Warning Signs of an Attack?
Posted , 2 users are following.
Hi! I'm new here and looking for information. My husband had an acute pancreatitis attack about a year ago now. He was a seriously heavy drinker then and not much has changed minus he switched from liquor to beer.
The other night he went to his best buddy's birthday party and got way too drunk. Yesterday he was bedridden all day. No pain but he could hardly walk, hypothermic, dehydrated, hangover fun but ten fold. Today he's actually running a fever. He's up and moving around but says he still feels crappy.
My question is, are there warning signs before an attack? He doesn't seem to recognize that he's putting himself at risk, either that or he doesn't care. So I'm trying to be watchful for him. Do you have warning signs before you have an attack?
0 likes, 3 replies
Reefsider ssky
Posted
Hi ssky, caring for someone doesn't mean you're responsible for them. Having pancreatitis is a bit like being an alcoholic actually, until the person admits there's a problem and takes responsibility and changes their lifestyle there's not much anyone else can do.
If you're the primary meal maker in your house you should prepare low fat meals, not order fast foods like pizza or burgers and encourage smaller more frequent meals as we don't do well on large amounts of food all at once. We can only eat low fat everything, strictly. I can't see that you can do much more and he may reject that too.
As for him swapping out what you call liquor for beer, it's still alcohol and he can't have it at all, ever, unless he wants his disease to go chronic which isn't fun and can be life threatening. You don't mention whether he smokes, that's really bad for pancreatitis too. He either quits or he doesn't, you can't force him by nagging.
Prevention is the key to managing pancreatitis. Taking pancreatic enzymes immediately before eating also helps digestion. Does he understand what happens with pancreatitis? I'm sure he'll care if he realises what the consequences of ignoring it are. It can turn on a dime to a chronic state of no return.
Common signs of attack are pain/ache (in gut or back or going from front to back), not being able to eat, or eating and then having sticky/floating/yellowish diahorrea, vomiting, and generally feeling like crap are all pretty common symptoms. I get a fever and headaches too, not sure about everyone else. The usual treatment is not to eat for a couple of days, at all, lots of water with electrolytes. In hospital it's fasting with IV fluids for a couple or 3 days, pain relief (doesn't always work). After attack it's tiny low fat meals often until pancreas settles down, lots of water, pain relief. The pancreas can take it's time settling down, months.
You're between a rock and a hard place and I feel sorry for you, look after yourself.
ssky Reefsider
Posted
He works second shift so he eats most of his food while still at work, which means mostly fast food. He refuses to eat better, no vegetables, no fruits, etc. He drinks at least one can of monster every single day. Fixing his meals isn't really an option as he refuses to eat anything good for him.
I know, he swapped to beer and says "it doesn't make me hurt so it's fine" and refuses to quit. Yes he does smoke.
He knows the consequences if he doesn't get his act together, he knows it could potentially kil him. He just doesn't believe it's that serious.
Thank you for responding.
Reefsider ssky
Posted
ssky, I forgot to mention that I think your hubby needs to see his doctor about his pancreas again. He may need to see a good gastroenterologist who specialises in the pancreas. He certainly needs tests and scans to see what's going on currently. If it's deteriorated since last year he just may start to take responsibility. Cheers