Re: [pancreatitisKimber back to Henry

[Guest guest]

Henry,

I was in the hospital for 4 days. Went in on Saturday and got out on

Wednesday (New Year's Eve). And I've been depressed until just recently

which is normal for me when I just get out of the hospital. Getting my

backpay from Social Security has helped bring my spirits up though. I

was on solids when I left the hospital, but I stayed on soups for about

a week after I got out of the hospital. I find staying on soups and

cream of wheat for a while after being released helps me to have less

pain for a longer period of time. Now I'm eating full solids again.

I've been in the hospital over the holidays before. In 2000/2001, I was

in the hospital from the beginning of December until Christmas Eve with

pancreatitis and bacterial pnuemonia. And then sometime in the 1990's I

was in for Christmas and New Year's (I had gotten out for 2 days in

between and then went right back in). Usually for New Year's my friends

and I get together and exchange our Christmas gifts. They were all so

nice and came over and gave me my gifts at the hospital. For Christmas,

the hospital had done the same as MUSC and had some carolers come and

sing for us,though they didn't have the battery powered candles, lol. I

know it's not much, but it's something that helps the patients feel less

cut off from the world. I keep meaning to take my laptop with me and

keep forgetting to do so. Plus I'm afraid that someone will try and walk

off with it as it is a very nice one (It's my baby and my most favorite

computer that I've ever had).

As for what's been happening with my pancreatitis, well, last January,

my doctors and I decided that I could not continue to work any longer. I

was a step away from being fired as it was and it had become patently

obvious that I could no longer keep up with my work. I was no longer

accurate in my data, which was a major requirement of the position and I

could make my deadlines. I would fall asleep at my desk till my head

almost hit the monitor. I'd have episodes where I would be staring into

space, hands frozen over the keyboard in mid type for up to five minutes

at a time. Basically, Lights are on, but nobody's home. So, I got my

state disability and applied for social security disability as it was

obvious that I would be going back to work unless they find a cure for

pancreatitis. At the beginning of December, I got notice that social

security trial hearing judge had ruled in my favor (after the initial

denial and the appeal being denied too). I didn't even have to go to the

trial hearing. The Judge took one look at my file and approved it within

one week of being assigned my case.(I had listed not only my

pancreatitis, but all my other health problems as the reason for going

on disability as well as the attention problems and inability to stay

awake due to the medications ) I just got my back pay, though I'm still

waiting for my award letter.

I spend a lot of my time either reading or doing cross-stitch and

interacting with this pancreatitis group and another pancreatitis

group.I also take about 1 or 2 naps a day depending upon how tired I am.

If I'm in a lot of pain, I just don't get out of bed (unless the pain is

at an 8 or higher, then I go the ER). I sort of live with my mother. I

rent her house and she comes up every other weekend to help me keep

house and she has a trailer she stays at that is closer to her work.

Otherwise she'd have to drive for 2 hours in the morning and another 2

hours at night for commuting. She tried that for one year and it just

wasn't working. About that time (1999), I had my heart attack and bypass

surgery( and yes, I was yound to have one as I was only 29 at the time),

so I moved into her house and started paying rent. She's due to retire

in about 3 or 4 years and we are trying to decide if we can afford to

stay where we are or if we want to move somewhere else, maybe

Washington or Oregon, where one of our mutual close friend lives. Plus

it's cheaper to live up there and we could afford to buy a much bigger

house and own it outright from the equity on this house. Anyways. That's

basically where I'm at in life at this time.

How are you? What going on with your life pancreas-wise? If you already

told this to the group, I'm sorry for asking you to repeat it, but I had

so many emails I has to delete all the ones that had nothing to do with

me or I would never catch up on my emails. Usually I read them all, but

I'm so far behind it's pathetic. Hope to hear from you soon and hope you

had Happy Holidays.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

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

physician or health care professional.