Post#3: My go-to saves for all sorts of stomach ailments

I’ve had stomach problems from birth (literally) 🙄. I have been through quite a lot digestively since then and have picked up some tips and tricks along the way from doctors, nurses, support groups, friends, and family that have become lifesavers for all sorts of ridiculous stomach ailments (I am by no means an expert and can’t speak to any actual documented proof that these things work, other than that they work for me...so use at your discretion). Here they are in no particular order:

• Jell-o juice - This stuff is MAGICAL 🦄 (when you are an adult...you get excited about jell-o juice and it’s healing properties as opposed to being in college and being excited about jungle juice and all the weird alcohol and fruit you could mix together 😂)

◦ What does this help? - upset stomach, nausea, indigestion, heartburn

◦ Directions - follow the directions on the box to make regular jell-o...dissolve the jell-o in the boiling water and add cold water but don’t put it in the fridge. Put it in a mug and drink it (like a hot chocolate or cup of tea, cherish and enjoy each sip).

◦ Why does it work? - The gelatin coats everything on the way down and is a quick (and pretty delicious) fix for nausea and upset stomach. *Disclaimer - jell-o is not gluten free so if you are a celiac or have a gluten sensitivity or allergy, this is not for you.

• Golden Milk -

◦ What does this help? - Nausea, bloat, heartburn

◦ Directions -

▪ In a pot mix together: 2 cups of almond milk (I don’t drink milk - I’m sure any milk or milk replacement would be delicious), ¼ tsp turmeric, ¼ tsp cinnamon, ½ tsp fresh grated ginger (I am a big ginger fan...if this is too potent for you, drop it down to ¼), 2 tsps of maple syrup

▪ Bring to a boiling point

▪ Strain through a mesh strainer (to get all the ginger out)

▪ Sip and Savor

◦ Why does it work? - this is a fairly new addition. I tried it on a whim - I was at the point of trying anything and everything that may possibly help give me some relief. Not only does this provide relief but it is actually very calming and will often make me a little sleepy (which is amazing because normally I can power through most things that are meant for sleep)! The recipe makes 2 cups which is usually the perfect amount for a big mug! I don’t know exactly why it works but I’m going to assume it has something to do with the ginger/cinnamon/turmeric combo.

• Pedialyte Slushies

◦ What does it help? - Dehydration, nausea

◦ Directions - Mix any pedialyte liquid with some ice in a blender and voila...slushies!

◦ Why does it work? - Well, pedialyte is loaded with electrolytes. When I am down and out for days with puking episodes, this is the only way to get any kind of fluids in me. Plain pedialyte gets boring after a while, so this is just my way of spicing it up a little.

• Ginger

◦ What does it help? - Nausea

◦ Directions - You can get ginger in a lot of different ways. I like pickled ginger (the kind you get with sushi) and most grocery stores have it in jars. My grocery store sells little tubs of it by the fresh sushi (which is my personal favorite). You can also make broth with ginger ( if you are interested in this recipe, shoot me an email/text/message), drink ginger tea, eat plain ginger. It all depends on your taste buds and preferences.

◦ Why does it work? - I actually have no idea, but I’m not questioning it. When my nausea is so bad that I can’t even see straight - I need to do as many things as possible to keep it in check.

• Coca Cola - not Pepsi (which did make me sad at first because I was always a Pepsi girl at heart)!

◦ What does this help? - DIGESTION!!!!!!!!

◦ Directions - Drink with big meals

◦ Why does it work? - People with GP can form bezoars which are clumps of undigested food that just build up in your system. If you get one, oftentimes they will treat it with Coca Cola! The ingredients in coke break down food in your stomach and aid in digestion. I wasn’t able to have soda for a long time after my surgery and I was a little scared to add anything with carbonation back into my diet because I had some REALLY bad experiences with trying to drink bubbles after my surgery (the most claustrophobic feeling in the world is having an air bubble stuck in your throat and not being able to burp....just trust me on that and hope that you never have to experience it). BUT...this ended up being an instant fix. I ate a meal and had a small can of coke with it and I felt good. I kept doing it and always felt good when I had that with my biggest meal of the day. Then I tried to give it up....yeah not good. Now, I always have a coke with my largest meal of the day and it has been my lifesaver. I would probably either not eat if I didn’t have a coke or cry 😰.

• Pickles -

◦ What does this help? - Nausea and heartburn

◦ Directions - This may be different for everyone but I find that eating them a few hours before bed (when my heartburn is at its worst) keeps the heartburn at bay. (Dill or sweet)

◦ Why does it work? - this one SHOCKED me. I was so scared of pickles for so long because they are a vegetable (technically) and veggies kill me. Also, they have skin on them which is rule #1 of gastroparesis: don’t eat anything with a skin on it. But I kept seeing it and again, I was desperate for any relief so I gave it a whirl. I eat one or two small (gherkin/cocktail) sweet pickles a few hours before bed, if I can’t eat - a few sips of juice help! I don’t know if it’s the combo of vinegar and sugar but it keeps my heartburn at bay during the night which is AMAZING. (I love a good dill pickle but often times the seasoning makes me nauseous).

I truly hope some of these help you! If you experience some of these symptoms on the reg...it is beneficial to ensure that you are doing the precautionary measures prior to using these things. If you are breaking all the rules and hoping that a slice of ginger will save you from heartburn after eating pizza...not happening. So here is a list of triggers to avoid if you experience any of these symptoms:

• Nausea - spicy foods, fatty foods, eating big meals, eating really late at night and then going straight to bed (actually this is bad news bears for EVERYONE...you should eat HOURS before going to bed), coffee, alcohol

• Bloat - not eating enough fiber (I mean this doesn’t apply to me because fiber is literally my WORST enemy...ever), but for those who are blessed with good digestive systems...this will help!, drinking too much carbonation (yes...that includes beer and seltzer), chewing gum (this one was hard for me...but it makes sense...you are just chewing air and swallowing it, that air is getting trapped inside of you). Helpful tip...start a food diary (if you get bloat pretty regularly - your body is having a reaction to something in your diet, a food diary can help you narrow it down)

• Upset stomach/indigestion - eating huge meals, not chewing your food thoroughly, fatty foods, carbonation, not getting enough fluids, eating late and then going to bed, alcohol

Unfortunately, having major stomach issues means making some HUGE lifestyle changes. When I tell people that I don’t eat past 3 at the LATEST, the response I always get is “Oh yeah, I could never do that.” It is really, really hard but I promise you that once you give yourself that hard limit and you go about 30 days without something...it just becomes a habit. I get peer pressured/family pressured about dinner ALL the time...if I know that I am not doing well, I won’t even entertain the idea because I know my body and I know what is best for me.

Right now, I can’t even look at alcohol without wanting to throw up so we are on a break as well. I had to give up coffee, red meat, garlic, onions, salad, fresh fruit, milkshakes...SOOOO many things that I love. Now, when I look at a piece of steak...I see it as my mortal enemy instead of something I really want to eat...so it gets better over time, I promise (although lately...I would KILL for a dirty martini 🍸or a really good salad 🥗 ). Learn to listen to your body, and set limits when you know you don’t feel good 💚