Hi from Toronto, Canada

[Guest guest]

Hi All,

It has been some time since I posted.....I notice that there are a

couple of people presently posting from the Toronto area and wonder

if any of them would be good enough to recommend a specialiest

GI/pancreas specialist in our area.

Just a quick introduction my name is (diff. person from one

presently posting from Toronto. I was involved in a car accident in

1984 (aged 17) and due to trauma to the stomach caused by the

steering wheel I developed pseudo cysts. After a couple of surgeries

the cysts were successfully drained. I was warned never to consume

alochol. Ten years later and in my late twenties and being that I

had not had any problems with the panc. I stupidly figured that it

would be ok to have the occasional drink. So the odd time mainly in

the summer I would have a few beers or glasses of wine. Well....in

1994 I had what felt like a heart attack...following that left

shoulder pain, abdominal pain, left upper quadrant pain....after many

tests was told nothing was wrong with me and the pain, etc... was in

my head. Again I would have the odd beer..etc...Again a few years

later the same thing happened....again test fine nothing supposedly

wrong. In the last 10 years I have had many tests...(ultrasounds

blood work, xrays) and am always told everything is fine. For the

last year I have had constant pain/discomfort on the left side under

the ribs and into the shoulder, epigastric pain, upper back pain

burning between the shoulder blades, stools that float....I am not

able to eat meat and many, many other foods......I know that I have a

problem with the panc. willing to bet that it is CP, but my present

doctor keeps telling me I would be alot sicker and that the pain and

nausea I experience, she has no explination for. I also am

experiencing dryness/pastiness of the mouth. I am very worried about

continuing on this way....as I may be damaging the panc. without

knowing it. I am very physically active and currently on a very low

fat diet. I have a young child at home and am scared that with this

disease I will not be able to be a proper mother to him. Are most

people suffering from this disease able to continue working and

leading a fairly normal life..socially and physically?? Are there

pain free days?? How long can you live with the disease???? Any

help would be appreciated. Look forward to hearing from you and

enjoy this board very much.....Best regards

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Although I cannot recommend a good specialist in your area, I

do want to urge you to find one without delay. Perhaps our other

knows of someone. After reading your story, I think it's

imperative that you find a gastroenterology professional that will

listen to you and take your concerns seriously. I don't think your

present doctor is.

Your upper back, shoulder and epigastric pain sound all too

familiar. This is how my chronic pancreatitis began and I was

too ignorant of all the early warning signs to realize what was

happening. I thought the back and shoulder pain was due to too

many long hours at the drafting board. When I had a stomach

ache, or nausea or vomiting, it was attributed to the flu or a

sensitive stomach. These things didn't suddenly happen

overnight, they snuck up on me slowly, in a well spaced out

frame of time lasting over a year before the acute attack with

pseudocysts took me to the hospital. You are not imagining this

and it's " not in your head " . The fact that x-rays and ultrasounds

haven't shown anything is not surpriising, these procedures are

not very definitive and aren't really the best diagnostic

procedures to have done to determine pancreas damage.

And I have learned the hard way, also by experience, that even a

better procedure like a CT-scan, is only as good as the

technician and radiologist that prepare and analyze it. I have

learned that you have to be very proactive to receive even

adequate care with this disease.

Try not to worry about a firm diagnosis interfering with your future

life. I know many people with CP that have had it for much of

their life, many years, and they are still very productive and active.

Much of your future success at managing the disease depends

upon the causes that brought it on in the first place and the care

and treatment you get from here on in.

I'm glad you spoke up and asked us for help, and I truly hope we

can help you in some way. Please keep posting and let us know

of your questions and problems.

If no one knows of a good gastro for your area, I would suggest

that you call one of the local hospitals and ask for a referral. I

know here in the states, each state has a referral service set up

through the state medical board. I'm sure there's some kind of

similar service available for you Canadians, you just have to

keep searching.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep

PAI, Intl.

http://www.pancassociation.org/ourstories/#Heidi

Note: All comments or advice is personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.