Guest guest Posted May 23, 2004 Report Share Posted May 23, 2004 Hi Andre, Of course I had no idea you had had so much treatment and so many procedures. Like you, I have had CP symptoms for a long time......54 years! I have hereditary pancreatitis and had my first vicious attack at the age of about 4. Last year I was seriously considering a TP although it is not done with ICT in my hospital. (In any case, as my CP is virtually end- stage now and I am expected to be diabetic very soon, it is unlikely that I would have had enough islet cells to make the transplant viable.) The surgery was suggested for consideration because I was in very bad pain for much (not all) of the time and HP carries a very high cancer risk. However, I responded well to the treatment (Creon, no alcohol and pretty low-fat diet) so the surgery has been shelved for the moment anyway. I will see my pancreatologist again in July when, hopefully, all my genetic tesys will be complete as well. I can't see what you have to lose by at least discussing the TP/ICT if life really can't be managed reasonably at the moment in any other way. I think most of us have real problems. I still have some very bad days. But this is a question of degree isn't it? I am still working, for example, and still function pretty normally most of the time. Once it gets to the stage where constant bad pain and inability to eat becomes the norm, then some serious measures need to be taken, I would think. You could at least consult Dr Sutherland as this would give you something new to focus on and a new hope. All your other surgeries have left part of your pancreas behind. This one would remove it completely. I don't know what the siuation is with the TP when one has had previous surgery. I do hope things improve and you find at least a partial solution to the problem. With very good wishes for your better health, Fliss (UK) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted August 2, 2004 Report Share Posted August 2, 2004 Andre, I have to admit that I feel much the same as you do about my smoking habit. I don't want to give it up, I enjoy it and it's one of the few things I have left that I can enjoy. I've had to give up the sports activities that I dearly enjoyed, and then those other pleasures, like a glass of wine and/or a fine meal to go with it are also forbidden. My decision about the peridontal surgery has not been made yet. My dentist was not aware that the underlying reason for my bone loss is the malabsorption from the chronic pancreatitis, and that because of that, it isn't a problem that can be correctly fixed now and expect to remain fixed. The malabsorption will always be there, so the problem with the bone loss will be ongoing. I don't want to spend the thousands of dollars for something that in less than a year or two will just have to be done over again, and again. Dentures do seem like an easier, less expensive and certainly less painful alternative. My gums have receded also, caused by the acid/bile from the vomiting, and my dentist also wants to do the gum procedures on me, once the peridontist is finished. I forgot to mention that earlier, or perhaps I just didn't want to think and talk about the whole thing any longer.....yuck. I won't know what I will decide or what the best options are until after I meet with the peridontist next week. Since four of the teeth are already loose and easy to move with my finger, the dentist says it won't be long before they will come out on their own. They've already moved out of their usual positions which have caused some gaps that weren't there a couple months ago. So the whole situation has happened very quickly and I feel like I'm being railroaded into having to make a decision too fast. Thanks for your comments and for explaining your attitude about this. Now I know I'm not the only one who could feel as I do. With love, hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina SC & SE Regional Rep. PAI Note: All comments or advice are based on personal experience or opinion, and should not be substituted for consultation with a qualified medical professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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