Here Comes w/More Questions!!

[Guest guest]

Well, as I said...here I come with more questions LOL!! Anyway, I

just wanted to post to get some feedback hopefully from those that

have battled this awful illness for longer than I have. I will try

to be brief and just list them and hope for answers.

1. Is the severity of the pain accompanied with hypoglycemic

feeling and nausea that has been much worse an indication that the

disease is getting worse? Or is it just a more severe flare up?

2. At what point would you recommend going to the ER (since as we

all know that the DINKS (Doctors In Need of Knowledge) as someone

else calls them on another board!) won't be very helpful. I've

almost gone a couple of times this past weekend but don't out of

fear that they won't treat this well and I'll regret the decision to

go almost immediately. The reason I ask is that I feel that at

times this is getting all too much for me to manage myself and that

is becoming worrisome.

3. Why now is the hypoglycemia becoming a new feature/symptoms

accompanied by severe pain (8-9 out of 10 level.)? I can't seem to

rid myself of it even when I eat something that provides carbs,

sugar, etc. I've been tested for it (non-fasting though) and test

was negative.

4. Is the tightening feeling in RUQ accompanied with SEVERE

bloating (a new symptom) and a sort of hard mass I can feel with my

fingers) an indication of anything? It almost feels like I'm

pregnant and the baby's foot is sticking out. It also feels as

though it's moving around sometimes...is this a possible cyst or

something? The bloating is making me look like I AM pregnant at

about 5 months or so..

Well, I can't think of anything else right now, but hopefully

someone will be able to answer my questions here. As always, thanks

so much for your help and support...I don't post every day but I try

to read them all so I am with you all in spirit anyway!!

As always, thanks from the bottom of my heart. I'm feeling very

down today and since this has taken a turn for the worst I'm feeling

scared as well.......

love to all

[Guest guest]

,

I've been away from the computer for a few days and are just now seeing this

post. Since I haven't read through all the messages, yet, please forgive it if

you've already received all the response to these questions that you needed.

As always, your questions, anyone's questions, are always welcome and it's

only by asking that you learn.

> 1. Is the severity of the pain accompanied with hypoglycemic feeling and

nausea that has been much worse an indication that the disease is getting

worse? Or is it just a more severe flare up?<

IMO, they are really one and the same. In my personal experiences, the

more severe flareups accompanied more damage. As the damage

progressed, the incidence of episodes increased and the symptoms became

more severe. My hypoglycemic experiences increased.

> 2. At what point would you recommend going to the ER....<

My personal approach to this has been to wait at all costs, mainly because of

my fear of unsympathetic, inexperienced medical help for pancreatitis

patients. This is not always a wise approach, just one that I followed. But if

I

took my meds, and then took a double dose and still had no relief within an

hour, then I would go to the ER or to my doctor. I've learned since that this

could be foolishly dangerous for someone with large pseudocysts like mine,

because of the chance of their rupturing, and if they do, medical care needs

to be immediate. Knowing this now, I won't wait that long if uncontrollable

pain that can't be controlled by meds occurs. This is a decision you need to

make for yourself, only you know you own body. I would make it a rule to

take your temperature during these times of distress, though, and if at any

time that you have an increased temperature, off to the ER you should go. An

increased temp could indicate infection and needs to be addressed

immediately.

> 3. Why now is the hypoglycemia becoming a new feature/symptoms

accompanied by severe pain (8-9 out of 10 level.)? I can't seem to rid myself

of it even when I eat something that provides carbs, sugar, etc. I've been

tested for it (non-fasting though) and test was negative.<

I can't answer that one, except to say that it does appear that you do have

some blood sugar imbalance which seems to materialize during these

attacks. Have you ever been tested when you're in the process of a bad

flare?

> 4. Is the tightening feeling in RUQ accompanied with SEVERE bloating (a

new symptom) and a sort of hard mass I can feel with my fingers) an

indication of anything? It almost feels like I'm pregnant and the baby's foot

is

sticking out. It also feels as though it's moving around sometimes...is this a

possible cyst or something?<

It could well be a pseudocyst, that's what they feel like. Usually a pseudocyst

develops with 14 days of an especially severe attack, or an acute attack.

Mine were already formed at the time of my first medically recorded acute

attack. I'd had a severe stomach upset 6 weeks prior to this, the Dr's.

concluded that what I'd had then was actually an acute attack, and that's

when the pseudocysts had formed. I would suggest that you call your doctor,

explain how this feels, and ask that he set up a CT-scan for you to check it

out. And yes, they can move around a little. One of mine is easy to move,

the other stays in a stable position.

I'm sorry you're feeling down, . You've been so supportive and helpful

with everyone else here that it's sad to see that you're not feeling your best.

Yet we all understand, and we all know that these cycles of up and down

feelings are just part of the territory of dealing with this disease. I think

you

will feel much better once you know exactly what's happening right now, even

if it isn't the best of news. Knowing what's going on will fortify you with the

strength to deal with it and fight it. It's impossible to do that when you

DON'T

know what's going on, right?

I wish the best for you, and please let us know what your doctor says.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All advice or comments are based on personal experience or opinion,

and should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.