Re: busy reading posts to Tum

[Guest guest]

Tum,

I've been gone for the past five days to a reunion with all of my

northern NY cousins, and without a computer the entire time, so I

missed your return to the MB. I do remember you, and am sorry that

you've surfaced again with so many problems.

Unfortunately, the progressive nature of this disease is something

that we are all faced with. It moves faster for some than others, but

there's progression all the same. It seems that right now you're at a

point where your pain and despair is at it's worst, and it's times

like that that we need the most support and encouragement to get

through. I'm glad that you sought us out again, but sorry for the

circumstances behind your return.

Don't let your fear of the future stand in the way of doing whatever

you need to get the right medical care and help for your present

issues. When you find out what the tests showed, ask what you need to

do to next. You asked if a highly emotional situation could bring on

an attack, and I would have to reply that " yes " , it can. It's the

stress of the situation that could cause an episode, something we've

all experienced at one time or another, and don't let a doctor tell

you it couldn't happen, because it does!

We don't really understand why stress, good or bad, affects us so much

that it causes an attack or a bad flare, but many of us have had it

happen. Two years ago my husband and I planned a trip to Belize for

my birthday. It was my first time going to Central America and I was

frantically excited about it. I was so thrilled, it was going to be

romantic and fun to visit somewhere where that we'd talked and dreamed

about going for several years. As the time of the trip came closer

and closer, my excitement level, (good stress), increased. Then, as

we were flying down over the ocean my belly started it's usual

pancreatic turmoil. I was only able to eat half of the salad we had

for our lunch on the plane. During the 3 hour trip in a rental car to

the resort, the pains increased, and by the time we were settled into

our room at the resort, I went into a full blown pancreatitis attack.

There's only one hospital in Belize, and no specialized doctor on

staff, of course! My husband called my GI back in the states,

described my symptoms, and he instructed my husband to get me back to

the US for medical care immediately. We ended up having to get the

first flight leaving the country the following day, the crew was aware

of my condition and put us in 1st class with constant attention for

the entire trip - but I was in extreme pain and miserable just the

same. My meds couldn't even touch the pain. I ended up spending my

birthday on NPO, not even ice, in the hospital on a pain pump with

dilaudid running through my veins. That incident was proof to me that

emotional stress, even the good stress, can aggravate me enough to

bring on a full blown acute attack.

So that may be what happened with you, or the tests may show that it's

something else. Knowing what's going on is much better than sitting

in a corner alone, though, don't you think? I find that I can deal

with things much better if I know what's going on, than when I'm in

the dark. Sometimes the knowledge is something that we don't like, or

that frightens us, but if we know, we can face it straight on, and

deal with it.

Please try not to worry, Tum. Things WILL get better! BTW, I went

back to Belize 6 months later and had a wonderful time, with no panc.

pain whatsoever! After you've talked with your doctor, please let us

know what he's said. There may be something more that we can help you

with.

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.