Re: glad you are here / (Tolly)

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/4/00 11:23:56 AM US Eastern Standard Time,

tolly2@... writes:

<< I am very glad to find this site. I have had acute Pancreatitis 3 times

in the last 10 years. The last time I was on a much anticipated vacation in

Maine and by day 3 got to spend the whole rest of the time in the hospital.

I felt sick on the first day and was extremely ill by the second day. had

to wake my brother up in the middle of the night to go get an ambulance.

you would think a person would learn from this type of experience. but, i

can be very stubborn so after a month or so of feeling better i figured

" what could a couple of beers hurt? " well, for me anyway, one always leads

to another and before long I was back to drinking on a regular basis.

A few weeks ago I began to feel sick again. I just knew it was my pancreas

and was waiting for the acute pain to start. It didn't. Instead, I just

stayed moderately sick -- epigastric discomfort, some back pain, nausea,

couldn't eat, etc. I'm sure you understand. I went to the dr. after 2 weeks

of this and was diagnosed with chronic Pancreatitis. What a surprise! It's

like I was begging for it.>>

Dear, dear , I know some of how you must feel. I am 43 and went into the

ER Aug. 4, 1999 with those exact pains. I am a nurse. When patients come into

the ER and say they have chest pains like an elephant sitting on there chest

and they have a sense of impending doom, we know how serious it is. Well,

that how I felt when I went into the hospital here in Indianapolis. I started

this group to help myself and other to have a safe place to vent and ask

questions. And I am happy you landed on this site. You are in the right place.

<<So now I don't know where to go or what to do. I'm hoping to make some

friends here to share with. Will try not to be so long winded next time. I

would like to know what to expect in the future and how much of a future I

have. I'm really scared. >>

The most important thing that I think is to look for a pain management

specialist. There are doctor that only do this. If you find more than one,

ask them questions, find out if they treat many Pancreatitis patients. There

are many, many reasons that cause chronic Pancreatitis. They affect generally

two areas, one is the ducts, and the other is the pancreas itself. When you

drink alcohol, it attacks the pancreas and causes calcifications to form,

this means it causes the pancreatic juices to be released to digest your

food or drink. When it is alcohol, the alcohol wins and the result is that it

causes the pancreatic juices to begin digesting or eating itself. Where this

happens, calcifications or stones develop. Early in the disease process, some

of these stones will develop in the duct. There is a lot more to learn that I

can share with you. I am not a doctor so what I share is purely based on what

I have read or heard from other people.

Anyway, we are glad you are here.

Hugs, Karyn

KarynWms@...

Indianapolis

Local Support Group

1st and 3rd Tuesday Evening 7PM to 8PM

North United Methodist Church