Friends, Zoloft, Causes

[Guest guest]

Hi! I'm new to the PAI site. I am spending the day searching for

answers to my condition.

My grandmother died from pancreatitis because the emergency room

thought she was having appendicitis. Anyway, I now suffer from it,

and am trying to manage my own health. I have no health insurance.

I have found that sugar and caffine have caused me have episodes of

pain and attacks. Therefore, I am trying to stay away from carbs,

coffee and sodas.

My mother doesn't believe me, and she didn't believe her mother had

problems either. I guess if you aren't bleeding, or have a broken

bone, it is hard for others to " know " you are really hurting.

However, I cannot help but question whether my Zoloft has caused a

lot of my episodes. I have asked myself this many times. I wonder

if years from now, they will figure out that Zoloft help cause

pancreatitis. Has anyone else wondered this?

Also, how do you get your family and friends to empathize with you

about your pain? My fiance came over this past weekend, and I was in

bed for two days with an unpredictable attack, bloating, severe pain,

and exhaustion. He was not very patient and did not understand how I

could get sick so suddenly. He did get on the net to look up my

disease, however, it did not give him the empathy I would have

liked. His impatience with my being bed ridden, when he wanted to go

out and enjoy the Spring and nice weather, turned to hateful

outbursts at me at times.

I hate being sick! Being bed ridden with pain SUCKS! How do you get

those around you to understand that you prefer to be living life,

instead of lying on your side with a heating pad?

Terry

[Guest guest]

Terry,

There have been isolated reports of a connection between Zoloft and

pancreatitis - that should be enough encouragement to discontinue

it's use.

You will need to substitute with another antidepressant, there are

several out there that are just as effective. Personally,

I'm on Lexapro, (20 mgs.), and it's worked very well for me. I know

others who use Welbutin and some of the other brands.

If you have a doctor that prescribes Zoloft for you, would it be that

difficult to go to another doctor that specializes in digestive

disorders,

i.e., a gastroenterologist, instead? The gastroenterologist that I

see

now treats me for everything, acting as my primary

doctor. Perhaps you could get an arrangement like that so you

wouldn't have the expense of seeing multiple doctors. I know it must

be difficult if you aren't insured, but your health

is the most important part of your life when you have a chronic

disease that requires medical maintenence.

You won't like what I have to say about your fiance, but it's the way

I personally feel - and that is that you should get rid of him if he

can't show any understanding or compassion for how you feel.

You don't need that kind of negativity in your life, and if he isn't

willing

to understand your disease and the limitations that it brings, he

doesn't need to be a part of your life. The progressive nature

of pancreatitis means that you're going to be dealing

with this condition for the rest of your life, unless you were to get

the Total Pancretectomy with Auto Islet Transplant. Considering

your financial and insurance situation, that doesn't seem to be

part of your future plans, so you will be dealing with CP and it's

problems in the future and you don't need someone like this man

making you feel guilty for the rest of your life. If he's this way

now,

he would only get worse afer you were married, and then you

would be very unhappily stuck with a husband who had no time to

deal with you. I'm sorry that I had to say this, but that's what I

think would happen. If he truly loves you, he would need to

accept your health problems, learn what causes them

and how they affect you, and be willing to do whatever he could to

make your life more fulfilled in spite of the CP.

If your grandmother had pancreatitis, there's a great possibility

that yours is of a genetic nature. If you were able to see a

gastroenterologist, he or she would be able to test for that.

It wouldn't change the treatment that you need, no matter what

the cause, we are all pretty much under the same type of

treatment......

a low fat diet, low protein, high carb diet, no alcohol consumption,

pancreatic enzyme supplements with all meals, moderate

physical activity and necessary medication to treat both our pain and

the nausea/vomiting that many patients suffer with.

If you aren't on pancreatic enzyme supplements and medication for

your pain and/or nausea, you're probably having a really

hard time of it. I can't think of a way you can self

treat yourself for the pain, but you can get really excellent enzyme

supplements over the counter now. Most health food stores carry

the Solgar brand of pancreatic enzyme

supplements which many of our members use now, instead of

getting a prescription through a doctor for the ones that are

only available by prescription. You might look for these in your

local health food store. I understand that the cost ofthem,

compared to the script brands, is very reasonable, also.

If you suffer from nausea, a sliver of fresh ginger root held between

your teeth and gums is an excellent remedy for nausea. Sucking on

hard ginger candies or drinking ginger ale also helps.

I hope that some of these comments are useful to you, and that you

will consider my advice about a doctor and a fiance who doesn't

understand. Please keep posting to us with any questions or

comments, we'll try to help you however we can.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

www.health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pancreatitis/

Note:  All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.  

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

Thanks so much for your comments and suggestions. I will definitely

given them serious thought.

I have used ginger as a prime remedy for my pancreas and gall blader

flare ups.

I will also wean myself off of Zoloft and talk with my doctor about the

antidepressant you suggested.

For the past two days I have had a lot of pain in my liver. I guess I

am going to have to buckle down and go to a GI doctor.

Also, I just figured most men do not have a lot of tolerance when their

partner inconveniently becomes sick. I figure most men are still

really little boys.... anyway.... I will take your comments to heart.

Thanks!