Living with Gastroparesis

Humbling

This weekend was a big one and after feeling really down the past few days after struggling with gynecologists and migraines and depression, I really just needed to get over myself and just get out. So I packed the weekend full of activities. Perhaps I overdid it but, that is still yet to be determined.

First we started out Saturday with a 2 hour hike down to a lake with two of our friends and our Bernese Mountain Dog. She almost went swimming, as you can see. By the time we had reached the bottom, Mary and I were frozen solid and quite ready for our 2 hour trip back up. At least it wasn’t raining and the skies were clear. The paths there were interesting. Some were marked with logs pack filled with smooth stones. This sparked much conversation as to how the logs got there through so much thick forest, why they’d need to build such a path and why smooth stones in a place where it frequently rains? I guess by the end of those 4 hours we had run out of things to talk about. But the trees there were amazing, so tall, old and full of all sorts of life. Very beautiful.  Even though I’m totally down for another hike like the one we made to Barclay Lake, because I was nearly frozen solid at the end signals to me the end of my hiking season as well as anyone who frequenly hikes with me. And yes, I did it feeding the whole time – holding extra items in my feeding backpack, even – like treats for my sweet dog

The second trip we took was out to the mall Sunday morning. Ellie, my dog, got to come too. We walked the entirety of Bellevue Square Mall and then raced home to make it in time for any possible guests that might be joining us for the Magnuson Off-leash Park. But no one came =( That’s OK. We enjoyed ourselves alone, walking the long trails of the park with Ellie off leash. It was wonderful, so big and flat with so much free room for them to run and roam and move. At the end of the trail was the beach where the dogs had access to run, jump and play in as much water as they could swim in. Everyone would line up with their tennis ball snapper things and just launch their balls into the water and all at once a tidal wave of dogs would go rolling through the water frantically trying to be the first super dog to find “their” ball. Some fights would break out but that’s expected; it is a very serious and stressful sport. Ellie wasn’t quite ready for that level of competition =)

And yes – all done with backpack and feeding pump. You can be as active as your doctor allows (of course nutrition might not be your only problem so always check with them before attempting something more strenuous.) Just being outside and doing things will help you feel better, if not physically, emotionally. Good luck to everyone out there struggling, there is hope. I’ll update some other news shortly tomorrow. Always feel free to browse this site as the menu has dropdowns with even more information.