Re : New here

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I'm sorry you're going through such pain. One of the problems is

that patients do sometimes continue to have pain even after

pancreatic surgery. Even after a total pancreatectomy there are some

patients who will experience some pain. I'm not sure how well

understood the pain mechanisms associated with the pancreas actually

are, even to-day.

However, this doesn't mean that there are no measures which could be

taken to improve the situation and make you feel better. I think you

are right to look for a pancreatic specialist but, as Heidi says,

they are rather thin on the ground. It's worth it if you can find

one because chronic pancreatitis is pretty rare and it's good to

have a specialist who spends all his/her time looking at diseases of

the pancreas. Even a very good, experienced gastroenterologist does

not spend nearly as much time considering the pancreas as the more

focused specialist does. The specialist will be more aware of the

after-effects of different pancreatic surgeries and how best to deal

with them.

Having said all that, don't panic! Experienced gastroenterologists

DO deal with CP and often do so very well. Often there is no local

pancreatic specialist. My own gastro has treated me excellently

although he also referred me to the pancreatologist/pancreatic

surgeon in the same hospital. They seem to take broadly very similar

views of my case anyway.

The pancreatologist I see has written in an information booklet for

patients that pain can continue after initial surgery and that

patience is needed by all concerned to adopt the best approach. I

hope you won't have long to wait before something positive comes up.

Have the docs discussed your diet with you?

I do hope you can find someone to help, even a gastro (!!) who will

discuss the matter more fully from different points of view.

Good luck and good wishes,

Fliss (UK)