Re: I am wondering?

[Guest guest]

Well, I am due to see my Dr. this Thursday and will discuss all this

with her.

I don't know what causes it with me. All I know is the pain I do get

is typically in the upper stomach and on occasion it spreads to the

lower stomach.

Clayton

[Guest guest]

Chrissy,

My Dr. is a GI specialist! I never see GP Dr.'s because when I used

to work running a medical exchange the Dr.'s I dealt with always

told me it was better to start with someone who specializes. Their

logic was, " Even if you don't need it, it is better to have a Dr.

who spent more time in school. " As fate would have it, she is just

what I need.

Anyway, I am not really stressing. Actually, I am sitting here in an

internet cafe downloading songs! (Smile). Thursday will come soon

enough, worringing won't make it better.

Clayton

[Guest guest]

Clayton,

I found that in my experience, it did get worse over time....a very short time!

My initial diagnosis was alcohol related pancreatitis, since I did acknowledge

to the ER doctors that I had been a social drinker in the past. The last drink

I

had was about two weeks before I was taken to the hospital with an acute

attack on April 30, 2001. Although my diagnosis has since been changed to

" idiopathic " by the Pancreatologist at the Mayo Clinic in 2004, that doesn't

matter.

Although the last alcohol that I consumed was in April of 2001, my chronic

pancreatitis progressed, initially at a slow rate during the first year. The

first

year my episodes of pain were infrequent, and I was only needing pain

medication about once every two weeks or so, for a 1-2 day period. The

second year, the pain became more of a continual problem and my pain

medication needs were increased accordingly. In January of 2003, about 19

months after my initial dx, I started a rapid downhill slide, where I was in

pain

24/7 and losing 1 pound every 2 days. Within a 3 month period, I lost 30

pounds, had vision, thirst and urinary problems, and was admitted to the

hospital in March 2003, almost in a coma, in diabetic ketoacidosis shock, with

a burned out pancreas. I emerged 6 days later as a brittle, insulin dependent

diabetic, needing up to 8 injections of insulin daily, some days more. It all

took place less than 2 years after my original diagnosis, 22 months, actually.

All the doctors have said that my case was a very unique one and that

statistical research doesn't support having that much happen in that short a

time frame. All I can say is that it DID happen to me, and that it's never too

soon to stop drinking. The damage IS progressive, but apparently can

deteriorate more rapidly in some individuals than it does in others. I know

others with alcohol related chronic pancreatitis that are still going strong and

show relatively moderate damage after more than 10-15 years or more.

Thankfully, everyone is different. You can read my very long story about it

all,

at the web link beneath my signature.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina State Rep.

South Eastern Regional Rep., PAI

http://www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Note: All comments or advice are from personal experiences or opinion only,

and should not be a substitute for consultation with your medical professional.

[Guest guest]

Heidi,

thanks for sharing. I have book marked the page and will read it

later this afternoon.

Clayton