Gastroparesis and Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction Patients of Alabama

05/13/2018

10/07/2017

A lot of people “like” this page, more than the average on other pages, perhaps because it may come up first on Facebook search engines for G-PACT or Gastroparesis since it’s the first state. However, it is not our active page and will be either eliminated or merged in the future with regional states.

To follow our very active, main page if that was your intent, please go to www.facebook.com/GPACT.

If you are truly interested in following the state of AL or surrounding states, feel free to stay a member as we do intend to merge states in the future and manage pages on a more regional level (AL, MS, GA, TN, etc as a “southeastern page” instead of trying to manage 50 different state pages).

Thank you!

G-PACT is a legal 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2001 supporting and raising awareness for the gastroparesis community.

10/07/2017

A lot of people “like” this page, more than the average on other pages, perhaps because it may come up first on Facebook search engines for G-PACT or Gastroparesis since it’s the first state alphabetically. However, it is not our active page and will be either eliminated or merged in the future with regional states.

To follow our very active, main page if that was your intent, please go to www.facebook.com/GPACT.

If you are truly interested in following the state of AL or surrounding states, feel free to stay a member as we do intend to merge states in the future and manage pages on a more regional level (AL, MS, GA, TN, etc as a “southeastern page” instead of trying to manage 50 different state pages).

Thank you!

G-PACT is a legal 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2001 supporting and raising awareness for the gastroparesis community.

03/24/2015

Dear Members of the G-PACT,
We are currently looking for at least three residents from each state. You would represent your self as a constituent in various writing campaigns throughout the year on behalf of G-PACT. Each event will be clearly outlined and require only minimal time set aside for such projects. The need for established members and Residents in each state with a desire to be active and participate with our G-PACT community
Your willingness to write on behalf of us and share your personal story with Gastroparesis and/or Chronic Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction or other forms of Digestive Tract Paralysis (DTP) is essential to our cause and getting the message out to those in need.
Remember, there is strength in numbers! Why not involve your friends to help lighten the load and help get the word out about G-PACT in your local community. Only when we make our voices heard can we expect to make progress in our goals.
We are also looking for the following input and participation from those wishing to help:
Sharing/compiling lists of doctors that are in your local area and are either motility specialist or are very GP friendly.
*Local businesses that are friendly to the needs of individuals with motility issues and associated medical conditions.
*List of food establishments that cater to a GP friendly diet.
*Sharing of local/state news articles relating to Gastroparesis or other forms of motility issues, medical findings, local research studies, or events.
Please Direct Private/Message Me *OR* send an email to [email protected] (The Facebook State Page Administrator) with your contact information: name/email/mailing address. **Do NOT post your personal information on the G-PACT group page or in any public forum. Your privacy is important so please send your information as a Private Direct Message or Email me directly!***
We do ask that you be of legal voting age in your specific state to act as a letter-writing constituent on behalf of G-PACT.

03/24/2015

Check the G-PACT Fan Page on Tuesday, March 24. 2015

You don't want to miss this!

https://www.facebook.com/GPACT?fref=photo

03/24/2015

In less than 2 months, on May 11th, the FDA is holding a public meeting and an opportunity for public comment on Patient-Focused Drug Development for functional gastrointestinal (GI) disorders, including irritable bowel syndrome, gastroparesis, chronic persistent symptomatic gastroesophageal reflux despite standard therapeutic interventions, and chronic idiopathic constipation.
Even if you cannot attend, you can make your voice heard! You can join the meeting via webcast by registering athttp://www.eventbrite.com/e/functional-gi-disorders-patient….
In addition, you can submit formal comments by going to https://www.federalregister.gov/…/patient-focused-drug-deve…. Click on the green button SUBMIT A FORMAL COMMENT to provide your answers to the questions listed below. This is something EVERYONE can do to help the FDA gather the information they need.
Topic 1: Disease Symptoms and Daily Impacts That Matter Most to Patients
Have you received a diagnosis of a functional GI disorder from a health care provider? If so, please state the condition.
Of all the symptoms that you experience because of your condition, which one to three symptoms have the most significant impact on your life? (Examples may include pain, bloating, constipation, vomiting)
Are there specific activities that are important to you but that you cannot do at all or as fully as you would like because of your condition? (Examples of activities may include sleeping through the night, daily hygiene)
How do your symptoms and their negative impacts affect your daily life on the best days? On the worst days?
How has your condition and its symptoms changed over time?
Do your symptoms come and go or are they ongoing? If so, do you know of anything that worsens your symptoms?
What worries you most about your condition?
Topic 2: Patients' Perspectives on Current Approaches To Treating Functional GI Disorders
What are you currently doing to help treat your condition or its symptoms? (Examples may include prescription medicines, over-the-counter products, and other therapies including nondrug therapies such as diet modification.)
What specific symptoms do your treatments address?
How has your treatment regimen changed over time, and why?
How well does your current treatment regimen treat the most significant symptoms of your disease
How well do these treatments stop or slow the progression of your condition?
How well do these therapies improve your ability to do specific activities that are important to you in your daily life?
How well have these treatments worked for you as your condition has changed over time?
What are the most significant downsides to your current treatments, and how do they affect your daily life? (Examples of downsides may include bothersome side effects, going to the hospital for treatment, restrictions on driving, etc.)
Assuming there is no complete cure for your condition, what specific things would you look for in an ideal treatment for your condition?

03/24/2015

We are thankful to celebrate an additional nine years of life for our founder and president, Carissa Haston. On March 13, 2006, Carissa was given a second chance at life through the gift of life. She received a stomach, small bowel, pancreas, liver, and duodenum at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. This was necessary due to a combination of medical problems which included gastroparesis, CIPO, liver failure, and eventually short gut. Although not common and an extreme measure, it can be life-saving as a last resort.
Carissa is thankful for everyone who has been involved in saving her life and supporting her through the long process! She is grateful to be able to see the growth of G-PACT over the last nine years and believes that no one with DTP will need to pursue this extreme option in a few years!
Attached is an article about her story and info on the small bowel transplant.

Carissa Haston is dying to eat a solid meal. But it's possible she might die waiting for it. Lake Fong, Post-Gazette Carissa Haston, 27, with her mother, Sharon, is staying at Family House in Oakland while awaiting an intestinal transplant. Click photo for larger image.It's already been more than 10…

02/05/2015

What do you think of this PSA by G-PACT?

First public service announcement for digestive tract paralysis.

02/05/2015

Check out these cute tees! For the month of February, for every item sold, $5 or more will be donated to G-PACT. A big "thank you" to Maria and Chris McMustakas for raising funds for us. www.gastrotees.com
(The link is not broken and will take you to a wonderful selection of T-shirts)

02/05/2015

Electrical stimulation for refractory gastroparesis yields mixed results, with some symptoms responding better to the therapy than others and patients with diabetes experiencing particularly high rates of success, new research shows.

02/05/2015

SOLANA BEACH, Calif., Feb. 2, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Evoke Pharma, Inc. (Nasdaq:EVOK), a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on treatments for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, today provided an update on its clinical program for EVK-001, its novel metoclopramide nasal spray for the relief of s…

02/04/2015

REMINDER!!! Lobby on Capitol Hill for Digestive Tract Paralysis! The 2015 DDNC Public Policy Forum will be held Sunday, March 1st and Monday, March 2nd in Washington, DC. Join patients, health care providers, industry representatives, lawmakers and their legislative staff for two days of educational programs, legislative updates and advocacy training. You will visit your State Representatives and Senators offices with information about DTP and what he or she can do to help.

Stipends for up to $500 MAY be available from the DDNC. For a stipend application, email [email protected]. Stipends cannot be approved unless you are registered to attend at www.ddnc.org. Deadline for stipend applications is February 23rd.

Once you register, please email [email protected] with your name, hometown and state, cell phone number and email address so we can be sure to include you in correspondence about the weekend and also insure we have enough packets for everyone. In addition, applicants for sponsorship grants must be associated with a DDNC member organization and be recommended by the DDNC Board member or an officer from the association to be represented. If you wanted to be considered for a stipend through G-PACT, you must contact us.

If you would like more information on this weekend, please email [email protected].

http://ddnc.org/About_DDNC_2.html

Check out http://ddnc.org! Home Page