Chronic Calcific Pancreatitis_Problems and Life Expectancy

I was diagnosed with calcified pancreas in 2007, this year I have had two MRI scans, 2nd for a probable cyst but thankfully there's none - Yet. I have had chronic calcified pancreatitis for 7yrs now and the pain is unbearable at times, agonising for the rest. Thank you for your post on here, it's encouraging to read you're proof cysts aren't "the end" like we're led to believe! I wondered if you still have pain? Was surgery painful? I'm on oxy's, quite a lot and have been for over a year, now they want to try a cealiac plexus block around my spine. I've scared, it's a 100/1 safe with a 50/50 chance of any relief and I'd still be on my meds! I'm worried about it, heard many bad story's and the 50/50 chance it'll work seems a needless risk - Or am I wrong? Any experience or advice would be appreciated. I'm 36, feel like I'm 76 with all negative views about my future from numerous doctor's and so called specialist. I feel like a guinea pig and very confused! Thanks for reading and I hope all people suffering CP are staying strong :-) 

CP is diffrent with everbody some people have bad pain some people dont it just depends on how much the pancrease is damaged yes it is a  bad disease i have had it for 6 years pain comes and goes but by all means you can live a long life its just  what you have to go through to be comfortable diet no drinking but smoking is link to pancreatic cancer  they say at the meo clinic best in the world for this kind of thing that 1 in 500 people would develop cancer   but it hard to carry on with life when you know you have CP i  try not to worry about it cause you could be worring for the next 20 years the main thing is get you diet write try no dairy food but plenty of water because CP mean that your pancrease has shrunk a good bit so it need a lot of water even when your not dry but we have to deal with it all of us

I was wondering if anyone has experience about a cealiac plexus block injection? The pain clinic have offered it to me but said it's a 50/50 chance of doing anything. I'm concerned about anything near my spine but I'd try anything to block the pain. I'm also worried that the docs might say it's worked (because it's suppose to) and leave me in a worse situation.

I've not had the block myself but I do know of others who have and results are very mixed, at best it will only last a few months James. I am not aware of any adverse issues from the actual operation. The doctors will not ignore any future issues that you might have with pain.

I was CP about 2 1/2 years ago.  During that time I tried various pain management options, which included opiates, accupuncture, mind based stress reduction adn whatever else I could find.  After about 21 emergency room visits, I finally started to wise up and see a pain specialist.  In December 2013, I had a Spinal Cord Stimulator implanted with the goal being a 20% to 80% reduction in pain.  It has reduced my pain significantly.  It does not stop the CP, but it does tell my brian that I will feel a tingling sensation as opposed to gut wrentching pain.  The stimulator does have various programs to where I can dial it into the parts of my body the CP is effecting.  Being that the Pancreas is an organ, it is difficult to cover every part of it with the stiumulator, but the reduction has been such that I no longer need to take opiate pain medicines, but rather the non-narcotic ones like Tramadol.  I hope and pray that others will read my posti and know that while there is not a cure, there is a chance for a better quality of life and a longer life. 

Hi, I just have to ask about the calcification in the pancreas. I am new to having liver/pancreas issues. Waiting on a diagnosis and more testing, but the LFT'S said liver disease and I am negative for any hepatitis. I had abdominal sonogram and it showed my ducts were dilated with liver and pancreas but no stones were seen. Dr. Threw out that it could be a growth or a little cancer and referred me for more testing which I have been holding off on until my disability comes through. I have multiple other health issues; Ehlers Danlos hypermobility type, fibromyalgia, thoracic outlet syndrome, interstitial cystitis, narcolepsy with cateplexy, and CRPS.

Anyway, I'm pretty symptomatic now just a few short weeks, if that, later. Right side pain very bad tonight, gray stools, gas, and did I mention pain? Lol. My question is, I have had to have multiple CT scans over the years, and I always see that I have pancreatic calcifications. When I ask about them they always told me not to worry about them. Can you have calcifications and it be notmal?

Hi....,,,,I'm not seeing much posting done recently. Wonder how things worked out for some.I'm new to this disease however it's not my only problem so it's getting complicated and confusing and scary. He never discussed calcificstion....wat he saw on pcrs were 2 medium size cysts and said I have CP. My reply to u all is this.... everyone is different. Some worse than others. Before trying things on your own....please....check with your doctor. We don't know wat they know. You could easily do something very bad to yourself. Treat your body like everyone should. Wat is it with food ? Its wat youreeating,,at this point,,that brings attacks ... you can't process or digest fats. So......don't eat them. The diet is no different than for a healthy person. Eat wholesome foof,,fresh fruit and veggie,,consider vegetarianism. ...pork is ok,,,,but those processed meats are killers...a good steak here and there. The rest of your protein can come from soy,,,no fat. And they make everything with it. Of course live and eat healthy. Small ,,high high fiber meals 4 times a day and your tummy won't have you on the toilet next dat,,hopefully. But we I've learned,,,,eat fiber and no fat. My son is a type 1 diabetic...we eat the same. As healthy as we can. My heart goes out to those who suffer. Pain every day is awful. I hope some one reads this....,btw.....praying for a cure? You might be disappointed. Try maybe praying for strength to cope with life and ask for His comfort. God bless.

Sorry for your issue, friend. I had all the same at 45 yrs old, and after a couple years of this horrible pain, the doctor gave me the choice to have a whipple surgery, one of 3-4 surgeries done for chronic calcification pancreatitis. These surgeries all remove about 1/2 of the pancreas, which in my case made me an instant type 1 diabetic. I wish I had not done it, as it turns out it's not very successful in reliving pain, something less than 50% success.

You can probably live a long life, but it will be painful, and you'll have problems with narcotics, either too much or not enough. There is a thing called "burnout" which if it hurts bad enough and long enough the brain and central nervous system will give up and shut down the pain pathways. That can take 8-12 years, longer the more narcotics you use, but at times you'll need to have some kind of relief.

The best alternative I've found is to be as physically active as possible.

I have not been diagnosed with Chronic or Acute Pancreatitis however I am working closely with my GI doctor to figure out what's going on. I have symptoms such as rapid weight loss, pain radiating throughout my abdomen and back. Eating is extememely painful and they have detected oil in my stool. My CTs, bloodwork, and multiple other test have come back clean and multiple biopsies have also been benign. How ever my pancreas has not been biopsies, only documented as "swollen".. If anyone else have had these symptoms or something similar please comment back to me!

Being a mother of 2 kids in college the fear of cancer haunts me until each doctors appt. approaches. Thanks in advance.

Theres not much info on life expectancy out there. It can vary from one individual to another. Some say you can love a long life. It all depends on so many variables. Lets be optimistic and hope for the best . The pain can become chronic even after one mild acute attack even if theres no observable damage to the gland (as in the case of minimal change pancreatitis). From what I understand he pain comes from enzymes getting stuck in the pancreas and not being released like they should which inflames the pancreas. The vomiting becaumes a natural defense mechanism of the body to avoid food to not further damage the pancreas. For the memory loss I have no clue :s.

hope this helps,