Balancing Pancreatitis and a job?

August 9, 2003

,

You asked, " How does someone balance Pancreatitis and a job to support their

family? "

I don't know the answer to that. I couldn't do it. Shortly after I was

diagnosed, I became unable to work, unable to fully care for my children, and

life

as I knew it quickly changed. We should all plan for the possibility of severe

disability. But none of us think it will happen to us.

The one factor that I think can make a difference is early diagnosis and

intervention. There may be more of us that have hereditary Pancreatitis than we

think, and therefore anyone with children should always be watching for signs of

pancreatic problems in them. I am a personal supporter of an early TP/ICT.

When done early in the disease process, they are extremely successful. It is

when we hum drum around because we aren't sure yet, that it can, in a split

second, become too late.

On the other hand, not everybody progresses at the same rate. There are

plenty of people who live very productive, fully employed, actively married and

parenting lives for many, many years.

At the risk of being in denial, we should all keep hope that we can continue

on as long as possible, and stay positive for a cure. If I did not have Dia

betes, I feel that I would be a lot more productive. My pain can be managed.

Trying to function when my blood sugars are bouncing from 40 to 400 is

difficult.

Karyn E. , RN,

Exec. Director, PAI

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