Difference Between Pancreas Pain and an Attack?

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

I was wondering what is the difference between everyday ache/pain of

the pancreas and a full on pancreatitis attack?

Last night I have really, really bad GERD and my pancreas is worse

today. I have not eaten all day, just drinking Gatorade and a slimfast.

Really hungry!

Eileen

[Guest guest]

Eileen,

You're sure to get a lot of different interpretations for this

question. For me, an attack is unrelentingly severe abdominal pain,

nausea and vomiting, so much so that even after doubling up on my pain

meds, there is no relief. An attack like this will take me to bed, or

to the ER, if it persists longer than a few hours.

The chronic daily pain is of the type where I feel a continuous

twisting, sharp pain in the mid and left side of the abdomen and/or

back. It is painful to straighten up - so forget about those ballet

and posture classes!! Pain medication can relieve this pain to the

point where I can usually function in a subdued manner, with frequent

times to rest and reassess, but not to the point where I can get much

done.

For me, I don't experience several days of nagging chronic pain that

builds up into a full blown attack. All of my severe attacks have

been very sudden, with little if any, discomfort first. It will start

out of the blue with nausea, (my early warning sign), then vomiting,

and then all h#@** will break lose. It all happens within a matter of

hours.

I hope this helps.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

SC State & SE Regional Representative

Pancreatitis Association, International

Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or

opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical

consultation.

[Guest guest]

Hi Eileen, I guess that would be a subjective thing, but for me the

diffrence is an attack is accompanied by nausea and the pain goes thru

the roof. I wake up with a sharp pain in my upper right abdomen, that

is everyday pain. After I eat, the pain gets much sharper and much

more intense. When I have an attack, the pain gets tremendously worse

and I get real nauseous. Hope you feel better, Jim

PS It's real hot here in Florida, was in the 90's yesterday with

stifling humidity. We got a Tropical storm watch in effect and we may

get hit by it in the next day.

[Guest guest]

Thank you Jeff and Heidi. I'm trying learn whatI can about all of this.

Just had a rice cake with jam. I hope it does'nt cause me pain. I'm so

hungry.

Eileen

[Guest guest]

This is that storm season, which is why the cruises, resorts and

flights are cheap right now!I heard it was hot down there. I don't

know about you, but I wilt in that kind of humidity.

Eileen

[Guest guest]

I can never tell when my pain or nausea is going to turn into

something horrific. I know that a lot of times, like last week, I

will spend days on BT meds with severe pain and nausea, but refuse to

go to the hospital. I am trying my hardest to stay home, because my

Whipple is next Thursday and I'll be away from my house, dogs, and

baby cat for at least 2 weeks, maybe longer. In a way I am anxious to

get the surgery behind me and maybe the guesswork of full on attacks

vs. daily pain will be easier to decipher.

Just try and muddle thru your day until the pain is unbearable, you do

know that admitting you need help or IV meds does not in anyway shape

or form make you weak. If you need to go to the hospital, don't

suffer! Go...

Be careful what you eat. I swear if it wasn't for gatorade these past

months (except for the 3 months I couldn't even drink water) I would

have wasted away! G-d bless Gatorade, developed by the wonderful

brainiacs at the University of Florida (Go Gators)!!! Hey, I had to

give a shout out to my alum.

Hope you feel better,

> Hi all,

>

> I was wondering what is the difference between everyday ache/pain of

> the pancreas and a full on pancreatitis attack?

>

> Last night I have really, really bad GERD and my pancreas is worse

> today. I have not eaten all day, just drinking Gatorade and a

slimfast.

> Really hungry!

>

> Eileen

[Guest guest]

Thanks ,

I'm trying to learn more about what to eat, not to eat, what to take,

etc. Also, what is everyday discomfort that we will have to live with

and what is an emergency situation.

By the way, it was a post by you that made me go out and get the

Gatorade. :-)

Eileen

[Guest guest]

Eileen, excuse me for butting into your conversation, but when you have pain

severe enough to require an ER visit, you will know! It will hit like a topn

of bricks and will not respond to your normal meds. When that happens it's

time to get in the car and have someone drive you to the hospital. I usually

start passing-out from the pain at that point.

Jerry/NC

*************************************

On 9/19/05, whitefalconsgoddesswear

wrote:

>

> Thanks ,

>

> I'm trying to learn more about what to eat, not to eat, what to take,

> etc. Also, what is everyday discomfort that we will have to live with

> and what is an emergency situation.

>

> By the way, it was a post by you that made me go out and get the

> Gatorade. :-)

>

> Eileen

>

[Guest guest]

Gotcha Jerry, thank you! (and you can butt in all you want)

Eileen

> Eileen, excuse me for butting into your conversation, but when you

have pain

> severe enough to require an ER visit, you will know! It will hit

like a topn

> of bricks and will not respond to your normal meds. When that

happens it's

> time to get in the car and have someone drive you to the hospital.

I usually

> start passing-out from the pain at that point.

>

> Jerry/NC

> *************************************

>

>