Guest guest Posted September 23, 2003 Report Share Posted September 23, 2003 Hello. My name is Carol and I am the wife of Bruce who is a member of this group. His doctor told him today that when the pancreas begins to burnout, the pain will go away. Has anyone experienced this happening to them? He was diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis 5 years ago following gallbladder removal. What exactly is " burnout " and how does one know when this is happening? Any information will be appreciated. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2003 Report Share Posted September 23, 2003 Hello. My name is Carol and I am the wife of Bruce who is a member of this group. His doctor told him today that when the pancreas begins to burnout, the pain will go away. Has anyone experienced this happening to them? He was diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis 5 years ago following gallbladder removal. What exactly is " burnout " and how does one know when this is happening? Any information will be appreciated. Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2003 Report Share Posted September 23, 2003 Dear Carol, Regarding pancreas burnout and the belief that the pain will go away, there is some truth to this statement. I don't know whether it is the same for all people, I can only relate to my own experience. After my attack at the beginning of the year and my lapse into diabetic ketoacidosis, I lost all pancreas function. I was diagnosed at the hospital with " pancreas burnout " , DKA and IDDM. Burnout means that the pancreas is no longer able to produce any amylase, lipase or protease enzymes. The endocrine functions are also destroyed by the loss of the beta cells and insulin production decreases significantly, or ceases all together, as it has with me. The patient becomes an insulin dependent brittle diabetic. Unfortunately, the severity of the attack and untreated diabetic condition caused my two pancreatic pseudocysts, which had nearly resolved, to fill back up again with debris caused by the inflamation. While I no longer have chronic pancreas pain like I did before, I do experience pain immediately in the areas where the pseudocysts are located. This pain is of no where near the intensity, nor does it last for the duration, that my chronic pancreatitis pain used to. I still wear a duragesic patch and occasionally take Percocet for breakthrough pain, but sparingly. If I forget to put on a new patch, I will experience enough pain to remind me that I've forgotten it, but sometimes a day or two will go by before this is noticed. My doctor is convinced that once these pseudocysts resolve, my pain will be minimal, and naturally that is what I'm hoping for!!! All tests of my amylase and lipase levels since I left the hospital are below normal. They were just tested again last week and I will know the results when I see my GI on Monday, but he doesn't expect any change. But we all know that this is often the case with many people with advanced CP. Naturally, because I've lost all pancreas function, it's more important now than ever before that I take pancreas enzyme supplements. Malabsorption is a big problem and most likely always will be. This is one of the side effects of the burnout, but can also happen to CP patients who are in the advanced stages of the disease. Many people never reach this stage during their lifetime. For others, it can take many, many years. Then there are some unusual cases like mine where enough traumatic damage has occured that the burnout comes very suddenly. I was only diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis less than 2 years before mine burned out. I hope this answers some of your questions. Post again if you have any more. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina SC & SE Regional Rep. PAI, Intl. Note: All comments and advice are personal opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. " What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. " - Ralph Waldo Emerson Carol wrote: I am the wife of Bruce who is a member of this group. His doctor told him today that when the pancreas begins to burnout, the pain will go away. Has anyone experienced this happening to them? What exactly is " burnout " and how does one know when this is happening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 23, 2003 Report Share Posted September 23, 2003 Dear Carol, Regarding pancreas burnout and the belief that the pain will go away, there is some truth to this statement. I don't know whether it is the same for all people, I can only relate to my own experience. After my attack at the beginning of the year and my lapse into diabetic ketoacidosis, I lost all pancreas function. I was diagnosed at the hospital with " pancreas burnout " , DKA and IDDM. Burnout means that the pancreas is no longer able to produce any amylase, lipase or protease enzymes. The endocrine functions are also destroyed by the loss of the beta cells and insulin production decreases significantly, or ceases all together, as it has with me. The patient becomes an insulin dependent brittle diabetic. Unfortunately, the severity of the attack and untreated diabetic condition caused my two pancreatic pseudocysts, which had nearly resolved, to fill back up again with debris caused by the inflamation. While I no longer have chronic pancreas pain like I did before, I do experience pain immediately in the areas where the pseudocysts are located. This pain is of no where near the intensity, nor does it last for the duration, that my chronic pancreatitis pain used to. I still wear a duragesic patch and occasionally take Percocet for breakthrough pain, but sparingly. If I forget to put on a new patch, I will experience enough pain to remind me that I've forgotten it, but sometimes a day or two will go by before this is noticed. My doctor is convinced that once these pseudocysts resolve, my pain will be minimal, and naturally that is what I'm hoping for!!! All tests of my amylase and lipase levels since I left the hospital are below normal. They were just tested again last week and I will know the results when I see my GI on Monday, but he doesn't expect any change. But we all know that this is often the case with many people with advanced CP. Naturally, because I've lost all pancreas function, it's more important now than ever before that I take pancreas enzyme supplements. Malabsorption is a big problem and most likely always will be. This is one of the side effects of the burnout, but can also happen to CP patients who are in the advanced stages of the disease. Many people never reach this stage during their lifetime. For others, it can take many, many years. Then there are some unusual cases like mine where enough traumatic damage has occured that the burnout comes very suddenly. I was only diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis less than 2 years before mine burned out. I hope this answers some of your questions. Post again if you have any more. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina SC & SE Regional Rep. PAI, Intl. Note: All comments and advice are personal opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. " What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. " - Ralph Waldo Emerson Carol wrote: I am the wife of Bruce who is a member of this group. His doctor told him today that when the pancreas begins to burnout, the pain will go away. Has anyone experienced this happening to them? What exactly is " burnout " and how does one know when this is happening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2003 Report Share Posted September 24, 2003 Carol, I'm not a doctor, but I have, according to my doctor, reached the burnout stage and I am still having pain. Of course, my doctor's definition of burnout may be different from his doctor. My doctor told me that burnout is when the pancreas is so damaged that it cannot produce the pancreatic enzymes (lipase, amylase and protease) in any large amount. This is why people with chronic pancreatitis have normal or below normal enzymes even when they are having an acute attack of pancreatitis.She said it has nothing to do with a person's pain levels from pancreatitis. I personally have not met anyone who has had the burn out where the pain just goes away. Nor has my doctor. You may get similar reports from a majority of people on this board. So, unfortunately, I can't tell you how to know this type of burnout is occuring. As for my type of burnout, if you have what you think is an acute account and your amylase and lipase levels come back normal or below normal, it's a good indicator that you've reached the burnout stage that I am in. I have heard a number of doctors talk about this type of burnout in papers I've read, but no one seems able to document it actually happening from what I have found on the internet. From what I've seen, all the doctors who talk about it, get the information from other papers, and not their direct patients. Personally, I think it's a lovely theory, but I think that's all it is. Again of course, I'm not a doctor and this is my personal opinion, and the doctors probably have access to reports I don't. Your best bet would be to get a second opinion from another pancreatic specialist. I wish I had better news and could support your doctor's information. Kimber -- Kimber Vallejo, CA hominid2@... Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed physician or health care professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted September 24, 2003 Report Share Posted September 24, 2003 Carol, I'm not a doctor, but I have, according to my doctor, reached the burnout stage and I am still having pain. Of course, my doctor's definition of burnout may be different from his doctor. My doctor told me that burnout is when the pancreas is so damaged that it cannot produce the pancreatic enzymes (lipase, amylase and protease) in any large amount. This is why people with chronic pancreatitis have normal or below normal enzymes even when they are having an acute attack of pancreatitis.She said it has nothing to do with a person's pain levels from pancreatitis. I personally have not met anyone who has had the burn out where the pain just goes away. Nor has my doctor. You may get similar reports from a majority of people on this board. So, unfortunately, I can't tell you how to know this type of burnout is occuring. As for my type of burnout, if you have what you think is an acute account and your amylase and lipase levels come back normal or below normal, it's a good indicator that you've reached the burnout stage that I am in. I have heard a number of doctors talk about this type of burnout in papers I've read, but no one seems able to document it actually happening from what I have found on the internet. From what I've seen, all the doctors who talk about it, get the information from other papers, and not their direct patients. Personally, I think it's a lovely theory, but I think that's all it is. Again of course, I'm not a doctor and this is my personal opinion, and the doctors probably have access to reports I don't. Your best bet would be to get a second opinion from another pancreatic specialist. I wish I had better news and could support your doctor's information. Kimber -- Kimber Vallejo, CA hominid2@... Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed physician or health care professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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