Re: annual Pancreatitis convention

[Guest guest]

Kris wrote:

> Yes, I will try to make it to the Panc Symposium in Indy this year.

I wasn't aware that just regular people could attend. I thought

that it was just for dr's and nurses, etc. (snip) Is there a certain

hotel that you stay at in Indy?? Could you let me know? Indy is

about a 5 hour drive for me. (snip) I will be making the drive next

month to see Dr. Lehman again. (snip) I am still having the " sharp "

pain on my side , daily. But the SOD attacks have returned too.

Kris,

The Pancreatitis Association, Internation Symposium is for US, the

members of this association. It's a annual " convention " that Karyn

, the founder of this association, single handedly puts

together every year for OUR benefit. I truly don't know how she does

it, and I know she gets a lot of help from Tull, our administrator,

and there was a lot of background participation and help from Gail

West, but it's still an awesome amount of coordination and planning to

get all the guest speakers lined up and reserve all the lecture rooms,

print out programs, etc. etc.

Each year it gets a little larger and there are always excellent

programs that help broaden our knowledge and understanding of chronic

pancreatitis and all facets of our health concerns. Last year there

were members there from as far away as northern California, (Kimber,

she's been there each year), and Massachussetts, (Peg, who's son,

Brandan had the TP-ICT last year), so it's not like it's just a

regional event, it's for anyone in the association that can attend.

Maybe this year we'll even get Fliss to cross the Atlantic and show up!!!

She also makes arrangements with three or four different hotels to

give us discounted rates. Last year I shared a room with my friend,

Lily, a.k.a., Nurse Rachett, Big Sister, Wild Witch on a Broom, (who

occasionally drops into the MB whenever she can steal a moment out of

her very busy schedule), and , another of our members who just

occasionally visits the MB. I've known Lily for a few years now, we

met through the message board and then she came to Hilton Head Island

on vacation and I finally met her in person. So we saved some of the

cost by sharing a room one night, since the symposium does have a

three day program. The only way I could be there for all the

different lectures meant that I needed a room for three days, Lily and

drove in from Ohio, and spent one night, so that helped reduce

my housing expense a little bit.

I'm sure that Karyn will be getting all the information to us as soon

as she's able to put the whole thing together. A five hour drive

really isn't too much, if it were only that distance for me I'd hop in

the car and go, but since I can fly standby for free, I fly whenever I

can.

Do plan to go, if you can. It's a great way to meet other members and

it's also an excellent opportunity to learn some very important

information from the pro's, about our disease.

I hope that when you see Dr. Lehman he'll get to the bottom of that

pain in your right side. It could just be that the CP is getting more

active as it progresses, I just don't know, but I'm sure he'll get to

the bottom of it. Keep us up to date, okay?

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

Bluffton, SC

South Carolina State Rep.

South Eastern Regional Rep., PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Note: All comments or advice are from personal experiences or opinion

only, and should not be a substitute for consultation with a medical

professional.