Gatroparesis: When Were You Diagnosed?

By Allie Hoeland

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More Videos from Allie Hoeland 13 videos in this series

Gatroparesis: When Were You Diagnosed?

1 of 13 : Current video

Gastroparesis: Which Medications Are You Taking?

2 of 13

Gastroparesis: When Did You Notice Symptoms?

3 of 13

Gastroparesis: What Would You Say On A Date?

4 of 13

Gastroparesis: How Often Do You Eat?

5 of 13

Gastroparesis: How Do You Stay Social?

6 of 13

Gastroparesis: How Did This Diagnosis Change Your Diet?

7 of 13

Gastroparesis Symptoms: Which Doctor Should A Woman See?

8 of 13

Food Cravings: How Do You Control Your Urge?

9 of 13

I Can Foundation: How Can It Help Gastroparesis Patients?

10 of 13

Gastroparesis Symptoms: What Advice Can You Share?

11 of 13

Gatroparesis: What Have You Learned Since The Diagnosis?

12 of 13

Gatroparesis Patients: How Can They Regain Control?

13 of 13

Allie recalls her gastroparesis diagnosis and describes how this stomach paralysis condition has changed her life.

Allie:
My name is Allie Hoeland and I am the executive director of the I Can Foundation. It is an organization that helps people with gastroparesis and dysmotility, specifically funding research.

In 2006, I was diagnosed with gastroparesis and at first we had no idea before that what I possibly had and we went to 8 or 9 doctors and they weren’t able to decide anything.

Everyone said it was IBS or something along those lines, but all of the medications for that didn’t help me at all and so, we went to the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale and they diagnosed me with gastroparesis and for the first couple of years I did okay. I went to college. I had a great experience but in 2008, I really started to decline.

I was working in an office where I had to report for work at 7 o’clock, but in order to be able to drive a car and not be dizzy from all my medication I had to wake up at 4 a.m. to be able to leave in time.

So, we decided to move back to Arizona to be close to my doctors and now on a daily basis I have a hard time. I can’t really eat many solid foods. I am not able to go out to any restaurants; I haven’t been to one in probably two years. So it’s just a daily battle of trying to figure out how to get the nutrients that I need while not being able to digest most foods since gastroparesis is actually termed to be paralysis of the stomach.

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Add a Comment2 Comments

Anonymous

Thank you so much for putting yourself and this information out there! It has been so nice for me, a fellow gastroparesis sufferer, to see this! Its amazing how similar my problems are and I really appreciate the numerous coping strategies you mentioned that I hadn't thought of. This is helping me a lot through a rough patch. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

October 6, 2010 - 3:08pm

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Pat Elliott Expert HERWriter Guide Blogger (reply to Anonymous)

Anon - Thanks for your comments. Our site exists for people exactly like you. I hope you will consider registering for the site, becoming a member, and contributing information for the benefit of others. Take care, Pat

October 6, 2010 - 6:27pm