Weight Changes

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

You wrote, " I know how you feel about your body with all that weight loss. I

hated myself, and was so self conscious. 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 know exactly what you are talking about. I have the same thing in my closet,

though the size range is different. What is interesting about your comment is

that it tells me that weight is certainly a personal issue. Someone who weighs

much more would think they would die to wear a size two. Well, actually, we

probably would die. It isn't worth it. The deal is that we should be comfortable

and seek to be as nutritionally healthy as possible. Since stress is the

precursor to most diseases and definitely pancreatitis, then stressing over the

fact that we have gained or lost x amount of weight is counter productive. I

have met people who have lost significant weight and the same number who have

gained significant weight. Go figure? I used to think that if I was overweight,

I should be more attentive to my health and stay within a normal body weight.

Now that I have gained significant weight since I was diagnosed and cannot seem

to lose weight, I have learned to not be so self-judgemental. The most important

thing is that the PCP understand that weight changes are not stereotypical of a

person with pancreatitis. I have been accused of not having pancreatitis because

I was not underweight, though I still have signs and symptoms of malnutrition

and malabsorption.

Karyn E. , RN

Executive Director, PAI

Pancreatitis Association International

[Guest guest]

Karyn wrote:

<Since stress is the precursor to most diseases and definitely pancreatitis,

then stressing over the fact that we have gained or lost x amount of weight is

counter productive.>

And I couldn't agree with you more, Karyn, except for those who are losing or

gaining in extreme amounts to the point of becoming dangerously

unhealthy.....then stressing over weight fluctuations is a very real, and valid

concern. I'm sure you can agree with that. But as for all those pounds in-

between, where we're more obsessed with body image other than health -

that stress is counter productive and we need to learn to accept ourselves the

way we are, and not worry about stereotypes.

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.