Association of Gastrointestinal Motility Diseases and Disorders (AGMD)

In one second, someone's life will be changed and affected by a digestive motility disease or disorder. Symptoms are usually absent from comfortable social conversations and yet, they are very real and paramount in the sufferer's life.

It can be challenging to balance all the emotional and physical consequences that may result from living with digestive motility diseases and disorders. Not being able to eat normally, maintaining employment, raising children, finding relationships, keeping relationships, going to school, medical insurance problems, financial difficulties, and trying to live a quality life may all be a part of the patient's struggles.

Digestive motility diseases do not seem to follow any particular pattern in many cases. The patient may feel reasonably well one minute, and the next minute be in excruciating pain. Patients may be able to eat a certain food one day without any problem, and the next time they may experience escalating symptoms. It can be difficult to make plans and to socialize because of the uncertainty as to when the symptoms might become aggravated. Some patients may develop food aversions, fear, anxiety, and even depression as as a result of trying to cope with their chronic illness.

Pain, difficulty eating, constipation, diarrhea, swallowing problems, nausea, vomiting, refluxing, abdominal distention (swelling), and early satiety (fullness) are examples of some of the symptoms that many patients experience every day of their lives. Although some patients remain quite functional, there are others who may become debilitated from the manifestation of their disease.

The good news is that there is exciting research being done for some digestive motility diseases and disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). There are other diseases, however, such as chronic intestinal-pseudo-obstruction (CIP), that remain in the shadows of research and treatments.

AGMD is passionate about giving voice to all those affected by these digestive motility problems and strives to give special focus to some of the more rarer digestive motility diseases and disorders where there are few or virtually no adequate treatments available and no cures.

Our organization realizes the needs of special groups of people that are impacted by digestive motility diseases and disorders. Because of these unique requirements, we have special sub-sections dedicated to pediatrics, young adults, adults, senior citizens, spouses, caregivers, and families. Each section is customized in order to meet the needs of each group.

Many patients feel very much alone, isolated, and frustrated because no one can understand what they are going through. It is the quest of AGMD, to provide education, information, resources, support, and hope to all those impacted by digestive motility diseases and disorders.

AGMD became incorporated as an international nonprofit organization in 1991. Started by a patient with chronic idiopathic intestinal pseudo-obstruction, over the years, her disease has progressed to include gastroparesis, gastroesophageal reflux disease, achalasia, diffuse esophageal spasm, esophagitis, dysphagia and a myriad of other diseases affecting her neurological, muscular, circulatory, skeletal, and endocrine systems.

As a result of her journey with disease, she has dedicated her life to helping others with digestive motility diseases and disorders through AGMD. She is passionate in her pursuit in finding answers, providing assistance, disseminating education, creating a support system, advocating for research, and bringing together medical professionals with patients so that a broader comprehension will result in this specialized area of gastroenterology. (See AGMD History)

If you are a member of the medical community, then consider joining our organization to show your support. If you are a patient, family member, or a friend, become a member and add your voice to our mission. Be assured that AGMD understands the plights and challenges that you are going through and we will do all we can to serve as a Beacon of Hope to all those in need.

This page was last modified on April 23, 2008

Website by

Christina Migliacci, Young Adult Program Development & Outreach Coordinator,

Mary-Angela DeGrazia-DiTucci, President/Patient/Founder,

and

Frank DiTucci, Computer Consultant