Re: newby for a friend

[Guest guest]

Thanks, Margaret. Do you really go to the emergency room each time you have a

flare-up? Does your insurance cover ER costs? No such thing as reaching your

regular doc off hours, right?

Do you know of a doctor who specializes in pancreatitis in Broward County or

South Palm Beach County, Florida? Friend has a gastro-enterologist but I

don't think this is really his area. Went to specialist in Miami Beach but it's

more than an hour away (without traffic).

PS Netiquette: should I reply to you directly or to the group?

[Guest guest]

> Hello everyone.

But today he also developed diarrhea, headache and the pain

> has moved up his back. Should we think attack of pancreatitis?

> Thank you for sharing your experience.

>

Um-This may be just me but if these are new symptoms I think he

should go to the ER ASAP and have bloodwork, a urine test (to rule

out kidney stones, kidney infection)and maybe a series of bowel x-

rays to rule out ileus (esp. if he's on pain meds)etc. Sitting home

and guessing is not good-peritonitis is *really* not good and can be

rather rapidly fatal.If you're brand new to this and don't know your

symptoms well yet always err on the side of caution and get medical

care whenever you're not sure what is going on.That is my policy

anyway.I've been dealing with this for a while and if the ER gave

frequent flier miles I'd be able to go to Aruba three times a year!

Margaret

[Guest guest]

> Thanks, Margaret. Do you really go to the emergency room each time

you have a

> flare-up? Does your insurance cover ER costs? No such thing as

reaching your

> regular doc off hours, right?

>

Nope, I do not go to the ER whenever I have a flare.Lately I go when

I need to be rehydrated stat. And my regular doc is not available

after hours and would just send me to the ER anyway (<G>).

Um, if he just needed to call his regular doc, has he and what was

the result?

Margaret