Re: Surgery for pseudocysts/Kurt

[Guest guest]

Kurt,

The decisions you make regarding surgery are something that you alone

need to make, after carefully reviewing alternate options and discussion with

your team of medical professionals. We can only relate our own personal

experiences and choices, and the outcome of each, with the hope that the

facts involved will help another patient formulate their own decision.

I would like to point out that it is not the surgery alone that carries the risk

of a

pancreatitis attack, the ERCP procedure itself does have that potential.

ERCP's are the 7th cause of pancreatitis. These cases are usually easier to

contol and shorter, although, since the patient is in a hospital environment

where there is quick access to immediate medical attention and medication.

It is easy to understand your choice to adopt a " wait and see " position. If you

are now experiencing only mild discomfort and little interruption of normal

activities, then this approach seems to be the comfortable one. Perhaps you

will make other choices as things develop, and you find that you aren't

achieving the same levels of comfort. Unfortunately, chronic pancreatitis is a

progressive disease, and what seems tolerable today, may become an

entirely different scenario in the months/years to come. Good luck!!

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina Rep.

SE Regional Rep., PAI

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

only, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

Kurt wrote:

> Unless things change after the ERCP I am inclined to go the watch and wait

route. Appreciate any additional advice you have.