Re:Jill, Dr. Banks

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 1/26/2004 10:48:01 PM Eastern Standard Time,

pancreatitis writes:

> I will be seeing Dr. Banks

Hey there Jill,

YES I am familiar with Dr. Banks, my son did see him sometime ago,

also Shirley who is here did see him also, When she is feeling better you can

ask her yourself but I think she might give you the same answer as I in ways.

I can't give you medical advice but I will tell you about our experience

with Dr. Banks and when you go you can best come to your own conclusion.

Firstly because Brandan was a teenager when he saw Dr. Banks I think

perhaps that in itself was rare, for Dr. Banks usually only deals with adults.

He recommended that Brandan try the antioxidant treatment, we did but to no

avail. He then recommended Brandan have another ERCP, which their conclusion

was

the same as the rest Brandan had Idopathic Chronic Pancreatitis with Pancreas

Divisum. Basically Brandan did not fit the " NORMAL " description of those who

are afflicted with this illness and since his pancreatitis was not due to a

gene abnormality, basically he couldn't help us. To be honest, Dr. Banks did

not impress me, but please draw your own conclusions in meeting him for

everyone is different. I do hope he can do more for you than he could Brandan,

I am

sorry if this upsets you but wanted to let you know what our experience was

with Dr. Banks. I can't speak for Shirley, but since she has not been feeling

well, I will tell you that she also was not impressed with him for she too did

not fit the test book description when it came to pancreatitis, and I know she

too was disappointed in him. I am sure if she was feeling up to it she would

tell you the same thing. She has become a very close and dear friend to me

in my life and if it was not for her and the many here Brandan surely would not

have gotten his second chance. I just wanted to let you know a bit of what

my experience and what I knew of Shirleys in regard to Dr. Banks.

Where are you traveling from? Please let me know how it goes and what

he recommends for you. I would be happy to answer any questions you have,

please feel free to email me anytime. All you can do is like anyone else,

continue to take things " ONEDAY " at a time. As always keeping you and your in

our

thoughts and prayers...Keep smiling (cuz sometimes its all one can do!) TTFN..:

)

Peg

" It truly is amazing how one person can make a difference. "

[Guest guest]

Hi, Peg

Thank you for your very frank and honest reply. While it is disheartening to

hear it, I wouldn't want it any other way. It's just a shame that both you and

Shirley feel the same way. All I can hope is that my experience will be

different. If not, oh well. I will have tried. I truthfully don't expect much

from this. My pancreatitis has always been termed idiopathic. However, I believe

that it is due to my mutated cystic fibrosis gene. You read, more and more,

about the connection between the 2. I am becoming evermore convinced that that

is my problem and therefore, I will just have to live with it. It would be nice,

however, to have some confirmation. The other thought that we've had is that is

could be related to my hepatitis C or a combination of the 2 problems. Who

knows. You mentioned something about Brandan not fitting the " normal "

description of the disease and mentioned also that his pancreatitis was not due

to a gene abnormality and that is part of the reason Dr. Banks couldn't help

him. Are you saying that " gene abnormality " is a specialty of his? If so, then

MAYBE that could work in my favor as I do have the gene abnormality. You also

make it sound like Dr. Banks have " tunnel vision " , so to speak, with regards to

pancreatitis.

I will be coming up from Connecticut. We'll be staying with a friend of mine in

Brookline the night before the appointment. As luck would have it she's very

close to the hospital so I'll be able to " kill 2 birds " .

Again, thanks Peg. If you have any other thoughts on my upcoming journey please

let me know- good or bad.

Take care,

Jill

Re:Jill, Dr. Banks

YES I am familiar with Dr. Banks,