Learning to live well with gastroparesis can be challenging. Fortunately, there's a lot that you can do to help yourself along the way. Here are the ten most important things I've learned from my own journey and my work with other GPers.

10. Use your energy wisely. Many GPers spend a lot of time worrying - about the future, about their symptoms, about what others think or don't understand. Worrying is a waste of time and it has no impact on how things actually turn out. Instead, try to focus the limited amount of energy that you have on what you can do to feel as good as possible right now. 

9. Reassess your priorities. Your needs are different now than before you had GP and most likely your priorities will have to shift as a result. Self-care should now be at top of your list. That means taking the time to rest when you're tired, be active, prepare GP-friendly meals, eat slowly, do things that bring you joy, and actively practice stress management.

8. Never say never. I wrote a blog post about this back in January, but was reminded of it this week when I received an email from a GPer whose symptoms quickly and unexpectedly resolved after three years of illness. In her own words, "I just assumed I would never get well." Today we have gastroparesis but none of us know what tomorrow will bring.  

7. Assemble your Dream Team. While a good GI doc is important, they're not the only one you need in your corner. Work on building a team of supportive, knowledgeable health professionals to address all aspects of your care, including a primary care doc, gastroenterologist, health counselor or nutritionist, and mental health counselor or therapist.

6. Nourish your body. Your body needs nourishment now more than ever and not eating does not cure gastroparesis - it just sets you up for a host of other problems down the road. The goal is to pack as much nutrition as possible into every bite and sip you take. This means consuming several small, GP-friendly meals (not snacks!) throughout the day, each containing a balance of carbs, protein and small amounts of fat. Most GPers should also consider taking supplements to make up for the nutritional gaps in the gastroparesis diet.

5. Manage stress. I tend to get a lot of resistance on this one, probably because many of us were initially told that our symptoms were due to "stress." But think of it this way: eating broccoli didn't cause your gastroparesis. Now that you have GP, however, you should avoid broccoli because it's likely to exacerbate symptoms. The same goes for poorly managed stress. The brain and the gut are intimately connected. The better you are at managing stress, the better you will be at controlling your symptoms -- I guarantee it. 

4. Find the right kind of support. Gastroparesis can be an isolating condition. It's important to find a source of support to help comfort, guide, and empower you throughout your journey.  Unfortunately "competitive suffering" is often disguised as support, so be sure to avoid any people, groups or organization that leave you feeling negative, fearful, confused or hopeless. 

3. Hone your awareness. The foundation of gastroparesis management is knowing what works for you. Without a keen understanding of your own tolerances and triggers, you're more likely to either over-restrict or assume that nothing you do makes a difference. I highly recommend keeping a food journal for several weeks, writing down what, when and how much you eat, as well as any symptoms that you experience, and watching for patterns that emerge over time.

2. Get physical. You know that I'm a big fan of physical activity and for good reason. In addition to promoting overall health and wellness, it reduces GP symptoms, increases vitality and relieves stress. Find a way to build more physical activity into your day, even if it's just a gentle walk after dinner.  

And my number one tip is...