Welcome Colin

[Guest guest]

Colin,

Sorry for the circumstances that brought you to this board, but it's a good

place to be if

you want to learn about pancreatitis and the many effects it will have on your

life. If your

condition doesn't go chronic, you may only have that one time experience with

acute

pancreatitis and not have any more problems at all. This would be great, but

more often

than not, the pancreatitis becomes a chronic condition.

One of the first things your doctor will try to determine is the cause of your

acute attack.

Had you been drinking beforehand? I ask this because alcohol is one of the

leading causes

of acute pancreatitis, side by side with gall bladder problems. These two

qualifiers

account for about 70% of all pancreatitis diagnosis'. The remaining causes are

heriditary,

due to sphincter problems, provoked by certain medications, or idiopathic (which

means

the doctors can't find any definable cause).

The challenge of determining the cause for your attack will be the first thing

on the

adgenda, and should involve several different kinds of tests, as well as a

thorough review

of your previous history. If you have having any difficulty now, be certain to

discuss this

with your doctor. As some mentioned earlier, you should make sure you meet with

a

pancreatic specialist, either a gastroenterologist or a pancreatologist. If you

are just

meeting this time with a general practice doctor, have this doctor refer you to

a specialist.

Since you were asking about medication earlier, it leads me to believe that you

are still

having issues with pain. It would be helpful to keep a diary of your pain, it's

intensity,

when it bothers you, and for how long. Take this to your doctor, it will help

him to judge

your pain severity and should help him to decide what pain medication would be

most

suitable. The pain you're experiencing may just be the residual effects of the

acute attack,

which can last up to 4-6 weeks, or it could indicate that you have already

developed a

chronic condition. Only time will tell.

I suggest that in the meantime you try to eliminate some of this pain by eating

a low fat

diet, not more than about 30 grams of fat daily. This will help the pancreas

from having

to work too hard to digest fats and proteins, which it has difficulty doing once

pancreatitis

has damaged the organ. When you meet with the doctor, you should ask him about

taking

pancreatic enzyme supplements. These are capsules that contain the enzymes

amylase,

protease and lipase, which are the enzymes normally produced by the pancreas

when it is

functioning at full capacity. Oral substitution of these enzymes helps the

pancreas to rest

and not strain itself by having to produce the enzymes on its own, thus causing

less pain

when you eat.

I'm sure you'll have many more questions, and I'm here to tell you that you've

come to a

place where you should be able to find the answers you seek. Please remember

that no

question is too inconsequential and someone learns something each time another

one

asks. We're here to help you however we can.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should not be

substituted for

consultation with a medical professional.