Pancreatitis
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Hello. I was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis in September of last year 2017 after a debilitating attack of what I thought was stomach ache. Hitherto I had never heard of the disease. After a couple of days in the hospital with what in my lay man’s view were constant doses of painkillers and antibiotics, my doctor packed me home with relief and more drugs. He requested I go for a blood test and I complied. When he studied the results I brought back from the laboratory, he looked at me with a quick sly stare and back to the test result before him. ‘Just as I thought,’ he proclaimed. Then he announced I had pancreatitis. ‘Pancre what?’ I asked. He went on to school me briefly on what it was and told me it was chronic. ‘Not one more drop of alcohol, very little fat in your diet, etc. To drive his point home, he informed me out of the seven people he had seen with the disease, five have since passed. ‘Any more attack and you have a fifty fifty chance of survival,’ he said. He explained there was no cure. I went home crest-fallen. Well I have come to know now that his fifty fifty quip was rather harsh but I have also realized it is a condition to take seriously.
I didn’t have too much of a choice in my food selection. Almost everything available to me contained fat I could hardly control. Low on money for further tests except a follow up exam for gall stones, I feared I was done for but I dropped the alcohol anyway. Then an event transpired that has made me believe all over in fate. An old friend I knew thought all I had was stomach ache. His father he told me had suffered from a lot of ailments of the stomach and that some old African healers had shown him a brew that kept him till he eventually passed on in later times. I was desperate and ready to grab at anything. A week after starting with this brew, I was almost pain free but when I had used it up, I embraced my comfort and asked for no more. The pain crept back after a short time and I went back to my friend who prepared the brew for me again. I have kept some supply by my side since and I am very well off now. I do not know what effect this brew is having except that it has kept the pain away. My doctor obliged me when I asked for a slip for another test but I am yet to go for it. As soon as I can finance my trip to the lab, I will go against hope to see what lies in store.
I think I might have stumbled upon some aid or relief mechanism in the least and I will like to be of some help to other sufferers. So far, I know enzyme supplements and other medications are currently so expensive I don’t think I could have afforded to use them. I have used none. I want to visit my doctor and let him in on what I think might be happening here. Hopefully he does not laugh me off so that if some of those sufferers he knows have made it this far, I should have them give the remedy a try.
I will endeavor to give an update after I see the doctor and possibly find some other sufferers here in Ghana to see if this brew might be of some help to them too.
0 likes, 12 replies
Reefsider moonrise
Posted
Hello Moonrise. Chronic Pancreatitis is progressive, it can't be reversed but can be managed to a degree. An attack of Acute Pancreatitis can sometimes be stopped from progressing to Chronic with a change of diet, no alcohol and lifestyle changes. You have Chronic so listen to your doctor regarding diet and alcohol free future it's very important.
I'm in Australia where indigenous 'bush medicine' has been known for a long time. Many swear by it, I have tried it, without success, and not for my Chronic Pancreatitis however there are people who feel it helps them for various general ills, not instead of modern Western medicine and especially not for serious medical conditions.
Scientific studies are required before any medicine can be deemed safe for general use, it takes years. If you know of someone in a position to help have the medicine studied then go ahead and provide them with some but do not start promoting it yourself to sick people, it's very dangerous to do that.
That you feel the medicine you've tried has helped you, it does not mean you can ignore the known facts. You must change your diet to low fat and you must never drink alcohol again.
You had a bad attack and were hospitalised, most of the time after treatment the pancreas settles down (hopefully). It can take a long time for the pancreas to settle, months, so it just might be a coincidence that your pancreas has settled since you took the medicine. Regardless, it is dangerous for you to ignore the diet, your pancreas can't digest food properly, you must help it. If you don't you will get deficiencies and need supplements, you will have malnutrition which can cause other serious medical issues.
I know you're excited about the medicine but please don't encourage others with Pancreatitis, or any other medical condition, to take it and don't you rely on it either.
moonrise Reefsider
Posted
Thank you Reefsider for your advice. I definitely should watch my diet and I am abstaining from alcohol. With the medicine, I cannot be sure myself in what particular way it is aiding me except for the fact that it seems to have got rid of my pain. What I went through was terrible so at least I am grateful for the time-being. I was just thinking if it could bring some relief to others, why keep it to myself but you are absolutely right. I am not going to encourage anyone to rely on it but if someone else is experiencing the sort of aggravation I have been through and wants to give it a try, I won't say no.
Jcar Reefsider
Posted
Reefsider Jcar
Posted
Hi Jcar, welcome to our world haha. Obviously not a humorous topic but one has to have a sense of humour to cope sometimes.
When fluid gathers like that it's usually referred to as a pseudocyst which occurs (usually) when pancreatic fluid leaks from a dodgy pancreatic duct. It usually means the disease is chronic, that you have Chronic Pancreatitis.
The fluid can resolve on it's own, or it can be drained especially if it gets infected.
Not everyone has the same symptoms, I'm chronic and my pancreas is calcifying, ducts ok at this stage anyway. We are all different and present with different issues, the only common thing being that our pancreases are diseased.
Whilst Acute Pancreatitis can be a one off affair, sometimes it can progress to Chronic which means it can't be reversed and is progressive at that point. It's very important to follow a low fat diet, not drink alcohol ever and not smoke (the pancreas hates smoking). It is managed not cured.
That your enzyme levels weren't raised isn't surprising if you have Chronic. You definitely need to see a gastroenterologist who specialises in the pancreas that's very important, gastroenterologists only have a general knowledge of the pancreas, you'll need a pancreas specialist especially if your endoscopy shows damage. Don't be talked out of it, get the best qualified for the job not a generalist.
Jcar Reefsider
Posted
Reefsider Jcar
Posted
I think your comment about zero symptoms since the attack is your answer regarding whether it's best to remove the cyst or not. If you're not having symptoms leave it alone is my thought. Your pancreas specialist is the best one to discuss this with. All I know, from reading, is that the more one fiddles with the pancreas the higher likelihood of symptoms like pain arise. Leave the sleeping dog alone.
How often attacks occur is impossible to predict. Whilst one has to abide by the rules, low fat diet and no alcohol or cigs, my experience and that of others who've posted here seem to suggest that pancreas attacks can be triggered with little or no apparent reason at times, despite best efforts.
If your problem relates to the pancreas and you have issues like nausea or pain when eating and especially if you have the classic bowel movements it's important to take enzymes immediately before eating to assist with digestion. Your MRI and endoscopy will clarify your particular issues and discussion with your specialist will put you on the right path for future management.
Jcar Reefsider
Posted
Hi Reefsider. Just checking and i hope all is well. I heard back from my MRI and endoscopy. Endoscopy was fine. I have below the remarks from radiology report and was hoping you could decipher. I've dropped 28 lbs and eliminated alcohol since my November 20 problem. No further physical symptoms .
The pancreatic duct is normal in caliber, however there is
presence of congenital pancreas divisum.
The peripancreatic inflammatory changes seen at CT have
significantly improved. There is a lobulated but fairly
circumscribed 5.3 x 3.4 x 3.8 cm lesion immediately superior to
the pancreas, centered on the neck, and extending towards
the
gastrohepatic ligament region. This demonstrates fairly
marked
hyperintensity
Any thoughts or interpretation is appreciated. Thanks
Jcar Reefsider
Posted
Hi Reefsider. Just checking and i hope all is well. I heard back from my MRI and endoscopy. Endoscopy was fine. I have below the remarks from radiology report and was hoping you could decipher. I've dropped 28 lbs and eliminated alcohol since my November 20 problem. No further physical symptoms .
The pancreatic duct is normal in caliber, however there is
presence of congenital pancreas divisum.
The peripancreatic inflammatory changes seen at CT have
significantly improved. There is a lobulated but fairly
circumscribed 5.3 x 3.4 x 3.8 cm lesion immediately superior to
the pancreas, centered on the neck, and extending towards
the
gastrohepatic ligament region. This demonstrates fairly
marked
hyperintensity
Any thoughts or interpretation is appreciated. Thanks
Reefsider Jcar
Posted
Hi Jcar, I'm pleased you're feeling better. Your situation is very different from mine, I've had no reason to study issues relating to findings in your report so can't throw any light on it, sorry. I'd have thought your doctor would have explained what's happening. I do hope you're seeing a pancreas specialist now.
Perhaps someone here will have some insights based on their experience and chime in.
chase43944 moonrise
Posted
Jcar moonrise
Posted
Hello moonrise, I'm new to the forum. On November 20 I had a sudden onset of severe pain from just below ribs extending about 10-12 inches over the pancreas and stomach. 2 days later I went to ER and had bloodwork and CT scan with contrast. The only abnormality on scan was fluid around pancreas. All enzyme tests were well within normal reading and triglycerides were normal. They made a differential diagnosis of duodenal ulcer gave me ozarpan and Sulfconate. By next afternoon I was feeling fine except lack of appetite. The ER doc recommends seeing a gastro specialist. I am now scheduled for MRI and endoscopy but Dr seems most interested in pancreas and gallbladder. I have felt fine since and i puposely continued to diet and dropped 20 lbs. Im no more than a 2 drink per week drinker but have given up since this episode. What does fluid around pancreas mean? Will it go away on its own or does gallbladder need to be removed. I wanted to get feedback from members please. Thanks.
moonrise Jcar
Posted