re: the NYC doctor

[Guest guest]

,

The research that this doctor in the city is doing is really of great

interest to me. I'll explain why. When I was first diagnosed, it was

immediately after an acute attack. The doctor that saw me was a

general surgeon, and he had asked me, " do you drink alcohol? " , to

which I had answered, " yes " . I used to drink socially, once a week or

every two weeks or so, 1-3 glasses of wine or a cocktail. The surgeon

wrote on the admitting papers that it was an alcoholic caused acute

pancreatitis attack. New to this whole game, it didn't mean anything

to me then that he never asked me how often I drank, or when I had had

a drink last, I didn't know enough about what was going on to clarify

it. The fact was, I hadn't had anything to drink for several

days-week prior to that attack.

The GI who starting treating me later that week told me that if I

continued to drink, it would kill me. I told him that stopping wasn't

any problem, I hadn't had anything to drink in a couple weeks and so I

wouldn't drink again. It wasn't a big deal for me to quit, I just

didn't drink again.

It wasn't until I began seeing my second GI two years later that some

questions as to the accuracy of this diagnosis of alcoholic

pancreatitis began to rise. After extensive discussion as to my

previous habits, age and social activities, and review of my medical

condition and progress at that point, this GI said he felt the

diagnosis was incorrect. He suggested that I have the genetic testing

done to see if there was a connection there. He's explained to me

that he's totally baffled as to what the true cause of my CP could be,

since medically, the onset of my CP doesn't fit into any of the other

catagories.

This GI referred me to the Mayo Clinic for consultation concerning

surgery possibilities for two pseudocysts that I have. While at Mayo,

I underwent further testing, bloodwork, my 16th CT-scan and another

lengthly interview with the Pancreatologist there, and he also

disagreed with the original alcohol diagnosis by the surgeon. He

changed my pancreatitis diagnosis to of " Idiopathic " origin, and

agreed with my GI that I should undergoing further genetic testing.

Okay, that's the background. The reason this research interests me is

because my mother was an alcoholic. She underwent medical rehab at a

facility in NY state where she was in rehab for 3 months. Sadly, just

a few months after her release, she died of a congenital brain

aneurysm when she was 52. Now, I'm wondering? If you can find out

this doctor's name, please let me know. I still haven't taken the

time to take any of the genetic testing, which apparently can't be

done locally.

Oh, BTW, about your feeling peckish after those CT-scans....I've had

18 of them in the last 4 years, and I know what you mean about

problems afterward! Once, my reaction caused an acute attack

afterwards. Other times I've just had to spend the rest of the

evening and part of the next day in the bathroom, and then sometimes,

I feel absolutely great and nothing's different at all! Diarrhea,

though, can be pretty much planned on as an after effect, so I never

make any plans for afterward, but to go straight home.

I haven't read all the posts yet to see if anyone else has answered

your very first question, as to whether doctors aren't trained to look

out for pancreatitis, so this may be a redundant reply. It's my

understanding that in their four years of academic training in med

school, they only study the pancreas one week.....go figure!

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

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/pancreatitis/

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only,

and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.