Good Doctor's Appointment

[Guest guest]

Hi, All!

Barry (my husband with necrotizing pancreatitis because of an ERCP in

April) received some good news from the doctor yesterday. Just

wanted to pass along some good stuff. (We have heard too much bad

stuff the past couple of months and the possibility of ending up a

widow was scary.)

Barry was having pains in the lower abdominal area for two days ---

so, since we're new at this thing --- we decided we should consult

the doctor. The doctor didn't seem concerned (maybe a touch of the

flu), but told us Barry's blood work looked good.

The doctor told Barry to BE A NORMAL PERSON! Even though he's got

those two pseudocysts --- and may have them for years (the doctor

sees surgery as the very very last resort-thank goodness) --- he got

the ok to ride horses again! We'll be on the trails this weekend.

The doctor told him he can lift (no restrictions) and eat more of a

variety of foods. Experiment more. I was putting Barry in a bubble

and he was eating only 3 grams of fat per meal ... no lifting fearing

the rupture of the cysts ... except for the sport of boxing, the

doctor said Barry - although having only the head of the pancreas

functioning - should come out of that bubble and be normal!

He's on yet another capsule (for his ulcerative colitis) ... although

since having pancreatitis, his colitis (knock on wood) hasn't acted

up at all. Also, since eating such low fat foods recently and being

on TPN for two months, those elevated liver enzymes in the blood work

(that resulted in the ERCP which resulted in the pancreatitis which

resulted in the pancreas tissue dying) are disappearing - more good

news.

In a weird way, maybe the pancreatitis is saving the liver (primary

sclerosing cholangitis is what the doctors were checking for). These

are the thoughts of a lay person --- but, heck, if it works, I like

it!!!

Barry's been singing " on the trail again " ....

Peace to everyone!

Beth