Re: Need help with diet

[Guest guest]

Hi; Iknow just how difficult it is to figure out what can be eaten

and what can not. I had actually gotten to the point where my hair

turned orange, and was diagnosed with kwasiokor, Because I am not a

slim person to begin with, it was not easy to believe that I had

become malnurished. Yet there I stand swollen bellied and oranged

haired as any refugeed babies would have been. That is how our

health system uses visual quies as to what is deemed normal and what

is not. That qued system has no basis in scientific foundation it

is based on a racist foundation. It is up t us to insist that we be

treated as individuals; that all cases be not a number but a human;

that no medicine be not an experiment but a hope for a person. I

rant on but have found as far as what I can eat that has made my

nutritional needs sastified is processed soups. Progresso;

campbells. and so on. low sodium low fat hi protien hi nutritional

qualiety and a lot of vits and mins. No its not easy and I it will

never be.

See ya

> I've been struggling with Pancreatitis for the past 3 months or

so.

> I've lost approximately 80 pounds since July 31st. I am not sure

> whether the Pancreatitis was caused by gallstones or a medication,

> (I think gallstones) - but my gall bladder has since been removed,

> that medication stopped, and I am doing my best to try to eat to

> where I am not in pain. Telling me to eat a low fat diet is going

> to irritate me. I'm already doing that. I am trying to find FOOD

TO

> EAT... I'm trying to keep my pain under control and I'm trying to

> eat so that I can quit losing 10 pounds a week.

>

> If anyone has an idea of the exact foods that work with

pancreatits -

> please let me know. I was on the Banana -Applesauce - Rice -

Toast

> for a month, but you can't live on that forever. I'm thankful for

> any ideas you can provide. My next doctor appointment is next

week,

> so I am being followed ..

>

>

> Rick

[Guest guest]

Rick,

Why don't you take a look at the Diet tips sheet in the " Files " section under

the Nutrition heading on our webpage? Click on " Files " , then click on

" Nutrition " and when that folder opens, click on " Diet Tips " . I compiled this

whole page of diet and cooking tips a couple years ago to help others out with

their dieting questions, and most have found it helpful.

First of all, take things slowly and don't try to overload your system with more

than it can handle. The pancreas, once damaged by an acute attack, doesn't

digest fats and proteins well and it's best to introduce food slowly and just a

little bit at a time. Most of us don't eat three basic meals a day, we find

that

it's easier on the pancreas to sort of graze throughout the day, eating small

amounts now and again, and seeing how we react to what we've eaten.

Keep a food diary of everything you eat and how it affects you. This is really

helpful when you're first starting out, since it will help you to identify those

foods that " trigger " an episode. Most of us find that there are certain things

that automatically trigger a bad attack. For me, it's butter, and gravies or

sauces made with butter.

If you haven't already been told this, and haven't already done so, eliminate

ALCOHOL from your diet. Alcohol is trigger for ANYONE with pancreatitis

and should be avoided at all costs. This includes those beers and wines that

are labelled " non-alcoholic " , too. They do contain trace amounts of alcohol

and can harm you, as do some cough medicines and sleeping aids.

Hopefully your doctor has put you on pancreatic enzyme supplements to take

with all your meals and snacks. These enzymes take the work away from the

pancreas, and by substituting the amylase, protease and lipase enzymes that

the pancreas would normally try to produce, it makes it easier on our

digestive systems when they do the work. If you aren't already taking them,

ask your doctor to prescribe them when you talk to him next week.

I'm like you in that when my pancreas is acting up, I lose weight like a sieve!

It's not unusual for me to drop three or four pounds in a couple days, so I'm

ALWAYS trying to gain. For people with this severe a problem with

malabsorption, sometimes supplemental drinks like Boost, Ensure or even

Slim Fast, are a bonus. Make sure you find the ones that are lowest in fat,

though, because the higher ones can cause pancreas upset. You can

supplement two or three cans of Slim Fast every day, in addition to whatever

food you can tolerate, and this should help to regain some of that lost weight.

Take a look at the diet tips and get back with us with any other questions.

We're here to help any way we can, so no question is unwelcome.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI, Intl.

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

not be

should be substituted for a professional medical consultation.

Rick wrote:

> I've been struggling with Pancreatitis for the past 3 months or so.

I've lost approximately 80 pounds since July 31st. I am trying to find FOOD

TO EAT... I'm trying to keep my pain under control and I'm trying to

eat so that I can quit losing 10 pounds a week.

[Guest guest]

Rick,

have you tried to supplement those foods with both a liquid supplement

like Ensure or Boost and possibly a multivitamin (preferably high in

antioxidants)? This may help you stop losing so much weight. Also, are

you on any pancreatitc enzymes? These can also help you to stop losing

such weight. Some other good foods to try are oatmeal, cream of wheat,

cream of rice, fat free broths, miso soup, pudding, gatorade and/or

pedialyte (these will help keep your electrolyte balance up). That's

all that I can think of right now that will help, but it might at least

give you some more variation without causing too much pain. Also, if you

can handle anything solid, alot of frozen meals have no to low fat

(Weight watchers, healthy choice, lean cuisine). You'll have to read

labels to find these. I recommend staying under about 20-30 grams of fat

a day and under about 6-10 grams per meal. That's what I've had to do.

Also, are you taking anything for the pain? If not, you should really

bring this up with your doctor. If you doctor isn't willing to prescribe

you anything, ask if the doctor will at least refer you to a pain

specialist or a pain clinic (one that uses narcotics as there are some

that do not presribe any medications). I hope this is of some help for you

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.