Join Now
ReeAnn 
7:57pm, June 18, 2009
My digestive problems started at the young age of 8 years old. The last thing I was able to eat was a small dish of ice cream. After 3-4 days of vomiting, I was admitting to the hospital, where I stayed for well over the next month. Pancreatitis was never suspected because in 1965 it was thought that alcohol was the only thing that could cause pancreatitis. Children were never checked for the disease. Eventually I got to leave the hospital with a diagnosis of "intestinal disorder of unknown disorder".
Over the years I would have these episodes of pain that would last for hours or days or weeks. I thought I had gall bladder problems and every time I went to any doctor, I would say so. No doctor ever seemed to listened to me, until I went to see a surgeon for another reason and he asked me "Has anyone ever checked your gall bladder?" NO! By God! Some one finally listened and was checking it out.. But I am sure the surgeon was seeing the $$ of more surgery.
Turned out my gall bladder was loaded with stones. So my pain was blamed on the stones and the gall bladder had to go. But I still had attack after my gall bladder was gone. This is when pancreatitis was first mentioned to me, when I was 43 years old, after dealing with the pain for more than 35 years.
So my first ERCP was done, along with my first sphincterometry. The GI found my common bile duct almost completely block (I was turning a bit yellow with the jaundice) with "sand/sludge" from passing stones. It got scrapped out as well during this ERCP. Needless to say, this Aug 2000 ERCP left me in pretty rough shape.
I just never recovered from it. It was the start my downhill slide. My health just kept getting worse and worse, with no end in sight. Looking back I think I was already on the road to Chronic Pancreatitis, I was right there.... the ERCP just pushed me across the last cross walk is all. By Nov 2000 I had lost the ability to digest my food and needed to be on supplimental enzymes whenever I ate. In May 2001 I lost my job for being sick. I was slowing losing my life, becoming just a shadow of the person I used to be.
In addition to the Chronic Pancreatitis I developed Gastroparesis. I also have severe Gerd/Reflux for which I previously undergone the Nissen Fundoplication sugery. In 1998 I had a complete hysterectomy because of cyst on the ovaries (one ruptured), endometreosis on cervix and a "sack full potatoes" fibroids in the uterus. Diabetes. Additionally, I have a tumor on my left adrenal gland that keeps things interesting with my blood presssure. Quite a history of having to have polyps removed from various places. And a sundry of other minor issues and complaints I am sure no one wants to hear about.
In Feb 2008, I under went the Autologous Islet Cell Transplant with Total Pancreatectomy. What that means is they took out my pancreas (and my spleen), broke the pancreas down to the cellular level, and transplanted the cells that control blood sugar back into my liver so I wouldn't become a brittle diabetic.
And that pretty much is my history. Here I am trying my best to help others and be an inspiration to them with my improved health.
