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Digestive Motility News

Stem Cells Harvested From Human Gut For First Time. U,S, scientists managed to harvest viable stem cells from the human gut, opening the door to a valuable resource for stem cell research.

Meet Devinne

Listen to our latest AGMD audio interview featuring Devinne, a Teen Gastroparesis Patient from Massachusetts.

Join AGMD

Join our nonprofit international organization and receive membership benefits including newsletters, networking connection program, educational materials, programs, and other resources.

Stay Informed

Join our Email Mailing List to stay up-to-date on AGMD news, programs, and events taking place.

Volunteer

A great way to get involved is to volunteer. AGMD has volunteer positions for the professional as well as the lay person. Volunteering for AGMD requires a dedicated commitment. We offer flexibility realizing that illness can be a factor. We are also respectful of time constraints of individual volunteers.

Please contact us if you are interested in volunteering.

Partner News

A.S.P.E.N. hosts Clinical Nutrition Week January 18-21, 2014, Savannah International Convention & Trade Center, Savannah, GA. Click here to learn more.

IThrive is a web based nutritional education program for consumers with intestinal failure. This series will focus on maximizing intestinal tolerance and nutritional health for the GI Dysmotility patient.

To learn more about the IThrive Program, click here.

Our Partners

AGMD encourages you to learn more about our corporate and organization partners and the services they provide.

Click here more information on our corporate partnership program.

A.S.P.E.N.

CoRDS Registry

Disposables Delivered

Northeast Nutritionals

Oley Foundation

ThriveRx  

CoRDS Registry

The Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford registry is a national and central registry for people with a confirmed diagnosis of a rare disease.

Learn more about the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford registry and enroll in their program to participate in clinical trials and other research opportunities. CoRDS Registry

Upcoming AGMD Programs

Learn About Digestive Motility

AGMD continually updates its Virtual Online Library with educational audio and video materials as well as brochures, fact sheets, clinial trials, and other resources. Visit our Virtual Motility Library to learn more. Click here to visit our updated library.

Need a Physician?

Are you in need of a digestive motility expert? If so, then we encourage you to visit our AGMD Physician Referral Listing Database.

Do you know of a motility expert who is not yet listed? Let us know so we can add them to our database. Any physician who would like to be included in our database is welcome to email us at digestive.motility@gmail.com.

Newly Diagnosed?

Have you or your loved one been recently diagnosed with a digestive motility disease or disorder? If so, AGMD is here to help. We have many programs and resources available to assist you in your journey with digestive motility.

View our introductory presentation.

H.R.842 Enhancement Act Bill

In an effort to bolster federal research into functional gastrointestinal and motility disorders (FGIMDs) and improve the development of innovative treatment options for these conditions, IFFGD and grassroots advocates have been working with legislators to reintroduce a bill focused on FGIMD research. We are pleased to announce that as a result of this sustained congressional outreach, the Functional Gastrointestinal and Motility Disorders Research Enhancement Act (FGIMDRE Act) has been reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives with bill number H.R.842. Take Action

Drug Shortages

AGMD has received many inquiries regarding drug shortages.

A major reason for these shortages has been quality/manufacturing issues. However there have been other reasons such as production delays at the manufacturer and delays companies have experienced receiving raw materials and components from suppliers. Discontinuations are another factor contributing to shortages. FDA can't require a firm to keep making a drug it wants to discontinue. Sometimes these older drugs are discontinued by companies in favor of newer, more profitable drugs.

With fewer firms making older sterile injectable drugs, there are a limited number of production lines that can make these drugs. The raw material suppliers the firms use are also limited in the amount they can make due to capacity issues at their facilities. This small number of manufacturers and limited production capacity for older sterile injectables, combined with the long lead times and complexity of the manufacturing process for injectable drugs, results in these drugs being vulnerable to shortage. When one company has a problem or discontinues, it is difficult for the remaining firms to increase production quickly and a shortage occurs.

FDA responds to potential drug shortages by taking actions to address their underlying causes and to enhance product availability. FDA determines how best to address each shortage situation based on its cause and the public health risk associated with the shortage.

For updated information, visit FDA

Veteran Advocacy Taskforce

IFFGD is putting together a taskforce of veterans affected by functional GI disorders to conduct coordinated advocacy activities. Congress is currently looking at bolstering medical research into these conditions and improving access to disability benefits. Affected veterans need to be heard so that lawmakers take appropriate action.

If you know a veteran please pass along this message. If you are an affected veteran please contact IFFGD. Your story needs to be heard by Members of Congress. We'll make sure it is.

Shawn Elliott Memorial AGMD Fundraiser Taking Place In Florida

The 2nd Annual Shawn Elliott Memorial Ride Fundraiser will occur in Pace Florida on August 17, 2013. The money raised will be donated to AGMD in memory of Shawn Elliott. The event is being organized by Shawn's mother, Janet Brown.

The first Shawn Elliott Bike Fundraiser was held last September and raised over $1,050.00.

Shawn suffered from pseudo-obstruction and was waiting for a five organ transplant when he passed away on September 2, 1997.

For more information, contact JBrown1350@aol.com.

Remembering Ruth and Heather

We are saddened to announce the loss of two longtime members of AGMD.

Heather Messer joined AGMD as a young adult patient with chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction. In fighting her own battle with acute illness, Heather was passionate about educating others in regards to her illness and the truth about motility issues. That passion was so great, that it reached out and affected dozens of people. A memorial was held on 02/14/13, at the Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve, 5171 Somersville Rd., Antioch, CA.

Ruth Rosenblatt, was a physical therapist who became acutely ill in 2002 from a progressive neuromuscular intestinal disease. Unfortunately, the debilitating symptoms associated with her illness disallowed the continuance of her life's work. Over the years, her life of pain made her bed-bound and she was eventually obligated to enter a hospice. She passed away in November with her loving husband by her side.

Join AGMD

Did you know you can still become a member of AGMD even if you cannot afford your membership dues? Just contact us at AGMD and we would be happy to waive the fee. Everyone is welcome to join our organization. Every person is important and each voice becomes stronger as we work together in drawing awareness and education others about digestive motility diseases and disorders.

Ongoing Campaign

AGMD is committed to its campaign entitled, "On Tract with Hope ..." We have "Gut to Get Involved, Gut to Educate, and Gut to Make Others Understand." In 1991, AGMD was created as an international nonprofit organization bringing patients, family members, and those in the medical, scientific, and nutritional areas together. It is a privilege to serve and provide our ongoing campaign so more people will learn, understand, and become aware of this specialized area of gastroenterology.

AGMD Global Mission

AGMD understands the loneliness and isolation that patients and their families can feel. We understand the concerns, frustrations, and the emotional roller coaster that can accompany life with digestive motility diseases and disorders. We believe that education is key to empowering the motility patient as well as his/her family. We also believe that support is critical in helping the patient and his/her family cope. That is why we remain on a global mission of hope and help for all those in need.

AGMD Digestive Motility Impact

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 and keeping relationships, going to school, medical insurance issues, financial difficulties, and trying to live a quality life may all be a part of the patient and family member's struggles. Many 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.