Re: hello, I'm new to board to Liz

[Guest guest]

Dear Liz,

Welcome to our group. I'm sorry that you have tried to deal with

this disease for so very long and have been treated so poorly for

all those years prior to your real diagnosis. Unfortunately I've

heard that type of story more times than I'd like to, in my nearly

three years as a member of this group.

Pancreatitis, and chronic pancreatitis, are difficult diseases to

diagnose sometimes because of some of the symptoms that

have so much similarity to other digestive problems. And we all

don't always have all the same symptoms, either, which can just

confuse the diagnosing process even more. For example, I am

rarely ever nausiated, now the only time I am is when I'm within

an hour or so of an acute attack. It's one of the symptoms that is

so predictable that it will have me running for the car keys or

calling out for ER assistance as soon as it starts, because I

know I'm headed for an acute attack within hours. Yet other

people I know have nausea nearly every day, and need to be on

continual medication to deal with it. Yet we both have CP.

In all the years that I've had CP I've never heard of anyone who

has had a bad experience with Dr. Cotton, so I'm really sorry that

you felt brushed aside while you were at MUSC. I know that after

that long a drive to a hospital that any kind of negative experience

like that would leave a person feeling really injured. All I can say

that it isn't something that I've heard happen there before, and I

hope that you've found another doctor that you feel comfortable

with since then. We are so dependent upon our specialists for

our care and our sense of well being, so it really is important to

find one that you trust and who treats you with compassion.

So how are you doing these days? Are you following the typical

treatment of a low fat diet, abstaining from alcohol and using

pancreatic enzymes? Are you getting enough help with pain

control? Where do you live, and who do you see now?

Nine hours on the road from ton could put you in quite a

few different places. We like to share our locations with each

other since you never know when you may find someone right in

your area who has CP. Since we rely so heavily on our other CP

friends who understand what we're going through better than

anyone else, it's great to have a group like this where you can

bring your troubles, or your accomplishments, to share with

them and who can then show their support. I hope you will find

frienship here, and a welcome place to share your experiences,

as I know I have.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

http://www.pancassociation.org/anthology.htm#Heidi

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

should not be

substituted for professional medical consultation.