Gastroparesis at Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is possibly the most food-focused day of the year. It's a holiday that revolves almost exclusively around preparing, admiring and eating a huge meal for which we are supposed to be thankful. For someone with gastroparesis, this can be depressing and isolating. But it doesn't have to be...Here are some Thanksgiving tips that I've learned over the last 6 years:

• You always have the option to leave the room while everyone else is eating dinner. Mingle, chat, and help prepare the food but once it's time to sit down to the meal, go do something else. Make sure your family knows of your plans in advance and then just quietly slip away and do something you enjoy. Shop online (there are some good deals today!), read a good book, watch your favorite movie, etc.  You can rejoin the celebration after everyone is done eating.

• If you choose to sit down for dinner, plan ahead so that you know there will be food you can eat. That might mean bringing a special meal just for you, like soup or a smoothie, or preparing dishes to share with your own needs in mind, such as mashed potatoes without butter or cream -- chicken stock works great!

• Don't give in...unless it's because *you* want to. One of the hardest things about holiday gatherings is dealing with the people who don't understand the disorder and insist that you must be able to eat x, y, or z. {"Well you must be able to eat corn...it's just a vegetable! Here, just try some!" } The only way to handle this is to politely -- and repeatedly, if necessary -- remind Aunt Sally that certain foods provoke your symptoms and you avoid them intentionally in order to feel as good as possible. Don't let anyone bully you into eating something that you're not comfortable eating. However, if you really want to try something -- be it a slice of pie or a helping of stuffing -- and you're okay with any symptoms that may result, go for it!   You won't cause yourself any long-term issues and you may even discover than you can tolerate a small amount of your favorites from time to time.
• Find other ways to connect with family and friends aside from the meal. For instance, go for a walk after dinner - this will help everyone, including you, digest their food. Or play a game, recount your favorite family memories, or watch a holiday movie. Anything that isn't focused on eating and allows you to fully participate and feel like part of the group fits the bill.
• Rather than focus on the turkey, stuffing, and myriad of pies that you're not eating today, do your best to focus on the things for which you truly are grateful. That's not nearly as easy as it sounds, and I'm not going to pretend that it is, but give it a try. Just jot down a few things that you're thankful for and make a point to think of them throughout the day.

Here's my own list...

• My wonderful husband and my amazing family. They have been exceptionally patient and kind as I've learned to live with gastroparesis, as well as 100% supportive of my constant search for better doctors, treatment options, etc.

• The gastric pacemaker surgery. My gastric pacemaker, which I affectionately call Chuck, has been with me for about 10 weeks now and the improvement between now and then is significant. I'm incredibly grateful for the results I've seen so far, like not waking up nauseous everyday, sleeping through the night, and being able to eat peanut butter on my toast.

• The Institute for Integrative Nutrition. In October, I began a program at IIN to become a Certified Health Counselor. When I graduate next fall, a large part of my practice will be devoted to working with patients with gastroparesis, helping them figure out the ins-and-outs of their version of the disease and how to live *well* despite the limitations. More on this in a later post!

• All of the people who read this blog. It has given me so much joy to know that I'm able to share the things that I've learned and offer support to others dealing with gastroparesis -- even if it's just to remind someone that they're not alone. Thank you for visiting and sharing your experiences and insight with me!

What's on your list?  Feel free to share.  Happy Thanksgiving!