Gastroparesis and Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction Patients of Pennsylvania

10/16/2017

09/10/2017

PLEASE READ ABOUT THIS BIG AWARENESS EVENT/FUNDRAISER! WE COULD USE YOUR HELP!

G-PACT is going to sponsor a booth at the New Cumberland, PA Apple Festival on Sept. 30 from 9-4 PM EDT. This annual event occurs within minutes of the home office and it is very big. New Cumberland is in the Harrisburg/York/Hershey part of PA, but you can help even if not local!

We will be hosting the following activities with approval from the Apple Festival committee. Some activities are dependent on how much assistance we have:
1. The GP pie face challenge to raise funds and awareness
2. Rubber duck game for free prizes. Prize dependent on the number on the bottom of the duck the person selects.
3. Giving out free helium balloons with our logo.
4. Selling goods to raise funds- baked goods, crafts, artwork, etc
5. Free face painting (need face painters before we include this officially)
6. Handing out our educational materials and talking to visitors about DTP, G-PACT, and how they can help, as well as possibly finding people who have been symptomatic without a diagnosis whom we can potentially help. Knowledgeable people would be helpful for this aspect.

We hope to educate the public more about the conditions, get the pie face challenge rolling in a new area, and connecting more with local businesses and news media who may have other ways to help on an ongoing basis. We hope the free balloons and other events will draw a crowd who would not typically stop at a booth for an unknown medical condition. It's a very family friendly event which attracts all types of people!

There are ways you can help, whether you are local or not!

For LOCALS who want to help:

A few more people to handle the booth:
1. help with pie face challenge
- Obtaining consent to use videos on SM, (although they can still participate without the consent). It's going to also be a fundraiser
-collecting the money after challenge bidding is complete
-helping them get ready (providing poncho, putting Reddi Whip on paper plate, advising them on what to say, where to sit/stand, etc. We will have printouts for reference if needed)
- someone to video record each challenge for use on SM
- people to assist them with cleaning up (disposable towels or other items they need as required by Apple Festival committee)

2. if you can't actually help with events because of schedule or distance, we could use items to sell.
-Baked goods, especially Apple focused are preferred (although not required). We seem to have plenty of bakers, but it's still open if that's your preference as long as it can be shipped safely
-We really need crafts: quilts, blankets, woodwork, and other things like that.
-Artwork: original photography, paintings, drawings, ceramics, etc.
-Send us ideas on other Festival type things you might have to sell!

***If NOT LOCAL, please send your items to us by Sept. 26. Please DO NOT send to the Etters home office address we have listed on the site. Contact us at NCAppleFestival@g-pact.org (or send us a PM on our Facebook button) for the DIRECT address of the event organizer. We may not receive your items in time if not sent to the organizers address.***

For LOCALS primarily:

3. We could use a big events tent to borrow. This is rain or shine!

5. We will rent a helium balloon inflater, but need someone to inflate them as people come (and can work in advance to have some prepared)

6. Face painters! We have no face painters yet!

7. People to set up the evening before, the morning of, and help tear down in the afternoon.

For pie face challenge, we're changing it some, but still tagging our three celebs from Awareness Month, plus anyone else visitors want to tag,. The idea is to ask people to pay a certain minimum amount to pie someone at the festival they choose, and the person they choose can pay more to get out of it, then they go back and forth on bidding up until someone gives in...and yes, they can choose to pie the president if they just want to hit someone with a pie for a flat rate and the president won't bid them up! How many pies will the president end up getting? Being local, she's expecting at least a few..

09/10/2017

G-PACT is a legal 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2001. We are fighting gastroparesis, chronic intes

03/16/2017

If you live in PA, northern MD, Northern, VA, Parts if OH, WV, NYC, NJ, DE, or anywhere within 4-6 hours of the Harrisburg area, where do you live? Would you be open to traveling to a large weekend get together in the Harrisburg area if we could work out good group rates for hotels and any activities? There is a lot to do in Harrisburg, including Lancaster, Hershey, York, and other local towns. Hotels not outrageously expensive. It could be a Fri evening to Sun evening, come when you can, leave when you need to. Rest in hotel if you aren't up for going out. Even just a game or chat and hang out night in a hotel room or local spot.

01/02/2017

Just interested in knowing what part of PA our fans are from? Also, are you (or loved one) seen by a physician in PA who is well educated in DTP? (Parkman or Fisher at Temple; Levinthall at UPMC or someone else at UPMC, CHP, CHOP, or at Allegheny; Bethards or Ouyang at Hershey or anyone at Penn State Children's, etc)? Do you you (your loved one) see a general GI in your area? Or do you (or loved one) travel out of state? If you don't live in PA, are you a fan of this page because you see a physician in PA?

This page is not usually very active as we tend to use our main page for all activity internationally, (www.facebook.com/GPACT), but the home office is close to Harrisburg and there are so many patients in PA and surrounding states we may make it more active, depending.

G-PACT is a legal 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 2001 and striving towards better days of treatment, knowledge & a cure for digestive tract paralysis.

08/23/2016

Reminder of the Harrisburg, PA Meet 'n Greet this Saturday, Aug. 28 at the New Cumberland Public Library. Please go to http://www.gastroparesisawarenessmonth.org/august-2016-meet-n-greets for location and time information. Please RSVP to Cindy at citessmer@gmail.com if possible. When you arrive, please tell the staff you are here for the G-PACT meeting and they will point you in the right direction. Thanks!

G-PACT Meet 'n Greets Please contact Cindy at citessmer@gmail.com to schedule an event in your area or obtain contact information for the organizer of one listed below. Florida Tampa AreaSaturday, August 27, 2016 1:00-3:00 PM Location:Robert W. Saunders, Sr. Public Library Room B1505 Nebraska Ave. T...

08/08/2016

Although we don't use this page often, it comes in handy on occasion. We prefer that people use our main page. However, local announcements are often more easily discovered here!

In recognition of our annual Gastroparesis Awareness Month, we have created a meet n greet for the Harrisburg/York/Lancaster/Hershey, PA area. Details may be found at www.gastroparesisawarenessmonth.org under "events". Please RSVP Cindy at citessmer@gmail.com for more info. If interested in setting one up in another area of PA, please contact her as well. Anyone, including friends and family, are welcome to come, even if out-of-state.

Other scheduled meet n greets are in OR and FL at this time.

07/20/2016

Meet 'n greet in the Harrisburg area being planned for August 29, 2016. The location will be at the New Cumberland Public Library. Please contact Tessmerc@g-pact.org if interested in attending.

08/22/2015

08/21/2015

Meet n greet in Harrisburg, PA on Saturday, Aug. 29. Contact awareness2015@g-pact.org for more info.

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 jarvimakit@g-pact.org (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…