Are labs usually able to predict attacks?

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 11/2/2005 12:13:27 AM Eastern Standard Time,

unaglamdottir@... writes:

Can enzyme levels go that far out of wack that

quickly? Or, do they usually gradually worsen? Are labs an

accurate indicator of attacks?

Hi Jeanette.

Yes I think emzyne levels can sometimes go very quickly, remember while the

numbers seem large, they really represent very small quantities of substance.

And that the chemestry of the pancreaus and liver is very complex and that

certain meds can skew the chemestry of those organs easily and that people,

patients, react differently to meds.

As far as indicators, well they are not negative indicators but the accuracy

of the indications varies and even varies with the same patient at different

times. They are not bad but not great either.

Self awareness of the patient through the unfortunate accumulation of

experience is likely to end up as the best indicator

Best wishes to you and yours

Poncho - GA

[Guest guest]

Hello all,

I popped on about two weeks ago, asked some questions, then have

been lurking. I have another question. I know this may vary by

person, but I am very interested.

My husband was in the hospital for 6 weeks, then in a care center

for 2 1/2 weeks. They have been moving up his diet gradually. He

had been on full liquids for 4-5 days. Yesterday morning his labs

were done, and this afternoon they said he could move up to soft

solids. He has been allowed to leave for a few hours each day.

Less than two hours after they told him he could up his diet, at

home and not having had anything to eat or drink besides a diet soda

today, he had another attack. Of the three attacks at home, and one

in the hospital, this was the most painful at onset. He was

readmitted to the hospital tonight.

It seems a bit odd that his enzyme levels were that good just

yesterday morning, but less than 24 hours later they cause another

severe attack. Can enzyme levels go that far out of wack that

quickly? Or, do they usually gradually worsen? Are labs an

accurate indicator of attacks?

I am asking for copies of everything done in the hospital previously

and at the care center. I want to see for myself what the labs say,

but until then, I am a very curious about other people's experiences.

Thanks in advance for any info you can give,

Jeanette

[Guest guest]

Hi Jeanette,

Labs can be a good indicator of attacks, but after the pancreas worsens and

begins making less and less volumes of enzymes, they become

unreliable.Theyuse the word " burn-out " to indicate the pancreas no

longer manufactures

enzymes to digest food. When " burn-out " occurs, labs are completely

unreliable, since there are no enzyme levels to test. Enzyme levels can

spike quite suddenly. When the pancreas starts the auto-digestion process,

those enzymes are dumped directly into the bloodstream and that is what the

lab tests measure. Lab tests don't really predict attacks, they confirm that

an attack is in progress.

Hope that helps,

Jerry/NC

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

>

> Hello all,

>

> I popped on about two weeks ago, asked some questions, then have

> been lurking. I have another question. I know this may vary by

> person, but I am very interested.

>

> My husband was in the hospital for 6 weeks, then in a care center

> for 2 1/2 weeks. They have been moving up his diet gradually. He

> had been on full liquids for 4-5 days. Yesterday morning his labs

> were done, and this afternoon they said he could move up to soft

> solids. He has been allowed to leave for a few hours each day.

> Less than two hours after they told him he could up his diet, at

> home and not having had anything to eat or drink besides a diet soda

> today, he had another attack. Of the three attacks at home, and one

> in the hospital, this was the most painful at onset. He was

> readmitted to the hospital tonight.

>

> It seems a bit odd that his enzyme levels were that good just

> yesterday morning, but less than 24 hours later they cause another

> severe attack. Can enzyme levels go that far out of wack that

> quickly? Or, do they usually gradually worsen? Are labs an

> accurate indicator of attacks?

>

> I am asking for copies of everything done in the hospital previously

> and at the care center. I want to see for myself what the labs say,

> but until then, I am a very curious about other people's experiences.

>

> Thanks in advance for any info you can give,

>

> Jeanette

>

[Guest guest]

Janette;

I too have an odd story to tell along these lines.

Near the end of my last hospitalization (August, 2005) I told the

staff that I wanted to take Alan for a walk around the perimeter of

the hospital as I was feeling much better. I finally got them to

disconnect the PCA (Diulaudid; which I had turned off when I went to

sleep the night before) TPN, and other things connected to my PIC

line. Yes, I had been planning this little excursion all night the

evening before and I had to be 'sober' when I drove home.

We were free.

I got dressed and was feeling pretty good. We went to my truck in

the parking lot (I tend to drive myself into the ER as using an

ambulance and getting home is problematic) and I was hurrying home to

get another case of fog food and just to make sure all was well at

home since I live alone.

I sat down at home to check my e-mail and within 10 minutes I was

barfing and sick. I gathered what I needed and returned to the

hospital (5 miles away).

As we drove back to the hospital with the windows open I suddenly

felt perfect. Not sick at all, no pain, nothing. I strolled back to

my room and they re-connected everything. I Felt fine for several

hours and that was when I turned the PCA pump back on (more for my

back than pancreas). TThey hate it when I turn off the PCA pump at

night.

Anyways, I thought it was odd that I got sick so soon upon going home

and felt so well immediately upon leaving.

Here is the kicker, all of these pancreatitis attacks began 2 months

after I moved into that duplex in September, 2004. Since moving to

my own home now I have not been sick and my amalyase and lypase

numbers are normal and not at that slightly elevated level.

Makes me wonder if there are environmental causes. Molds or whatever.

Dick

& Alan

>

> Hello all,

>

> I popped on about two weeks ago, asked some questions, then have

> been lurking. I have another question. I know this may vary by

> person, but I am very interested.

>

> My husband was in the hospital for 6 weeks, then in a care center

> for 2 1/2 weeks. They have been moving up his diet gradually. He

> had been on full liquids for 4-5 days. Yesterday morning his labs

> were done, and this afternoon they said he could move up to soft

> solids. He has been allowed to leave for a few hours each day.

> Less than two hours after they told him he could up his diet, at

> home and not having had anything to eat or drink besides a diet

soda

> today, he had another attack. Of the three attacks at home, and

one

> in the hospital, this was the most painful at onset. He was

> readmitted to the hospital tonight.

>

> It seems a bit odd that his enzyme levels were that good just

> yesterday morning, but less than 24 hours later they cause another

> severe attack. Can enzyme levels go that far out of wack that

> quickly? Or, do they usually gradually worsen? Are labs an

> accurate indicator of attacks?

>

> I am asking for copies of everything done in the hospital

previously

> and at the care center. I want to see for myself what the labs

say,

> but until then, I am a very curious about other people's

experiences.

>

> Thanks in advance for any info you can give,

>

> Jeanette

>

[Guest guest]

Jerry, I agree. Once the amalyase and lypase levels are moderately

elevated the fuse has been lit. Once lit, it has to run its course

from what I have learned.

Dick

& Alan

>

> Hi Jeanette,

>

> Labs can be a good indicator of attacks, but after the pancreas

worsens and

> begins making less and less volumes of enzymes, they become

> unreliable.Theyuse the word " burn-out " to indicate the pancreas no

> longer manufactures

> enzymes to digest food. When " burn-out " occurs, labs are completely

> unreliable, since there are no enzyme levels to test. Enzyme levels

can

> spike quite suddenly. When the pancreas starts the auto-digestion

process,

> those enzymes are dumped directly into the bloodstream and that is

what the

> lab tests measure. Lab tests don't really predict attacks, they

confirm that

> an attack is in progress.

>

> Hope that helps,

>

> Jerry/NC

[Guest guest]

That's mighty interesting... I certainly hope that nothing in our

home is causing this, though it might be possible.

Matt (the poor little hubby) has actually been home just about every

day for the last week. This attack coming about 4 days into the

liquids roughly fits the pattern of the last attempt at eating,

though.

I know this is a bit silly, but I am feeling really bad for him

right now. I have been baking breads for a large formal feast we

were to be attending next weekend. Matt was just upgraded to soft

solids today- so the first thing he said was " I want a slice of

fresh bread! " Unfortunately, he didn't move fast enough.

Have any studies been done on environmental factors relating to

attacks?

Hmmm...

Jeanette

> >

> > Hello all,

> >

> > I popped on about two weeks ago, asked some questions, then have

> > been lurking. I have another question. I know this may vary by

> > person, but I am very interested.

> >

> > My husband was in the hospital for 6 weeks, then in a care

center

> > for 2 1/2 weeks. They have been moving up his diet gradually.

He

> > had been on full liquids for 4-5 days. Yesterday morning his

labs

> > were done, and this afternoon they said he could move up to soft

> > solids. He has been allowed to leave for a few hours each day.

> > Less than two hours after they told him he could up his diet, at

> > home and not having had anything to eat or drink besides a diet

> soda

> > today, he had another attack. Of the three attacks at home, and

> one

> > in the hospital, this was the most painful at onset. He was

> > readmitted to the hospital tonight.

> >

> > It seems a bit odd that his enzyme levels were that good just

> > yesterday morning, but less than 24 hours later they cause

another

> > severe attack. Can enzyme levels go that far out of wack that

> > quickly? Or, do they usually gradually worsen? Are labs an

> > accurate indicator of attacks?

> >

> > I am asking for copies of everything done in the hospital

> previously

> > and at the care center. I want to see for myself what the labs

> say,

> > but until then, I am a very curious about other people's

> experiences.

> >

> > Thanks in advance for any info you can give,

> >

> > Jeanette

> >

>

[Guest guest]

Jeanette,

One time when I was in the hospital my am labs were normal. I ate my clear

liquid breakfast when I started to feel ill again. Shortly after eating the

doctor came in and said I was okay to go home. I explained that I was

worried that I was ill again. He argued that my labs were fine, and that it

would take more time to have an attack. I through up on my doctor then and

there, ruined his nice Armani suit. He redid the labs and lo an behold my

pancreas enzymes were elevated.

Crystal Galloway

[Guest guest]

Jeanette I can only speak from my own personal experience here. But my

enzymes have never ever been elevated. Never. The have always been

low within normal limits or just low. I have had every kind of

treament possible for cp as well as just about every surgery. Still

they never ever were elevated.

My personal opinion, doctors need to treat the symptoms not the numbers.

I hope this helps,