Gee thanks! I'm nothing special, just following the path I was set on. Everyone who posts here seems to be so kind, caring and wonderful. Thanks to everyone for being here.
Michelle

You know....you are one hell of a woman!
Your path is one very few could follow....I tip my hat to you and will walk with you anytime you offer me the chance.
I am proud to be able to say I know you....thank you for the example you set for us all.
Peace to you and your family...Happy Easter.
dian

Hi, thanks for the kind words. I am sitting here at my computer at almost midnight because my pain meds (percocet) are keeping me awake and scratching like crazy! Usually I only have to take them for about 48 hours and then can handle it without any. I have already been barfing - not a good thing but a definite sign that it is truly pancreatitis. No Easter goodies for me! Yes, I do feel like I have some control. I will do everything in my power to avoid the pancreas surgery, but if it happens the surgeon has a stellar reputation. I actually knew him when he was doing his residency and I do like him. It's funny...now that I have this to think about I am very calm about the hysterectomy. It seems like a much more managable problem. I know it is still a biggie and that I will be happy when it is all done and the pathology comes back but I'm just  not too worried about it right now.
Michelle

Hi. My pancreatitis is directly related to my Cystic Fibrosis. I am one of the lucky few whose pancreas actually works. Most CF people have a non-functioning one. In my case it actually functions too well, putting out too many digestive enzymes and in effect digests itself. My symptoms are pain+++ in the middle and left upper quadrant of the abdomen, right below the diaghram. It is much like the pain from gall bladder disease only way more intense. Following the onset of pain I usually begin to vomit violently pure bile. ICKY! I also become anemic because of internal bleeding and my blood pressure drops very low. The only treatment for pancreatitis is to stop all food and drink. Most people end up in the hospital having IV fluid and pain medication until their lipase drops back to normal and then food is slowly introduced much like after surgery - clear fluids to full fluids to solids. Because my attacks are chronic now and not so acute my symptoms are a little more bearable and I no longer go to the hospital during attacks unless I am severely ill. I used to have a port-a-cath, which is a central line inserted under the skin on the chest and threaded into the sub-clavian vein. When I had it, I could start my own IV and would give myself IV fluids at home. Unfortunately, it had to be removed because a dangerous clot had formed in my Superior Vena Cava. Now I just take myself off food for 3 to 5 days and drink plenty of water. I will also suck on hard candies to try and keep my blood sugar up. I take percocet for the pain and gravol for the vomitting. I really hate the drugs (could never be a junkie!) and try to get off them quickly, usually after 48 hours. A normal lipase is under 200 and mine has been as high as 10,000 although the numbers don't mean too much. You can have debilitating pain with a low number and bearable pain with a high one. We usually just go by symptoms. Because I get it so often (4th time this year alresdy) I almost always treat it at home. My GI doc is afraid that because I am so stoic, I may leave it too late one time and be in trouble. But as a vetran of the pancreatitis war I am confident I will be able to tell when I an desperately ill. Pancreatitis is usually seen in alchoholics although it is now being accepted as a CF complication. Some people also get it for no known cause and then it is referred to as idiopathic pancreatitis. There ...pancreatitis 101!
Michelle

Well, you sure have had a time of it.  I pray all goes well and that you don't have to have this surgery.  Godspeed
~Tascha

i want to thank you for getting back to me about the ca125 question and let you know that you are in my prayers and hope all goes well.