Chronic Pancreatitis took me to hell and back!
Posted , 34 users are following.
Hi, I believe my history of this condition started in 1977 at the age of 24, I began to get discomfort in my abdomen which my GP could not explain and would do anything about, it was not a major problem to me at that time I just new something was not right.
About 10 years later things got a lot worse the pain increased and was more frequent.
In 1989 I had been in a great deal of pain for over a year I didn’t want to eat because I couldn’t keep it down and it increased the pain, my GP had become obsessed with the idea that my problem was irritable bowel or it was all in my head, even to the point of sending letters to that effect to the hospital, which I believe obstructed their investigations on me.
I had had many tests over the years at the hospital but none had indicated what the problem might be.
I even paid to see a consultant privately (£100 per hr) but that turned out to be a lot of empty promises and I finished up none the wiser.
My breakthrough came when things got so bad I was having to take over 20 paracetamol a day (because my GP refused to give me anything stronger) trying to reduce the excruciating pain, I got to see a different GP in my surgery as mine was away, he was so concerned at my weight loss (now only 90lbs a loss of over 40lbs) and how I looked, he got me into hospital the next day.
My stay in hospital lasted 2 weeks they carried out extensive tests and discoved that I had chonic pancreatitis, cause unknown.
It took about 3 years on Nutrazim pancreatic enzyme (I am now on Creon 40000) before I could honestly say I was back to some sort of normality, my weight increased and I was able to live again. Since then I have had quite a few what I call “flare-ups” of pancreas pain but fortunately I now have Oramorph morphine solution to be able to cope with it, other than that I have been doing well, “oh!” apart from my Thyroid packing up!, it’s a good job we humans don’t have to have an MOT, I`d fail!
During 2006 I became Diabetic, this has caused me a few more problems but I am slowly learning to deal with this as well.
It is my experience that when you have this conditon that you feel very much alone, it seems that a GP`s knowledge of the condition is very limited and you feel as though you`r having to deal with everthing on your own. In twenty years I have not met anyone else or been able to speek to anyone that has it, so support is very thin on the ground.
Having told my story, I must add that although there were times when I was in severe pain and not being given any help or answers I did not want to live, the opposite applies now, so don’t ever give up.
5 likes, 39 replies
christophe69155 clarald
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hannah1958 christophe69155
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christophe69155 hannah1958
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pauline78442 christophe69155
Posted
On May 26th this year my husband who was extremely healthy and physically fit was performing on stage when he felt severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath, sweating - he thought that he was having a heart attack or that he was suffering from food poisoning and did not want to go to the emergency department. Early the next morning I drove him to the local hospital where they ran an ECG and blood tests. By 3pm that afternoon he was admitted, on an IV and morphine every four hours for the pain. He was severely dehydrated and he looked like he was five months pregnant with twins as his abdomen was so swollen. Over the course of the ten days in the hospital he had four ultrasounds, 2 Cat Scans and an MRI as well as numerous blood tests. He was on antibiotics and Tylenol for a fever. The doctors never found out what caused the pancreatitis. I don't know if his having hernia surgery ten days earlier had anything to do with it but the surgeon said that the operation was not simple but complicated.
My husband is now on a restricted diet and I make a juice (6-8 fresh vegetables with an apple) 24 fl oz twice a week for him and he takes a digestive enzyme whenever he eats. He starts each morning with six 8 oz glasses of water and drinks at least another 8 glasses each day. He is on a low fat diet, numerous fruits & vegetables, limited carbs, no caffeine/liquor.
Progress is slow and naps are a must in order for the body to heal. In all he has lost 28 lbs, mostly muscle and I know that it will take months to slowly rebuild.
Fortunately he doesn't suffer from any pain or nausea.
pauline78442 clarald
Posted
On May 26th this year my husband who was extremely healthy and physically fit was performing on stage when he felt severe abdominal pain, shortness of breath, sweating - he thought that he was having a heart attack or that he was suffering from food poisoning and did not want to go to the emergency department. Early the next morning I drove him to the local hospital where they ran an ECG and blood tests. By 3pm that afternoon he was admitted, on an IV and morphine every four hours for the pain. He was severely dehydrated and he looked like he was five months pregnant with twins as his abdomen was so swollen. Over the course of the ten days in the hospital he had four ultrasounds, 2 Cat Scans and an MRI as well as numerous blood tests. He was on antibiotics and Tylenol for a fever. The doctors never found out what caused the pancreatitis. I don't know if his having hernia surgery ten days earlier had anything to do with it but the surgeon said that the operation was not simple but complicated.
My husband is now on a restricted diet and I make a juice (6-8 fresh vegetables with an apple) 24 fl oz twice a week for him and he takes a digestive enzyme whenever he eats. He starts each morning with six 8 oz glasses of water and drinks at least another 8 glasses each day. He is on a low fat diet, numerous fruits & vegetables, limited carbs, no caffeine/liquor.
Progress is slow and naps are a must in order for the body to heal. In all he has lost 28 lbs, mostly muscle and I know that it will take months to slowly rebuild.
Fortunately he doesn't suffer from any pain or nausea.
Krazymammaw clarald
Posted
Hi , mine started out 15 yrs ago only 52 never really drank but I am living in hell everday I'm now finally seen specialist in indy I have stage 6 chronic pancreatitis and I know what you are going thru I take creon 3200 x 2 3 times a day my stomach is always hurting the pain meds have screwed up my liver and my pancrease is severely damage so now I'm getting ready to have surgery with a permanent pain pump I pray this works I still can't eat maybe once a day and it could be just yougurt and my stomach will hurt and I look 9 months pregant they don't know the cause some people they say are born with it . Today I woke up felt ok just very tired ate lunch with granddaughter's and within 15 min I was miserable yes they say I also have ibs but I finally found two very good doctors and I pray I can be normal again after surgery so far not diabetic and I also had all the nerves burned around pancrease to ease the attacks I pray u get feeling better