Pancreatitis Support Group
Chronic pancreatitis can present as episodes of acute inflammation in a previously injured pancreas, or as chronic damage with persistent pain or malabsorption. Patients with chronic pancreatitis can present with persistent abdominal pain or steatorrhea, as well as severe nausea. Some patients with chronic pancreatitis often look very sick, while others don't appear to be...
Hello~
I just discovered this website "daily living" and this group today. I read many of the posts (avoiding work!) this morning and it seems that so many of you weren't diagnosed with pancreatitis. Last Dec. after seeing a movie with my daughters, I had what I thought was the worst stomach ache in my life. After trying pepto,etc and the pain becoming excruciating and vomiting twice, I told my husband that I needed to go to the ER. I am 48 and this was the first time I had been to the ER for myself so that might tell you how bad the pain was. We thought it was my appendix.
The ER docs were great and thank god for fentanyl! Relief within minutes.
Sort of like my epidurals.
They did an ultrasound and found polyps in my gall bladder. Did blood tests and the lipase and can't recall the other one were off the charts...8000 I believe. I was feeling good on the fentanyl and asked if I could go home. Dr said no way. I was hospitalized for 4 days which shocked me since I've never had anything serious happen to me.
One dr told me it was pancreatitis and was pretty rude to me when I said that I drink. By the 4th day my levels were almost normal and I was keeping food down and they sent me home and told me no alcohol or fatty foods. I chose to have my gall bladder removed the next week due to the polyps. No stones.
I have been drinking since I was 16, on and off depending on circumstances (3 pregnancies and breastfeeding for ex.). I can admit here that the drinking got heavier over the past 2 years. After leaving the hospital, I didn't drink for about a month but then started having glasses of wine again. It increased to every night, even during the day on weekends. This past Sat., my husband and I went to a beer festival. I drank a lot. Woke up on Sun with that painful stabbing in the middle of my gut and radiating to my back. I knew what it was. Vomited also.
I didn't want to do ER again. Since Sunday I have been on a liquids diet only- water, broth, hot water w/ truvia. Heating pads and hot baths work great but I can't use both all day.
Today, I feel 75% better but there is still pain around my sides and back. I'm taking children's liquid ibuprofen because it works quickly.
I wish I had some pain meds but I'm assuming my GP would tell me to go to the ER. What do you think?
I haven't told anyone but my husband and brother in law (both who are very heavy drinkers on the weekends) because I feel guilty about the drinking. I brought it on myself.
I'm not sure what my question is. Should I call my GP (who I like a lot) and tell her what's going on? Obviously I can't drink anymore.
Does anyone else treat moderate symptoms at home? If so, what do you do?
Thanks for reading and I wish the best for all of you.
I just discovered this website "daily living" and this group today. I read many of the posts (avoiding work!) this morning and it seems that so many of you weren't diagnosed with pancreatitis. Last Dec. after seeing a movie with my daughters, I had what I thought was the worst stomach ache in my life. After trying pepto,etc and the pain becoming excruciating and vomiting twice, I told my husband that I needed to go to the ER. I am 48 and this was the first time I had been to the ER for myself so that might tell you how bad the pain was. We thought it was my appendix.
The ER docs were great and thank god for fentanyl! Relief within minutes.
Sort of like my epidurals.
They did an ultrasound and found polyps in my gall bladder. Did blood tests and the lipase and can't recall the other one were off the charts...8000 I believe. I was feeling good on the fentanyl and asked if I could go home. Dr said no way. I was hospitalized for 4 days which shocked me since I've never had anything serious happen to me.
One dr told me it was pancreatitis and was pretty rude to me when I said that I drink. By the 4th day my levels were almost normal and I was keeping food down and they sent me home and told me no alcohol or fatty foods. I chose to have my gall bladder removed the next week due to the polyps. No stones.
I have been drinking since I was 16, on and off depending on circumstances (3 pregnancies and breastfeeding for ex.). I can admit here that the drinking got heavier over the past 2 years. After leaving the hospital, I didn't drink for about a month but then started having glasses of wine again. It increased to every night, even during the day on weekends. This past Sat., my husband and I went to a beer festival. I drank a lot. Woke up on Sun with that painful stabbing in the middle of my gut and radiating to my back. I knew what it was. Vomited also.
I didn't want to do ER again. Since Sunday I have been on a liquids diet only- water, broth, hot water w/ truvia. Heating pads and hot baths work great but I can't use both all day.
Today, I feel 75% better but there is still pain around my sides and back. I'm taking children's liquid ibuprofen because it works quickly.
I wish I had some pain meds but I'm assuming my GP would tell me to go to the ER. What do you think?
I haven't told anyone but my husband and brother in law (both who are very heavy drinkers on the weekends) because I feel guilty about the drinking. I brought it on myself.
I'm not sure what my question is. Should I call my GP (who I like a lot) and tell her what's going on? Obviously I can't drink anymore.
Does anyone else treat moderate symptoms at home? If so, what do you do?
Thanks for reading and I wish the best for all of you.
I had a bout of severe acute pancreatitis in Jan 2013
I loved a beer or 5 but after 10 days in hospital Im not real keen to down a few beers to see what happens
Everything is as was before I had the attack except NO "alcohol"
and I have taken a liking to chocolate
I wouldn't mind a joint every now and then to break the boredom of being normal all the time (haha)
I have been lucky as far as hospitals go including the first attack and a couple of false alarms, when I have gone to emergency I have been put to the front of the queue and was seen within 10 mins
When I had my first attack I had a drip and morphine in me within 1/2 an hour of getting to the hospital
Good luck and DON'T stuff around thinking should I or shouldn't I go to hospital
If you get an infection you could be in trouble
I was in three hospitals over a four month period. The first hospital is responsible for how screwed up I am still.
Don't feel guilty, don't blame yourself and get the help you need.
And, unfortunately, don't drink. It's not worth it.
I drank in my late teens all the way to my early 30s-from teens to late 20s it was beer and I would binge about 3 days a wk at night, then I progressed to binging on wine about 3 nights a wk. I believe this and genetics caused my pancreatitis. My dad died of pancreas cancer.
My recent MRCP showed dilated ducts in my liver-Im scared to pieces its cancer. Just 4 months earlier my tests were fine. It also showed issues with side branches of my pancreas.
I manage my attacks at home but have only had 1 severe attack which I believe was acute long before my stabbing pains started (I thought it was an awful gerd attack). So for now my attacks are mild and I usually stick to soup, crackers, bananas, yogurt-but again mine are mild.
Fingers crossed my next rounds of tests are clear and do not show the dilation to be cancer.
May I ask how much you drank? How much per day, was it every day?
I drank mid strength beer @ stubbies12 a day through the week
and had a bit more of a go on weekends
I didn't drink any other kind of alcohol
Where in Australia are you?
from my early to mid 30s
Where in Australia are you
Victoria-West Gippsland- you