Pancreatitis Partners at MUSC to

[Guest guest]

Dear Chrissy,

If you look at the MUSC website under the Digestive Disease Center:

" Pancreatitis, " you will see an article called something like, " Support

Group Fades Away. "

www.ddc.musc.edu

" Pancreatitis Partners " was a unique, to ton anyway, live in person

support group for people with pancreatitis. I attended a lot of the meetings

including the first and last. One time when I was an inpatient, I mentioned

to Penelope Chase that I was disapointed that I had to miss the meeting

being stuck in the hospital and she proceded to try and form an inpatient

version of " Pancreatitis Partners. " I attended two of those which were held

in the library/lounge on the 10-West Digestive Disease Center inpatient

unit. The first one I was too sick and medicated to stay, but the second was

just before I was to check out, was feeling better and was a very good

session as best as I can recall - that was like five years ago.

The group also had a nice newsletter printed about every four months.

They had patient and doctor interviews, articles about pancreatitis related

issues and research, and lots of low fat recipies. It was a nice newsletter,

4-8 pages on glossy, 4 color paper. We had a dietician who did the recipies

and who came to many of the meetings.

The first year they charged a fee of something like $20 per year to join

the group, but after that it was free to any panc patient, their families,

caretakers, and/or friends. I believe that a major reason it folded was

funding.

I really miss the meetings and I'm sorry that the group disbanded. I

think that you would have really enjoyed the sharing and support of " Panc.

Partners. " It was a good, healthy forum for everybody who participated. We

had all sorts of guests such as pain management doctors and specialists,

nurses on the 10 floor, surgeons, and Dr. J.T. Cunningham came to discuss

ERCP options. It's just a real shame that they couldn't have found a way to

keep it going. I told Penelope that I would be willing to pay the $20 again,

but she said it just was too little too late. Also I kind of wondered if she

didn't get tired of running the group. It was a lot of work putting it all

together. Who knows, but I still hope that someday another similar

support group will be formed. I believe that the people with Chronns (sp),

and irratble bowel syndrome have some type of group, but I'm not sure. I

have a minor case of IBS, so mabe I'll check into that although my main

health problem besides Diabetes is C.Panc.

Well Chrissy, I hope that you feel better than you were the other day. I

know that you are looking forward to getting back to wørk. Hang in there my

friend! :-)

Your Pancreas Pal,

Henry