Kate

[Guest guest]

Kate: Thanks for sending us this post and congratulations on the beginning of a

new life!

I'm putting your special date on my calendar so I will be thinking of you on

that date.

Flo in land

> ** Original Subject: RE: ALMOST THERE, THANKS TO YOU!

> ** >

> ** Original Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2000 09:38:00 -0700

> ** Original Message follows...

>

> Hi everyone,

>

> I'm Kate, chronic lurker. I'm 47, 5'4 " , 280, BMI 48. I don't post very

> often, but I've been a member of this list since the first of the year -

> and after almost a year of learning, questioning, researching, and

> preparing (not to mention the insurance roller coaster of denial then

> approval with a different insurer), I'm almost there - MY SURGERY DATE IS

> NEXT FRIDAY, NOV. 17th; my dear sister-in-law will be with me throughout

> the surgery and afterward. ANYONE WHO IS ALSO SCHEDULED FOR NOV. 17, PLEASE

> GIVE A SHOUT OUT - I am so psyched to meet fellow MGBers in person!

>

> Although I am a habitual lurker, I have followed the list all year long;

> sharing in the joys, frustrations, hopes, dreams and prayers with all of

> you. I have been informed, entertained, awed and inspired by this

> ever-changing, living group of wonderful and unique individuals. And now I

> can hardly believe I'm one of those saying " I HAVE A DATE! " Wow. It's been

> a long and sometimes challenging road, but I wouldn't trade a minute of it,

> because I do believe it's all in God's time. As so many have said before

> me, and so many will after me, this is the most important thing I can do

> for myself, for my quality and length of life, and for my loved ones who

> want me around for a long time. Friday, November 17th, I begin to get my

> life back - after too many years of living fractionally.

>

> I know the first few months will provide new challenges as my body and

> psyche adjust to this life-changing event (oddly, my greatest worry is

> vomiting uncontrollably in a business meeting, anyone experience that?).

> but I intend to meet those challenges with as much faith, grace and humor

> as I can muster, knowing that they represent the path to my goal.

>

> Although I'm not good at posting to the public list, I have corresponded

> one-on-one with some of you; and I especially want to thank the folks who

> agreed to be my post-op contacts: , Kim, Amy, Flo, etc. You folks have

> set a great example for responsiveness and empathy which I will do my best

> to emulate as a post-op (oh my God, there it is again: ME as a post-op!).

> And to everyone else, thank you for your wisdom, support, prayers and

> encouragement - even if you didn't know I was the grateful receipient. Back

> atcha.

>

> I am so excited but admittedly a little scared...I hope you will send

> prayers and positive thoughts to me and my littermates and Dr. R on Friday

> as we begin the next step of this journey. I know you all will be in my

> thoughts, with love and gratitude.

>

> Kate

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Hi Kate,

I'm sorry your mother is not well. Of course, as others have said,

pancreatitis, acute or chronic, can be caused by any number of

factors and not just gall bladder problems or alcohol. If no cause

is found, it is simply called idiopathic.

Have the doctors said whether your mother had an attack of acute

pancreatitis or if the condition is chronic? These are different

conditions although one can sometimes lead to the other.

You don't say what the symptoms are? Pain? Diarrhoea? Malabsorption?

Nausea? Weight loss? Other symptoms?

In the case of chronic pancreatitis, there are a number of things

which can help :

no alcohol (I know that's already the case for your mother)

low-fat diet

frequent small meals as opposed to large meals

pancreatic enzymes (eg. Creon) to aid digestion

appropriate pain-killers if pain is a problem

Managing the condition usually involves taking all the above factors

into account. It will be for the docs to decide on things like

enzymes....when or if you are ready for this therapy. However, it is

very important to find a really experienced gastroenterologist or

specialist pancreatologist to treat you. Pancreatitis is not that

common and many docs know very little about it, especially the

chronic variety.

Many people also take antoxidants. There is a special mix (Antox)

which some take, which was associated with the Manchester Royal

Infirmary (UK) pancreatic team a few years ago. Others, like me,

just take a good quality proprietary brand of antioxidants/vitamins.

Antox itself is not generally prescribable in the UK, as far as I

can gather. (Clinical trials are still being held. It's not that

it's dangerous but just that its efficacy is still being

researched.) This means that it would have to be bought at its face

value and this would make it prohibitively expensive.

Some patients have managed to make up their own version of Antox by

buying the ingredients separately. If you look through past posts

you'll see many on this. Heidi regularly publishes details of the

ingredients and she then makes up her own mix.

Acute pancreatitis is different. Some patients are lucky and recover

from an acute attack and don't have another, provided they don't

drink alcohol and provided any other known underlying cause is dealt

with.

I suspect you need to find out a little more or, maybe, it would be

helpful if you explained a few more details, if you don't mind, that

is. I know there are so many people on the board who will be able to

help.

I wish you good luck as you find out more. The PAI has been a life-

saver for me and I'm sure it will be tremendously helpful for you as

well. It takes time to come to terms with this diagnosis. You need

to digest the facts and then gradually begin more research etc. The

PAI board will help!

With good wishes,

Fliss (UK)