Guest guest Posted October 16, 2002 Report Share Posted October 16, 2002 - I have a friend that has just had her first acute pancreatitis > attack. She went to the local hospital here in Elkhart and they were able to determine that this was acute pancreatitis since her levels were very elevated ........when they removed the gall bladder found it didn't have stones, but sludge. ........ low fat diet for four or five weeks. They did say to go to four or five small meals a day, but I would like input. From talking to several people at the Symposium, they said they found they needed to stay on the low fat diet all the time or they got another acute attack. Do you have any ideas what kind of liquid diets to use, Maybe someone else has some ideas - I hate to see you have to go through these acute attacks and my friend said she would do anything not to have that kind of pain again. I do know that at the Symposium we also talked about keeping a journal to try to figure out what triggers an attack. Gail, Tell your friend that the liquid diet after an acute attack usually consists of things like water, clear fat free broths, miso soup, papaya juice, non-acidic juices, ginger ale and water, water, water! It is VERY important to keep the pancreas well hydrated. This is recommended for a least 5 days. Once the pain subsides, small, frequent meals (4 or 5 a day) are suggested, with only tiny portions of simple, bland foods such as oatmeal, jello, applesauce, no-fat pudding, baby food fruits and desserts (Kimber's favorite and an excellent idea...it works). Dry toast, low-fat crackers, bananas. During the second week introduce foods slowly and pay special attention to fat content. It may be that the doctors feel your friend is going to have only one acute attack and recover fully. Some doctors feel that in that case, the diet could be increased. I do not agree with this theory, as I think the increased fat intake can well trigger another acute attack, as it did with me before I was diagnosed. It is definite that those that develop chronic pancreatitis are required to stay low fat the rest of their lives. The journal sounds like an excellent idea. Maybe some of us would see a pattern after a while and know what foods seem to trigger an attack. I sure wish I knew right now..........I started a bad, bad session in the middle of the night last night , was up all night with the pain, and it's all I can do to sit in front of the computer right now! I'm going back to bed. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina Southeastern Representative Pancreatitis Association, Intl. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2002 Report Share Posted October 17, 2002 In a message dated 10/17/2002 5:58:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time, swetet@... writes: > Just one person's opinion here, but it is a strong one probably > because I have so much guilt and regret. Talk to ya soon, > , Thank you for your input. Please do not feel guilty. There is no documentation that will tell you this. I am hoping others will share and we will get a consesus that it is necessary to stay on a lowfat diet, even after one attack. In reading through all the information I have gathered from the PAI website and that and ReeAnn sent me, I keep seeing people mentioning the lowfat diet. After posting yesterday, I called another friend that had a pancreatitis attack two years ago and asked if she was still on the lowfat diet. Shortly after her attack her husband had heart troubles so the whole family is on a lowfat diet and in her words, " Gail, I tell you that is what everyone needs to do. Get your act together girl and start eating right. You got to do this for yourself and your family. " I wish I could take Jackie's pain away, but you must take comfort in knowing that your willingness to share will hopefully keep someone else for going down the wrong road. I am sitting here drinking my fruit juice (instead of coffee) and not eating the donuts... I hope Jackie is having a good day and thank you again, Gail West, Indiana State Representative Pancreatitis Association International www.pancassociation.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2002 Report Share Posted October 17, 2002 Hey Gail, When Jackie had her first attack, the docs said that it was probably caused by a viral infection, they still have not found what causes her pancreatitis. Anyway, they told me it was probably a one time thing. About 6 months later I started letting her have higher fat foods. She was almost 11 and it was just hard to say no all the time. Of course noone told me to keep her on a low fat diet forever. Well, a few months later she was in the hospital with a very bad attack and they told us then it was chronic. The attacks grew closer together until about 9 months later she was in constant pain, and still is which has been about a year and a half now. So if I knew what I know now, and how much pain she has suffered, I would have just stuck to a low fat diet. It is a hard thing to know until you see a loved one screaming in pain, sometimes wanting to die, if I could have forseen this, I would have defintely protected her. If I could tell people one thing after there first attack it would be just stay on a low fat diet. It is so worth it. If they could see other people writhing in pain, they would just do it, I know they would. Just one person's opinion here, but it is a strong one probably because I have so much guilt and regret. Talk to ya soon, I just knew there had to be some ideas > for a gradual return to " eating " . I would like other peoples input on the > idea of only watching your diet for a few weeks. > Thank you again. I hope this finds you feeling better, > Gail West, Indiana State Representative > Pancreatitis Association International > www.pancassociation.org > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2002 Report Share Posted October 17, 2002 Hey Gail, When Jackie had her first attack, the docs said that it was probably caused by a viral infection, they still have not found what causes her pancreatitis. Anyway, they told me it was probably a one time thing. About 6 months later I started letting her have higher fat foods. She was almost 11 and it was just hard to say no all the time. Of course noone told me to keep her on a low fat diet forever. Well, a few months later she was in the hospital with a very bad attack and they told us then it was chronic. The attacks grew closer together until about 9 months later she was in constant pain, and still is which has been about a year and a half now. So if I knew what I know now, and how much pain she has suffered, I would have just stuck to a low fat diet. It is a hard thing to know until you see a loved one screaming in pain, sometimes wanting to die, if I could have forseen this, I would have defintely protected her. If I could tell people one thing after there first attack it would be just stay on a low fat diet. It is so worth it. If they could see other people writhing in pain, they would just do it, I know they would. Just one person's opinion here, but it is a strong one probably because I have so much guilt and regret. Talk to ya soon, I just knew there had to be some ideas > for a gradual return to " eating " . I would like other peoples input on the > idea of only watching your diet for a few weeks. > Thank you again. I hope this finds you feeling better, > Gail West, Indiana State Representative > Pancreatitis Association International > www.pancassociation.org > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 17, 2002 Report Share Posted October 17, 2002 Hey Gail, When Jackie had her first attack, the docs said that it was probably caused by a viral infection, they still have not found what causes her pancreatitis. Anyway, they told me it was probably a one time thing. About 6 months later I started letting her have higher fat foods. She was almost 11 and it was just hard to say no all the time. Of course noone told me to keep her on a low fat diet forever. Well, a few months later she was in the hospital with a very bad attack and they told us then it was chronic. The attacks grew closer together until about 9 months later she was in constant pain, and still is which has been about a year and a half now. So if I knew what I know now, and how much pain she has suffered, I would have just stuck to a low fat diet. It is a hard thing to know until you see a loved one screaming in pain, sometimes wanting to die, if I could have forseen this, I would have defintely protected her. If I could tell people one thing after there first attack it would be just stay on a low fat diet. It is so worth it. If they could see other people writhing in pain, they would just do it, I know they would. Just one person's opinion here, but it is a strong one probably because I have so much guilt and regret. Talk to ya soon, I just knew there had to be some ideas > for a gradual return to " eating " . I would like other peoples input on the > idea of only watching your diet for a few weeks. > Thank you again. I hope this finds you feeling better, > Gail West, Indiana State Representative > Pancreatitis Association International > www.pancassociation.org > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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