Newly diagnosed with Pancreatitis
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hey everyone!
I'm 24 years old and newly diagnosed with Pancreatitis. I first got acute pancreatitis back in May and it has since then been acting up. I've had some doctors call it Chronic Pancreatitis, but honestly I don't know where I'm at with it. My doctors are also split on the cause, half say alcohol and half say other. All the doctors and visits just leave me with more questions than answers.
I just started a new job today. And of course I woke up in the night with some pain and discomfort. This is all just getting so frustrating. I keep trying to move forward but I always get pulled back.
I was wondering how other people have been coping with this? How does it affect your work life? Or your life in general? I've been trying to be positive for so long, it's starting to become too much.
2 likes, 8 replies
NixKiwiWolf ottozone
Posted
Oh my, this is me word for word. First attack in May and following the exact same pattern as you. I have been off work until last week but luckily I can work from home (graphic designer) but it's not ideal. Social events are pretty much out of the question too as I never know when a flare will happen. Go for endless tests which don't seem to show much other than inflammation in the head of my pancreas. Everything else normal. As an active, social person this has really hit me for six. I'm lucky in that I have a wonderful husband that takes amazing care of me and no kids to worry about but I'd hate to think this is going to be my life from now on - I'm only 51.
ottozone NixKiwiWolf
Posted
I'm there too! Lucky to have an amazing supportive boyfriend and no kids. I honestly don't know how I would do this without him. I was pretty active too. I really love lifting weights and being active. Now I feel like that's all been ripped away. I agree with you, I'm scared this is going to be my life from now on. And for me, it's hard cause I feel like even with my support system at home it's hard to find someone who understands the pains and anxiety that comes with this.
Guest ottozone
Posted
I was first diagonosed with acute pancreatitis in december last year at 23, and i've been in and out of hospital since,I was later diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis in June this year,the doctor's said to me it could be linked to past alcohol abuse but other doctor's think given the nature of how my pancreas reacts to certain foods like high fat foods (or i can have a good day or a bad day with the pain as a result i'm unemployed the pain can be so bad that it is almost impossible for me to function or i can get voilently sick aswell.) that i could be genetically predisposed to developing it which left me with even more questions than answer's, pancreatitis for me can very unpredictible and extremly frustrating, on a good day i try to ignore and forget about it,that of coarse until it flare's up again that is when it take over my life in general. I hope your symptoms improve alot soon.
ottozone Guest
Posted
So far I've been lucky enough to only suffer from abdominal pain and nausea. But the flair ups just suck so much. It made me miserable at work today. I hated starting my new job like this! I hope your symptoms start to improve soon too. It's hard not knowing why we're like this.
jimmy94991 ottozone
Posted
ottozone jimmy94991
Posted
Thanks. I think my biggest problem is not eating during a flare-up. My job requires me to have a lot of energy and stay alert at all times. It's been hard to keep that up after not eating for awhile.
jimmy94991 ottozone
Posted
When you say a flare I guess its abdomen pain ,nausea , which is what I have although my docs say that's not a flare just left over from my attack in July but I am not sure . The good news is last week I went three days completely pain free no nausea then Thursday a little pain after eating something I shouldn't have by Friday nausea, pain sick feeling all over start again but my doc says it takes time hope she's not lying lol . She said it can take 3 months or even more to get some normal days . Here's what I am learning if I worry that's a trigger if I do to much that's a trigger. So I have decided what I can do is what I can do I will beat this and so can you though wisdom and prayer both which come from the Lord! Hope this helps.
rick71536 ottozone
Posted
Ottozone,
Wow! Chronic Pancreatitis at age 24.......that is very young to get it. I have Chronic Pancreatitis Bad, I Have had the Whipple Procedure (Removal of Head of Pancreas) and I still have it. The Dr's have considered removing it totaly, but then I Would be a diabetic for life, I'm 50.
As how you got, my first thing would be the alcohol, but at 24 I may say it was hereditary.....anyone else in your family have it? Mine was caused by alcohol, I was just your normal beer drinking guy, a few after work and more on the weekends, pretty much the,same as every guy I know......but doing it for. 30 years, I guess my Rock and Roll lifestyle finally got me.......
As far as eating, I usualy don't, not the best advice but after 15 years of hangimg out for work in Russsia, Turkey,'Poland, etc I got to where I could go weeks on very little food, I would drop 10-15 pounds a trip. But you need protein, I hate Ensure, Boost and all those nasty protein drinks. But I was told by a Dr. To,get the Carnation instant Breakfast, you mix it with milk and it tastes a hell of a lot better than boost and ensure. It has the same protein as the others. As far as solid food, are you taking the Enzyme pills when you eat? I'm supposed to but usually forget or just don't take them like I should, when I'm feeling ok I eat anything, my pancreas may be ok with one food and then the next time I eat it, it kills me............the others are rght, low fat is best if you can do it.
You never said anything about pain meds, what did they give you? I know this is a touchy subject with some, but it's a fact of life with chronic pancreatitis. I take percosets and Oxy time release daily, I have for several years just to function normally. Sure I know that my body is addicted to the opoids, when you have pancreatitis and the severe pain the opoids are really the only thing that dulls the pain. My Dr's and I have had several discussions about removing my pancreas totaly, or leave it in and treat it with pain meds. All agree to leave it and stay on the opoids. If you don't have a pain dr, get one........there is no doubt the oxy's are dangerous and you have to be careful and take them like they are prescribed. They killed Prince a few months ago and they kill normal people every day. But, like I said if you are in severe pain, thats your best bet or go to er for a iv with dilaudid.
Your pancreatitis is probably not as severe as mine and I hope yours doesn't get worse, just stay away from alcohol or you will be asking for a bad attack and a ER visit.........
Good luck, let me know how it goes.......go get a good pain Dr if you don't have one.
Rick