Pancreatitus

[cockney gezzer 1]

I have been hospitalized on two occassions in the last two years with pancreatitus.During my last stay in hospital my amalayze was 397. I do not drink now but did over 10 years ago.
I have had numerous ultra scans , ercp procedures and two CT scans.
I would like any information on how to stop it reoccuring,medical treatments on how to leave a normal live .
I am a 35 year old male.

[TazLady]

Hi,
Have you been diagnosed with Chronic or Acute pancreatitis?  Are you on enzyme pills to aid in digesting food?  Do not take any over the counter medicines with alcohol in it at all.  Also, stay away from fried foods, high fat foods, spicy foods. And no O'douls beer.  It may say it is alcohol free, but if you read the label it contains .5% alcohol.  It may not affect you the night you drink it, but in time, it will get to you.
I live on a diet of 25 grams of fat or less a day. I eat fat free foods, drink fat free milk and use a fat free (heart smart) margerine substitute.  I have been hospitalized in the last year 3 times.  My amylase and lipase levels the last time were 2000 and 5000.  Not a typo.  I am under going another ERCP in 6 days and the dr. told me to plan on being in the hospital for about 2 weeks.  If you have chronic pancreatitis, the only way to help live a more normal life is to eat as described above and have a dr. who will help you with pain management.  I live in fear everynight that that will be the night I will have another attack.  It is the WORST pain I have ever felt.  And that includes child birth.  I wish this disease on no one.
My dr. says there is no way to prevent attacks and that with pancreatitis, this is just something you will have to learn to live with.  Sorry I am not more help.
Take care of yourself,
TazLady

[Squash]

Hi - my daughter has just been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis.  Age 20.  She is an oddity with Cystic Fibrosis but not bad.  She is pancreate sufficient (most CF kids are insufficieent).  Anyway - the wierd thing is that her flare ups only happen on her menstral cycle.  Just about once a month always about 2-3 days after her period.  I am trying to figure out why this is triggering her flare ups. Have read from many sources that you should not take birth control pills if you have pancreatitis.  So out goes the idea of suppressing her menstral cycle.  Does anyone have an ideas at all.  Thanks -

[Baseball_Mom]

I concur with TazLady.  Digestive Enzymes have helped me out tremendously.  Another thing to make sure of if you are given any kind of pain medication make sure it is NOT moraphine.  I've been told that will send you right into a Pancreatitis attack.  This was confirmed when I had surgery 2/1/02.  I mentioned to the anesthesiologist that I had Pancreatitis in November and a friend of mine told me to make sure I told them not to give me Moraphine.  The anesthesiologist thanked me for the heads up.  You want to avoid a Pancreatitis attack at all cost.

Good luck TazLady!  I'll be thinking about you.  Have you on my IM list and keep waiting for you to on there to say hello.  I'm going back in the hospital on the 18th for some pretty evasive surgery.  Will be in the hospital a minimum of 3 to 4 days and then out of work 4 to 6 weeks recooperating.  Hang in there.  I'll be thinking about you.