Pancreatitis due to excessive drinking

[Kimberly Reed]

My husband was admitted to the hospital last Wednesday with severe abdominal pain, the diagnosis was Pancreatitis.  He is a drinker so it made since.  Over the past 10 days he has had no food and being given Morphine for pain.  His blood counts (I am not sure what the enzymes are called but there are three of them they test for Pancreatitis), were getting better over the first few days and since then are going up and down around the same level.  The doctor is concerned but doesn't give me much information on why this could be happening.  One of his counts, I think it is called Lipase, was 2500, got down to 1000, now seems to stay around 1400-1200 and it should be 300 or under.  His Amalaise (I think that is what it is called)  stays around 138.  Can you give me any information on this, or a lead on what to look for.  His pain is getting better, even though the numbers are not, they have cut his Morphine intake by 2/3 and that still controls his pain.  When he first came in they gave him 2ml per hour and 2ml every time he pushed the button on his machine.  Now he is down to .75 and doing OK with the pain.  I am very worried and want him to get better and come home.....believe me, he will not be drinking any more.   Thank You very much, Kimberly

[Brian to Sick and Scared § ALL you guys]

Most cases of acute pancreatitis are caused by gallstones or alcohol abuse.  There are a number of steps to verifying the diagnosis, including physical exam, serum parameters (such as serum amylase, serum lipase, CRP level, etc.), imaging and invasive procedures.  The serum lipase level has a higher accuracy than the amylase.  Your husband's amylase level of 138 is a bit high since the range is approx. 30-110.  As for the lipase it should be between 5-200 or so.  It is critical that your husband completely abstain from alcohol.  If he fails to do so he risks death.  Good luck to you both.

[FROM JO TO KIM]

I HAVE TO SHARE WITH YOU FROM MY HEART KIMBERLY... I HAD BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL FOR THE SAME THING..FIVE TIMES..EACH TIME I WOULD SWEAR I WOULD NEVER DRINK AGAIN..ANYONE HAVING THAT KIND OF PAIN WILL UNDERSTAND IT IS LIKE HAVING A BABY..AND I KNOW..BUT A WEEK AFTER GETTING OUT OF THE HOSPITAL I WOULD BE BACK TO DRINKING JUST AS MUCH AS WHAT PUT ME THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE. SO STUPID I WAS. I DIDNT UNDERSTAND MYSELF I WOULD SAY "ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL YOURSELF JO?" AND THE TRUTHFUL ANSWER TO THAT IS "YES I AM"
I HAD SO MUCH PAIN INSIDE ME.
THE TRICK HERE IS FOR YOU TO GO TO ALINON MEETINGS FOR YOURSELF. BECAUSE YOU HAVE GOTTON  YOUR HOPES UP THAT YOUR HUSBAND WONT DRINK BECAUSE OF THIS SCARE. I AM JUST TELLING YOU TO BRACE YOURSELF. IF YOU NEED TO SHARE WITH SOMEONE YOU ARE MORE THEN WELCOMED TO WRITE ME. I AM ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT PAIN AND BELIEVE I CAN BE A LOT OF HELP TO YOU. BESIDES, I REALLY FEEL FOR YOU AND CARE.

[FROM JO TO KIM]

MY EMAIL IS ***@****

[phear_loathing]

I just today got out of the hospital b/c of this. I am 22 and I am extremely worried about my health. I was only in the hospital for three days and still hurt at bout a 3 out of 5. I think I am more upset that I won't be able to drink again. I have been a pretty heavy drinker for the last3-4 years.

Luckily my gf whom I live with is quiting drinking all together too, she could drink a lot too.

So now what? It seems so boring to just watch t.v. sober at night or not come home and grabbing a beer outa the fridge to cook dinner. UHHHH It is tormenting me. Any suggestions?

[GoingToMakeIt]

Not drinking is a good choice. You need to find other things or hobbies to occupy your time. There is also an alcohol forum here.