months and next I will be seeing a PT who has 20 years experience with clients who travel from all over the country to see her.  I'm doing a 2 week intensive and hoping for the best.


Now just because others have improved doesn't guarantee the same will happen for me.  I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm crossing my fingers (and toes!) that a miracle happens.  If anything, I just want to be able to eat enough to not rely on TPN.  If it doesn't happen during this trip, I will continue to receive treatment and give it more time.  At the very least, however, it will be a wonderful trip no matter what.  Sedona is known for it's beauty and healing energy.  I look forward and feel blessed to have this chance to get away, go deeper within myself and find content in life's simple pleasures.

That said, I will not be posting on this blog or FB until I return.  It's a perfect chance to "disconnect" from the virtual world and take advantage of the time away.  My notebooks are packed though and I fully plan on journaling.  Wish me luck and wellness and I can't wait to share my adventure with you when I return!

Thank you for your support and allowing me to share this journey with you.