How are you Chrissy?

[Guest guest]

Hello again Chrissy,

I hope you're feeling a bit more settled now but I know it's not

easy to take in this sort of shock; I was going through exactly the

same emotions a couple of months ago and may do so again.

I see that Heidi also mentioned Dr Sutherland. His is the first name

that comes to mind when you think of the TP/ICT in the US.

When you're feeling up to it, could you have a look at the video of

the symposium last August? Dr Sutherland spoke at it. I can't have

the video (different UK/US systems) but Tull sent me audio tapes and

they're fascinating.

At the time I found it really reassuring that Dr Sutherland says he

sees the same pattern of diabetes in people who get it naturally at

the end of CP and those who develop it right after the TP, if indeed

they do. Obviously, the ICT should help to minimise the risk of

diabetes. Having said that, the two people I know who had the TP

even without ICT don't seem to have any difficulty in controlling

the diabetes. One can go a couple of days without insulin (??!!)

without any probs and the other has to take insulin but is stable.

The second one is Sue so I should leave her to speak for herself.

Prof told me that there was a real but very small risk of brittle

diabetes following a TP, and that's without ICT. His nurse told me

that most of his post-TP patients were just fine with their

diabetes, provided they ate sensibly and took the medication, just

like anyone else who has diabetes. I'm NOT, NOT downplaying diabetes

but you have to compare it with pain you seem to be having now,

Chrissy.

I may well still face the TP one day. It's too late for me to have

an ICT (my prof doesn't do them anyway and I wouldn't want to go to

anyone else here, even at a hospital which does offer the ICT)

because my pancreas is too badly calcified and atrophied and I'm on

the verge of diabetes now. Since I'm about to be diabetic anyway, TP

or not, it probably won't be a factor in any decision I make.

I hope you're just resting now and I expect you're still coming to

terms with this. I couldn't agree more with Heidi that it's a sort

of grieving process. For me, that process is only just coming to an

end. Coming to terms with my final diagnosis was the most painful

process (emotionally and psychologically, I mean)that I've ever gone

through. I felt that I'd never have a " normal " day again, never mind

a normal life. It's not an exaggeration to say tht I hardly felt

fully human any more. I know that must sound crazy but that's how I

felt.

I bet your doc has someone good in mind to do this surgery for you,

if it comes to it, Chrissy.

Rest now and do your crying. We'll move on from there and we'll get

through the process.

BTW, think of all the stupid people you know who have flown???!!!

Have you thought of some? (There's me, for a start!) Then why

couldn't you fly if you needed to??!! Even I manage to get through

an airport! Actually, you're directed all the way....you can't go

anywhere except where you're supposed to go! If you don't register

your luggage, they won't let you into the departure lounge, never

mind on board! If you try to register it for the wrong plane, they

refuse to take it! If you try to get on the wrong plane, they won't

let you! If you try to fly sitting on the tail or wing, the

spoilsports make you sit inside! If you don't fasten your seatbelt,

you get ticked off! And just try getting lost in an airport and I

bet you can't. I'm not being sarcastic; I just don't want you to

worry about trivial things. But Chrissy, I know you'd have very

serious practical things to sort out if you did have to have this

surgery. I'm NOT trivialising the situation.

Keep in touch. I mentioned to Sue what you'd posted so, if she's

around, she may post. I'm quite sure Shirley and the others will see

as well.

Take care Chrissy and look after yourself.

With love,

Fliss