Pancreatectomy & Islet Transplant

[Guest guest]

From what I am reading - it sounds as though if one is considering getting

the Islet Transplant that it should be done early on in the disease to ensure

a better outcome (less chance of other organs being affected and chance of

less pain afterward). Do there seem to be any trends regarding what type of

pancreas diagnosis responds better to the Islet Transplant than another?

Also, a comment on alcohol causing pancreatitis. I would think the primary

problem with the pancreas is not alcohol related - but that the pancreas is

probably already under stress or weak and the alcohol just exacerbates the

problem. When I had my first pancreas attack (no alcohol) (Dec 20/01)- I

didn't know what it was and didn't go to the ER -later we were visiting our

son in Fla and it was New Years - we had wine with dinner for at least two

nights and I had two mild episodes of pain. Then in Feb my sister was coming

for a visit and again I had a glass of wine - within an hour I had an attack

- but it lasted about 4 hours didn't know what it was. I had visited my

doctor's office and had told her (a NP) about my attack and told her I drank

a glass of wine and had this attack - was I allergic to wine or what. She had

no clue and we were doing all of these tests to rule out gallbladder. By

then, I had already started having constant pain under the left breast like

it was my heart. It felt like a butterfly in there fluttering all the time. I

even ask for a Stress Test because I thought it was my heart. Then in April

we had an open house and I had a glass of beer (because I thought I was

allergic to wine)- three days later I had another attack and went to ER -

finally diagnosed me with Acute Pancreatitis. Of course now I feel terrible

thinking I was killing myself and didn't know it - I am totally freaked out

that I even drank anything. But the last GI I saw said you have to really

drink a lot for it to be the primary cause of pancreatitis. I think my

pancreas has been in bad shape for some time and the glass of wine just put

it over the edge. Had my gallbladder out (very little stones) about 6 week

post-op I had an attack after helping my husband seal our deck (I am sure I

overdid it and it certainly wasn't from alcohol) now the pain is pretty much

constant and moves around all the time.

I have no diagnosis as my CT scans and all other tests are fine - but I am

thinking about the Islet Transplant and would like to do it early into the

disease before too much damage is done.

Debbie in Mich

[Guest guest]

Whoa Debbie,

Slow down a little, if alcohol is a problem then stop. This is a developing

disease, and you need to minimize the input to the problems, go to a low fat,

high complex carbohydrate diet, drink lots of water and see where you stand.

it may take days, or weeks, or even months. Stay with this board, test your

feelings, your symptoms, your doctors results. We are all here for you. But,

slow down and let things come to rest.

There are possibly complex problems ahead so slow down a little. Have a baked

potato no butter or sour cream, just a potato, you will feel better soon

best wishes, poncho - GA