Re: Re:Cecilia update

[Guest guest]

Cecelia,

I'm so glad to hear that you are able to have the soup and

juice. You might want to stay on that a little long, just to

make sure you are taking it slowly enough that you don't

rouse that panc. again.

After my last case, I stayed on soup, though I advanced the

type of soup from miso to chicken noodle, split pea and

hearty vegetable, in that two weeks. Then and only then did

I start on more solid food. Maybe foolish, but I had very

little pain for the next two months and I think it was

mainly due to staying on soup longer than I had in the past

after being released from the hospital.

I ran out of vacation and sick days last year and all my

lovely coworkers donated me a day each so that I would have

something when I got out of the hospital. They are such

wonderful people and I doubt I could find another place I'd

like to work.

I'd go and at least hear what Dr. Lehman has to say. I'm

basically at that point and I've refused to have surgery at

this time, so they are trying to maintain my quality of life

with pain med/nausea meds and hospital visits when I have

severe attack. Of course, I've been lucky enough to only

have one attack a year at this point. You do have the right

to refuse surgery at this time and then later change your

mind if things don't improve. If he does suggest surgery,

have him give you all your options (including an

pancreatectomy/allotransplant of islets - if you need to

contact Dr. Sutherland for that info) and then have him

explain why he recommends the surgeries he suggests. You are

also entitled to a second opinion from another doctor as

well.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Southwest and California Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International