One year ago, I posted on Digestive Tract Paralysis (DTP) for the G-PACT-sponsored DTP Awareness Week. As a treat, I’m reposting with the permission of my featured guest stars.
Unfortunately for me, a lot has changed in the last twelve months. Due to my worsening DTP, I became severely malnourished and the damage done to my GI system appears irreversible. I had a GJ-tube inserted in December 2012 which has proven unsuccessful in treating my DTP. The medications (that you’ll read about below) that once worked to “control” my dysmotility have since failed. My motility specialist says I am likely to be TPN-dependent for the remainder of my life. Furthermore, most of my medication has been transferred to intravenous (IV) form as I have severe malabsorption to anything given enterally (through the GI tract). But yet, this has given me such an improved quality of life. I have more energy and less pain. My days aren’t spent worrying about getting in enough calories to sustain life. And I can still do almost everything I could do before our various interventions. Actually, I can probably do more.
So, without further ado, I would open a window into life with Digestive Tract Paralysis. Thanks for reading!
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August 22-29 is Digestive Tract Paralysis (DTP) Awareness Week.
Because I live with DTP, I thought I’d share a little about DTP, my story, and the stories of some friends.
I have what’s called “gastroparesis.” That’s gastro– (meaning stomach) and –paresis (meaning paralysis). I also have intestinal dysmotility which has resulted in chronic intestinal psuedo-obstruction (CIP or CIPO). And that’s chronic (meaning long-term), intestinal (meaning relating to the small intestines and colon), pseudo- (meaning false), and obstruction (a blockage). Both issues are common with many types of mito.
Still Miles to Go 