Re : Life in general

[Guest guest]

Hello Loretta,

I would say, I'm afraid, that it isn't really possible to give a

simple answer to your question about the possibility of living

a " normal " life. Every case is different and very individual.

There are many people with CP who are able to continue working

throughout their lives or for a long time, anyway. I myself am 58

and have suffered from hereditary chronic pancreatitis all my life.

I still work full-time now. There have certainly been times in my

life when I came within a hairsbreadth of giving up.

There are many other patients who are forced to give up work at some

stage in their career, usually with considerable reluctance,

because of the severity of symptoms.

There are many others who have surgery or other procedures to

relieve symptoms and who can then continue with their lives better

than before because symptoms have been relieved completely or, at

least, to a lesser or greater degree.

Some patients can manage their condition with diet, abstinence from

alcohol, enzymes, appropriate pain-killers etc.

It may also depend on whether or not there are other medical

conditions which may complicate the overall situation.

I would say that you need to discuss your own particular case with a

specialist pancreatologist, if possible, or, at least, a very

experienced gastroenterologist. He or she should be able to give you

some indications.

I'm sorry not to be able to say more but you have only to read this

board to see how different people's experiences can be.

I hope for the very best prognosis in your case, Loretta. I don't

know what the implications are for dealing with your grant/loan. Are

there no insurance factors included to cover genuine reasons for

failing to complete a course of study? I think, in general, it is

good to continue with a normal life while one can. It can be

therapeutic to do so (I certainly find that) and gives a much more

positive attitude to life. On the other hand, once the condition has

become unmanageable in terms of pain control etc. etc. it cannot be

wise to fight to continue as normal until and unless the situation

is improved.

With very good wishes,

Fliss (UK)

[Guest guest]

Thanks to everyone replying in my questions concerning life in

general. I have already realized that there is not much of a pretty

normal life when it comes to health issues.

I will wait until I see the doctor and what he has to say concerning

my personal CP. Then I will make a decision. I really do want so

bad to continue in my education and fulfill my dreams. I think alot

of it may be worry on my part, but I think it is an issue I need to

think about at the same time.

Thanks to everyone for the welcome. I feel relly good, as good as

possible anyway, with this whole thing.

LORETTA GREER/TENNESSEE