Pancreatitus

[rebels]

I put my husband back in the hospital this morning.  The last time he was in several weeks ago his lipid level or pancreatic level was 2,060l.  So they additmitted him.  Iv/s no food...no drink.  Last night it went to 2,800.  So back again.  His white count went to 17,000.  The hospital is taking this very lightly.  Saying he just needs the IV's ....rest....and no food.  Just give him a couple of days.  Since this is the second time around.......I am extremely worried.  Are these numbers high?  How high are they?  How concerned should I be.?  What can I do.  What tests should be run?  They have done nothing for him.  Just an ultrasound.  It showed nothing last week.  Please reply as soon as possible.  Thanks   Lee

[helen36181]

A related discussion, accute pancreartitus was started.

[Nanny]

I agree with most of what Sandy  (TazLady) has already said.  Though I will say that I was diagnosed and am under excellent treatment by a gastroenterologist, not a pancreatic specialist.  He is very good and diagnosed me immediately after my first attack.  My condition became chronic pancreatitis within a few weeks of the first attack.  There are many procedures that are used to diagnose, these include ultrasounds, cat-scans, endoscopies, stool tests, ERCP's, and MRI's.  Often just the bood tests alone can be enough of a diagnosis, but to find the cause the other procedures are selected.

His treatment right now is correct, just IV's and bed rest with no food, so his pancreas can rest, and then his blood levels should start to come down.  Once he is stablized you need to get him to a specialist as soon as you can.  Until you do, once he is home keep him on a strict low fat diet (no more than 20-30 fat grams daily), if he is able to eat, absolutely no alcohol, and plenty of fluids to keep from getting dehydrated.  Good luck.

[TazLady]

Lee,
I have moderate to severe Chronic Pancreatitis.  I have have 3 surgeries this year alone to help releave the pain associated with this disease.  The hospital is right in what they are doing.  No food, only ice chips and IV fluids.  You want to rest the pancreas when you have an attack. Since the pancreas makes all the digestive enzymes for the body to digest the food you intake, it's better that this organ does not do anything at all but "lie there" and get better until it is no longer "pist off" and inflamed.  These are words my specialist used with me to explain  the condition.

Yes, the numbers are high, but I have personally had higher numbers.  More than likely within the next 3 days the numbers will fall and he will be feeling better.

You need to get your husband to a specialist.  Not a Gastro doctor.  You need to find a pancratic specialist to care for your husband.  If caught in time, this can stay at being acute attacks and not progress into being chronic.  

Call your regular doctor and have them get started on referring your husband to a univercity or major hospital with specialist in pancreatic disorders. It can take several months to get into seeing a doctor.  Believe me when I tell you that a regular GI CAN NOT help your husband.  Also, if you go to http://www.pancreatitis.org.uk/, you will find many other people who you can talk to about this and answer questions for you.  That site is only for people with pancreatitis, unlike this site that helps anyone with a digestive disorder.

Good luck to you both.
TazLady (Sandy)