Re: To Becky re: Mike's future

[Guest guest]

Dear Becky,

I wanted to tell you how sorry I was to hear about Mike's DKA and

acute attack. I had both an acute attack and DKA three years ago, and

although my condition was not as severe as Mike's, (no organ failure),

it could easily have been the same. I understand how this ordeal can

be a harrowing and frightening episode for both of you. I already had

two pseudocysts at the time of the AC and DKA, so wasn't that

surprised to find out afterward that this trauma had caused them to

increase considerably. But I wasn't diabetic prior to this

hospitalization, so that part of it was a great surprise.

In regard to your husband's family, you have my sympathy. It must be

so difficult to deal with their ignorance and apparent lack of

understanding of the disease. Are they computer literate? If so, you

might try to find a gentle way to urge them to do some research on

their own about chronic pancreatitis, so that they would have a better

understanding of the condition. If they aren't, you might print out

several good medical articles about chronic pancreatitis and give them

to his family, suggesting that they read them so they can learn more

about the disease. I have several good, but relatively " generic "

articles that aren't too full of technical information that I'd be

happy to send you for you to print out for this purpose, if you would

like them. As far as how you can answer their questions about Mike's

mortality, I don't know how else you can answer them except to say

exactly what you said in your post, " yes, it

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

determine what exactly will happen next. "

And explain to them, again, that each case is different; for example,

just as one person's arthritis is different from another persons.

Tell them that there's no purpose in demanding deadlines or dates from

his doctor, because his doctor doesn't know the answer to this

question, either. No one does.

Please let me know if there's anything else I could do to help.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

Southeastern Reg. Rep., PAI

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.