Re: To /re: dental and bone changes with maladsorption.

June 10, 2005

,

Pancreas insufficiency and chronic pancreatitis are one and the same,

but the true dx. would be " chronic pancreatitis " . Once we have CP, we

all have insufficiency.

The dental problems came as a very sudden and unhappy surprise to me.

All I can say is that you need to keep on top of this and have

regular checkups with your dentist, and do any type of preventative

care that the dentist suggests.

The dentist said at first that he didn't think my bone loss was

related to my CP, because potassium was what was so essential for the

bones in the mouth. I had to educate him a little, reminding him that

with pancreatitis, we have significant changes in our levels of

calcium, magnesium, sodium, bicarbonate and potassium, and that I

suffered from malabsorption from the CP. Every time I've been

admitted with an attack they've had to replenish potassium through my

IV. As my mouth quickly started to fall apart, the dentist finally

understood, and I've been putting his son through college at Auburn

ever since......(s).

Well, the drugs are wearing off now, and it's really beginning to

hurt!! Unfortunately, my CP pain meds don't seem to do a darn thing

for mouth pain. He gave me some 600 mg. Ibuprofen, and I sure hope

that stuff will work!

I know how you feel about your body with all that weight loss. I

hated myself, and was so self conscious. It was especially

uncomfortable at the grocery store, standing in line with a basket

full of low-fat or no-fat food items, and having people look at me

like I was crazy, at 5'-8 " and 104 pounds. When it was at it's worst,

I avoided mirrors and always wore long sleeves to cover my skeletal

looking arms. I have a closet with clothes in sizes 0, 1, 2, 4 and 6.

They are all neatly grouped according to size, and I've had to go

down, then up, then down again, and now back up to a 4, in the past

five years!!! I'm afraid to clear out the 0-2's for fear that if I

have problems again, I may need them.

All I can say is that you will eventually be able to restore the

weight, it just takes time. The Creon should help with this, and if

you can't tolerate it after 6 weeks, get your doctor to switch you to

something like Viokase or Lipram. If your weight doesn't creep up and

your stools aren't improved, it would indicate that you need a higher

dose of the enzymes. Taking fish oil capsules and using soy protein

powder in your food would also be a big help....or at least, it was a

big help for me to gain again.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

Bluffton, SC

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

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

not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

June 14, 2005

,

It's okay to whine and vent here....we do understand and usually this

can be a great way to rid yourself of unnecessary stress. You

mentioned your three children, but no husband, are you a single mom?

I was single for five years when I separated from my first husband and

was trying to raise two elementary school age children and working as

a Realtor at the same time. It was very difficult, since I worked six

days a week, clients were always calling at all hours of the day and

night, and my children had needs of their own that needed my full

attention. I felt pulled in every direction and never had any quiet

time for myself. To try to do that, and have a new and debilitating

chronic illness at the same time would seem insurrmountable...but you

sound like a strong woman, and I'm sure you'll handle it without

falling apart.

There was some pain in my gums, and then pain with two abcessed teeth

and a root canal. The gum pain was fleeting, though, and what

bothered me the most was that my teeth just started becoming so loose

that I could feel their movement with my tongue. I had to stop eating

anything that required much chewing, for fear that they would come out

while I was chewing! The pain really wasn't that significant, it was

just that they were all getting loose.

As soon as your insurance becomes effective, do try to see a dentist

as soon as you can. It may be something completely unrelated to a

bone loss problem, but if there's pain, it does mean that something's

definitely wrong and needs dental attention.

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.

June 14, 2005

I have four children Heidi,

I have three of them with me, and my 18 yr.old son lives with his dad and

grandmother.

two boys and two girls. My dream come true.

Little did I know or plan to wind up getting a divorce. I was married for 18

yrs. I tried like heck to keep it going, but he wouldn't stop drinking. so he

lost everything. 30 yr.job, house provided by the company, wife, and kids.

took time to work things thru but as you see I'm still having problems with them

feeling their growing pains and introducing them into adult hood and learning to

be self sufficient.

they want mommy or daddy to pay for everything and do everything for them.

they have no desire to want to do things for themselves or better themselves.

It's like banging my head against a wall. I can't make them see.

two have drug problems and emotional problems on top of it.

it doesn't get easier.

I appreciate your compliment saying that you feel I am strong.

I wish to god I felt it.

so I see you went through similar things. IT's HARD! after knowing how to only

be a house wife and full time mommy to go out into the work field when you've

never had a college education. I had to start from the bottom and keep trying

to work my way up.

there are no support systems for woman in my area to help homeless or woman who

are divorced and jobless, trying to take care of the kids, plus your own health

and pay the bills, and put food on the table.

there's an orginazation I just learned of this morning that is helping support

and raise funds to help single mothers find a job and home to live in and to

teach them how to support themselves. they assist them in finding a place to

live permantly.

what a beautiful thing. unfortunetly it's in Pennsylvania. we don't have

something like that here for woman in New York.

It would be too good to be true. I'd love to help woman and families out there

going through what I've been through in my past.

maybe one day.

when I feel strong again.

I thank you for expalaining your symtoms to me regarding the dental problems. I

can't move fast enough on this issue.

thanks for your support also in telling me I'm not a whiner or complainer.

You've made me feel more secure. thanks for that.

How old are your children now Heidi?

any suggestions for me as far as motivating my children?

Are you still in the realtor buisness?

I thought of that field myself at one time but don't have the time to get

certified for it.

we need that here in NY.

Where did you say you're from? Did you share that with me yet?

please forgive me if I repeat myself by asking the same questions. My mind is

very foggy on certain days. I think I " m losing my precious hormones called

estrogen.

effects the memory banks I'm told. lack of estrogen.

I'll try to read up on everyones posts.

I'm slacking off. posts are starting to build up quickly.

S.

Heidi wrote: