Friend with severe pancreatitis

[Guest guest]

Hello everyone,

I hope it is ok that I post here as I do not have pancreatitis but a

very dear friend of mine does.

She was hospitalized for a month after an acute attack, was on a vent

and dialysis for the first two weeks and is now finally home.

However, she is being fed through TPN at least through February.

It has now been home for one week. According to her husband, whom I

called, she is so sick still that she is unable to accept phone calls

or play around on her laptop.

I am very worried about her. Her husband told me that he expects it

will be 3-4 months until she is well enough to do more than take

infrequent walks around the house.

Is this normal? Is she going to recover? I understand that the

family wants their privacy during this frightening time but I'm

unnerved that even phone calls are not permitted.

I've sent some get well cards to their house but other than that I am

unable to contact my friend. I am so worried and want to do

something to help.

Thanks!

[Guest guest]

,

I know this is a hard disease to deal with. It also hard on our family and

friends. My family hates seeing this way, it is like you start to waste away.

Please understand that your friend will get better. I think in the beginning

you go through a grieving period, you grieve for the things you cannot do

anymore. She is also probably having a hard time dealing with not being able to

eat. In our society eating is a very social thing. This may be making it hard

for her to want to socialize. I think we all go through this grieving period

and it will pass soon. Keep sending her the cards and let her know you care and

are thinking about her. Maybe her husband would accept an offer of you sitting

with her, while he does errands or something. We also periodically go through

the " leave me alone " phase. I am going through this right now. I just turned

off my phone and told everyone if it is an emergency call my cell phone

otherwise I need to be alone with my family and I need rest. Your friend may be

very tired right now also. She probably getting used to some heavy duty pain

meds, which make you sleepy and in some cases really agitated so being left

alone during this time is a good thing. She is also getting used to TPN

feeding, which if she is bad enough to need this she is probably pretty weak

also. Please don't think her family is shutting you out, but like I said maybe

they just need alone time right now. Maybe speak with her husband or send him a

card, caregivers often get forgotten in this disease, and maybe offer to make a

few casseroles or something for him and the rest of the family so it is one less

thing he has to worry about. Also remember some people, myself included, have a

hard time accepting help from others. We think it is a sign of weakness or of

not being able to take care of our family. This may be something her husband is

dealing with. He may feel like he is helpless in this. Please tell him about

us. Let him know he doesn't have to post, he can just read the post and get

some info. It may help him to cope a little better. Remember if he is going

through the macho thing he may have a hard time accepting any help or info.

Just keep letting them know that you care and will be there to help. In time

they will emerge from their protective cocoon and be ready for friends and

family to visit again. Let us know if we can help in any way and you are always

welcome here, the best defense is a good offense. So read up and be prepared, I

know I really appreciate it when a friend or family member is paying attention

and maybe you can read something that will help them cope and feel a little

better.

Simi Valley, CA

From: samjonston2

To: pancreatitis

Sent: Saturday, January 10, 2004 1:09 PM

Subject: Friend with severe pancreatitis

Hello everyone,

I hope it is ok that I post here as I do not have pancreatitis but a

very dear friend of mine does.

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