Just wanted to say Hi

[Guest guest]

Hello all!

I am new to the PAI information group. I had pancreatitis issues

many times throughout this past Summer and ended up having my

gallbladder removed since it was believed that it was the most likely

culprit. I still live with nausea, almost everyday and have to watch

what I eat.

I'd like to hear from others in particular that are in a similar boat.

I don't know if this is the right place to ask questions such as

this, but there are some things that I haven't thought to ask my

physician and haven't found an answer on the web as of yet.

- Does the pancreas heal itself completely, are there any lasting

effects?

- Can someone from my situation get pancreatitis again after having

the gb removed?

- Any suggestions to overcoming nausea?

Thanks in advance for any help or insight you can provide!

Wishing you all pain-free days,

Jerrel (klingonfan@...)

[Guest guest]

Hi Jerrol,

I do like the Klingons: especially their motto: " Revenge is a dish

best served cold " . Worf is the what is the best about klingons.

As far as your questions:

Nausea for me is best controlled by Zofran, Zofran, Zofran too.

Also, chewing gum can help. I also support the other

suggestions that have been made: peppermint, ginger ale,

ginger capsules and other natural herbs (licorice herb has been

recommended but that can be rough on the liver so you have to

be careful).

As far as recovering - it depends on whether you have entered

the chronic stage or have remained in the recurring acute stage

from the GB problems. Theoretically, if the stones and diseased

gallbladder were the cause of your pancreatitis, now that it is

gone, your pancreas could be able to heal itself, as long as you

watch your meals and alcohol intake. It is thought that since the

cause of the ongoing irritation to the pancreas is gone, then the

damage should stop. However....there is a chance, that since the

problem has been going on so long for you that the pancreas

has been injured beyond complete repair. Many people can have

one or two acute attacks and recover quickly and completely to

never have problems again. Some people don't. No-one knows

why this is so - lots of hypotheses abound and I won't go into that

because....well I have been accused (LOL) of getting too deep.

Suffice it to say, there is no way to predict if you will heal

completely or go on to being chronic. Be optimistic, but also be

aware of the chronic likelihood. It seems that since you have the

classic symptoms of chronic pancreatitis, you may be in the early

stages of the disease. And once it becomes chronic, there is no

turning back. So the best thing that you can hope for now is to

slow down the progress so much that the problems associated

with it stay minor. The trouble is, no one knows for sure how to

do that. The only thing that is known is that alcohol is the worse

thing at this point. Some say carbs or protein or fat are all bad

too but that is going to be a trial and error thing for you. Staying

well hydrated promotes good pancreas health as well as staying

away from systemic medicines that you don't absolutely have to

have (according to my PCP: if you need something, try to find it

as a localized prep. For example for my allergies, she does not

advise a pill like allegra or the zyrtec, because it goes into the

blood stream but says that the nasal sprays that stay in the nose

is fine; she said that this is important - to be very careful about

which meds you put into the body).

And yes, a person can have acute pancreatitis again after having

the gallbladder removed, as well as developing chronic

pancreatitis. It is important for you to become familiar with the

differences as they are thought to be two comletely different

entitiies and one doesn't necessarily lead to the other. That is,

acute doesn't necessarily lead to chronic.....and once a person

goes chronic, they may not ever have an attack of acute

pancreatitis again, although they can have an acute flare of

chronic pancreatitis.....if that makes sense! Very complicated but

the more you read and talk to others the more you will get a

handle on things.

Oh, the reason a person CAN have acute pancreatitis again after

GB removal (although it doesn't mean they will) is that scarring

from the surgery, or residual stones, or formation of new stones

or scarring from the inflammation that you got when you did have

a gallbladder, or if you have a congenital problem with the

pancreas that isn't found until the gallbladder was

removed....well, all of these can cause another attack of acute

pancreatitis (as well as if you drink alcohol now - because of

your history with AP, not because your GB is gone).

Hope this helps some and isn't information overload!

Laurie

" Live long and prosper " - oh that's right, Vulcan, not Klingon.......

[Guest guest]

Jerrel, I have cystic fibrosis and CP. I got a double whammy. Anyway,

most of my problems started after they took my GB out. They say it was

just coincidental but I'm not sure. I live with the nausea everyday

also. Some days better than others. The bloating and malabsorption are

the worse for me. I don't take anything for pain due to my other bowel

problems with the CF. I wish you the best. Write back. Deb