We almost lost him this time.

March 30, 2005

This is Mike's wife Becky, we haven't written anything for awhile

now. Mike has been battling with Chronic Pancreatitis for years

now. He has had a few surgeries and ERCP's etc. He had a distal

pancreatectomy with 70% removal in Sept. 2003. Since then, he has

suffered with nausea (which he never had before) and pain. He also

came out of surgery insulin dependent.

He had an acute attack of pancreatitis and had diabetic ketoacidosis

at the same time. One kidney failed and the other almost shut

down. His liver was failing also. We came very close to losing

him. The veins from him pancreas to his liver and to his bowels are

thrombosed. He was in ICU for 2 weeks.

We waited 3 weeks after his return home to have CT Scans and MRCP's

done to let the pancreas settle. We have been watching a mass on

the head of his pancreas now for months. I'm sure you all know the

feeling of waiting to see the doctor to " find out " something. Well,

we spoke with him and when we left we looked at each other and said

well, did you find out anything you didn't know? We laughed, we

were just told that it would be of no use right now to do anything.

We understand how this disease works, but his family doesn't. They

almost get mad when we tell them that the Doctor said that he is as

good as he will get, other than gaining some strength back. (he

suffers daily from nausea and dull pain) The doctor said it will

get worse and at some point we would decide on total removal etc.

His family wants a time frame, like how long he has left. No matter

how many times we tell them that every case is different, they still

ask and wonder why I don't pressure the doctor into telling us.

What do I tell them? I don't know how to let them know that yes it

is a progressive and serious illness. But that there is no way to

determine what exactly will happen next.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Becky

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