Scared: Answered sought on pancreatitis

Hi Nix, Thanks for sharing your personal experince with me. I have never been a big alcobhol drinker (other than collge days in thr 80s when beer flowed freely at parties) so staying away from alcohol should not be a problem. WHat will be a problem is the challege I will face with foods like pizza which I love but have high fat content which I know is bad. Again thanks for sharing your experience. God bless. 

THanks Jimmy.  Wow you are still not yourself after almost 5 months. Does that mean you now have chronic pancreatits and the protocl for treatent changes? 

THank You Jo, I didnt know you could live without a pancreas? 

Hi MIdo, He did order that a CT scan with conrast which I Had first day in the hospital. But it didnt reveal much of the pancreas because ther eport says too much  fluid int the retroperitoneum. to get good look at pancreas.  Now they want me to go for an MCRP or ECRP ( Something like that) . One of teh gastor docs in the hosptial  said most cases caused by a tumor are presented first with jaundice and dark colored urine and itchy skin. Ihavent had any of that  but because alcohol and gall stones have been ruled out they want to try to figure out what the cau might be rather then chalking it up to idiopathic  cause.

They suspected cancer early on for me even though I had no jaundice, itching or dark urine and I had all the tests - CT with contrast, MRCP and EUS. No cancer (whew) but an inflamed pancreas and bile duct. Still the same after seven months but the pain is down to virtually nothing at the moment with occasional little flares around my period (not that you will have to worry about that!).

I am convinced that being very strict about the diet and hydration are the keys to management and/or recovery. That also supports the rest of your body too. It's not easy, especially at this time of year, but I'd rather feel well rather than eat pizza. There are lots of nice things to eat even on a strict diet - just happens most of them are fruit and vegetables. Humans are conditioned to crave fat and salt but you just have to be tough with yourself. Believe me, you'll be better in the long run if you do what's right for you.

THanks again

I hope this helps in anyway good luck!

Elizabeth thank you for such a thoughtful and educational response. Since leavinghte hospital I went to a local gastro. doc I just wasnt happy with jhis info. e Hes said "a bomb went off in you rstomach there is nothing we can do let it heal and come see me in 6 weeks.  I felt like sayng OK doc tell me why the bomb went off in my stomach so we can prevent it from happening again, I dont drink and they saod if I had a stone my liver enzymes would have been elvated as well. Als CT scan and ultrasound showed no evience of gallstones. Feeling kind of unhappy I searched for a gastro doctor here in Charlotte (closet major city to me)  that has specific clinical interests in acute pancreatitis, chronic pancreatis and Something called ECRP. WHile I did get an appointment it is not until Jan 5. As you know, not knowing can cause anxiety. I have been told to be on low fat diet I am using the livestrong diet tracker to help me. ITs free and realy helps you stay focused. The challenge is getting the proper amount of protein, fat and fiber becaue if I dont I feel very fatigued. Protein of course isa tissue builder and healer so it is exteremely important. I am starting to add things to the diet day by day and have not yet had an epsiode of vomiting, slight nausea but no vommitting.  I have had an egg white instead of an egg. pureed juices of frutis and vegetables, a tablespoon or two of avocado for the very good fats but none of the bad fats ( which is also said to lower ldl and help lower the chance of insulin resistance) I have also been told to drink a lot fo water but for some reason I can't hit my goal ( maybe cause its wnter.)  At 53 this has certainly woken me up to the fact that years of pizzza, fast food, eating out and having thos big portions ( oddly when I had my attack I was eating a mediterreanean chicken salad at Riuby Tuesdays) and snacking on anythng from candy to chips ( never have been a drinker but love the sweet drinks) . THanks agin for takling th time to write me. I love watermelon and berries and Pageland SC which is real close to where I live is the watermelon capital of the world.  God bless and I pray your husband stays symptom freee for longer. Merry Christmaswindow.

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I was told to keep clear of avocado as, although it does have good fats, there is too much. It's the only fruit/vegetable banned though. Whole eggs are OK.

Eating out is difficult but you can always ask your server what's in stuff and ask for things to be grilled or baked rather than fried.

The hydration is really important so do try to keep up with that.

THanks Nix