Coming up to six months since acute pancreatitis diagnosis

Hi Arron - It's difficult to condone or give you a blessing on drinking after a doctor told you never to drink again. Your pancreas obviously suffered a big hit with your attack that ended you in the hospital for 6 days. 

Personally, I think you're rolling the dice with any amount of alcohol. I believe the weed doesn't help the pancreas. I think it just helps the how the brain interprets your pancreatic pain or malfunction. 

I lost my father with pancreatic cancer at the age of 57. He was not a drinker and quit smoking 15 years prior to having any pancreatic malfunctions. I think in your case, you were blessed by getting a second chance to give your pancreas a break. Based on what I read, the pancreas never repairs itself once it suffers a big hit, or acute attack. I think as hard as it is to lay off the booze and pot, I would consider abstaining from both. If you feel your life is important to you and want to live many more years, you might want to seek some counselling as well to assist you away from the booze and pot. Honestly, I think if these pancreatic attacks continue, eventually you won't get another chance. I realize how difficult it is to give up the beers and socilaize to that level. 

My first and last pancreatic attack gave me a 2nd chance on life. I ended up in the hospital like you and was a very casual weekend drinker of beer. I smoked cigarettes for 35 years. I know how hard it is not to have a beer at a social gathering or other events or just relaxing for the evening. 

I think you have to decide the price you're going to pay to have a few drinks and at the same time seek some counselling on how to control your alcohol intake. 

I wish you the best and a long, full life. If you take care of your pancreas, it will take care of you. Once it goes, there's never a second chance. Listen to your doctor, seek counseling and try somje non-alcohol beer. As far as the pot goes, I think that's only masking what's taking place in your body. Stay in tune with your body and live healthy.

My Best Regards,

Glenn

The 6 month rule is right, might even need a year.

Dude i suggest wait longer, eat lowfat for a while and then try and test waters.

If you just got sick a few weeks ago you aint ready, take this serious and wait, youll know wnen youre ready. If in doubt, you aint.

Hi,speaking from my experience of severe acute pancreatitas though money was caused by a gallstone I would listen to your doctor because believe me when I say me and my family have been to he'll and back the last 2 years including 6 month in hospital ,it is a horrible illness and I am very fortunate to still be here and had it not been for me having a pancreatic necrosectomy I probably wouldn't be,take the advice on board mate please. Good luck.

You seem very young to be going through this. I'm 33 drank bottle of wine most nights in 20's spirits on weekends. I started getting upper left abdo pain 7 years ago. Not severe and no vomiting and mainly constipated rather than other way. Because of location of pain, history of alcohol and a lot of googling I convinced myself I have chronic pancreatitis. Never had acute attack though.

I've had so many tests over last 7 years, colonoscopy, endoscopy, ct, ultrasound, tons of bloods, stool tests, MRI of pancreas and not one thing shows up. Seen about 20 GP's and 4 gastro specialists they all say it's ibs even though the pain is worse after alcohol and goes through to my back. I do hope they are right. I also struggle to give up alcohol competly and I cut right down but go through phases of drinking more. My wonder with you is that have they scanned your pancreas? Have you got divism or any hereditary pancreas problems? Because from my research most people with these issues so young do have this. (I might be wrong) I'm sure lots of young people drink too much but they don't all end up with pancreatitis so maybe it would be worth getting an MRI or ct to check it for divism because if you do have this then I would advise never touching alcohol again as it's likely to turn chronic. But if not then if you give it a year or so to heal you may be able to have the odd drink.

Hi Arron, its so difficult to know what to do when Drs themselves seem to give conflicting advise. I am not sure if mine is pancrease related and am very much like Natalie. Maybe just go as long as you can and test the water with  a small drink and then you know. My pain albeit more troublesome than painful is triggered by small amounts of alchohol. I try to abstain most of the time but sometimes have a couple of wines. People think you are crazy cos no one has told you to not drink and no one can find what is wrong with you. Every Dr just seems to want you out the door , by either prescribing omperazole or amytriptyline for every condition . Good Luck

Hi Aaron, I have chronic pancreatitis and here's what I'd advise. Stop drinking alcohol! I wish I'd have had an acute attack so I could have had a 2nd chance. I'd give anything to not have this disease, no drink is worth it! If that's what caused your acute attack, then you should never drink alcohol again.