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 there,
I am a 26 year old with chronic pancreatitis for 2 years. I have come to understand from reading many boards that most people with chronic pancreatitis experience intermittent severe pain from eating that either last days weeks or months and no mater how long these attacks occur they subside at some point during the day.
I have come to beleive that im a rarer case because my pain is severe and 24/7 and of corse worst with food. I have no nausea and constipation rather than diareah. I also have gastropareisis that comes with it. Food stay up to my throat when i eat as if it was stagnating in my stomach. The pain I experience is in my back and upper front chest (more on left side but also mid and right) oddly I also have severe pain in my lower abdomen and lower back as if my intestines and kidneys were litterly being eaten alive. And truly my whole body hurts but it stems from my pancreas. The pain is worst with exercise. Coffee or caffein hurts like hell (although I know many do not have this problem). And digestive enzymes like creon and viokase increase my pain but help me digest (double edge sword for me! ).
My pain and pressure in my abdomen seems to increase day by day meal after meal as if my disease constant but was degenerative. Its odd beacause most people experience attacks but they subside at some point but not me! :(. I was wondering if there was anyone out there that experience their pancreatitis like mine and how they have coped with it??
The precautions I have taken to manage so far are the following.
totally veagan - no fat (exept minute amount in legumes)
Multivitamin
vit c
grapeseed extract
curcumin and bowswellia
The last three every meal to reduce inflammation and oxidative stress on the organ.
Lastly I have heard of spontanuous releif of pain from chronic pancreatitis in medical litterature from pancreatic burnout (stop producing enzymes) or the organ simply returning to its normal function on its own miraculously. I was wondering if there was anyone out there who have experience their chronic pancreatitis in a similar fashion as mine(i.e. 24/7 pain), did not do well with creon or viokase for their pain, but still one day found their pain to dissapear spontanously or slowly and how many years it took??
To whom ever mite be reading this, regardless of the nature or form of pancreatitis I wish you all a pain free life. Whom ever you may be please share with me as i am feeling desperate
Kind regards,
TrickyPancreas
Im sorry to hear your also becoming constant. I really hope it will not happen to you as well. Try eating low fat to no fat and vegan all the way and maby some antioxidant supplements like the ones i take. You may be able to halt the disease.
I wish you all the best
I am so very sorry about your pain. I used to have pain very similar to your pain. The following is my regimen. It gave me a new life. Perhaps it will help you as well!
1) Take Lyrica at its highest allowed dose morning and night to battle the nerve pain. Pancreatic pain is expressed through the nervous system.
2) Oxidation is the driver for the pain from the disease. Take the following antioxidants to combat the oxidation process:
L-Glutathionine with CoQ10 (Swanson), Alpha Lipoic Acid, Grapeseed Extract, Selenium, and Ginger. I take maximum RDA of each twice per day.
3) Take a pancrelipase (pancreatic enzymes) called Viokace. Viokace is the only pancrelipase brand that is NOT enteric coated. I experienced far better results when I switched from Creon (enteric coated) to Viokace (NOT enteric coated). Viokace releases the enzymes earlier in the digestive process, thus performing better with digesting your food. This is superior for resting the pancreas and avoiding malnutrition. This also means you can maintain a healthy weight. I gained 40 much needed pounds when I switched from Creon to Viokace. You will need to take a proton pump inhibitor (omeprazole). You take the omeprazole to keep your stomach acid from destroying the pancreatic enzymes from the Viokace. These enzymes are vulnerable to stomach acid, because the medication is not enteric coated.
4) I drink 7 blended drinks every day (every 2 hours). The blended drinks are made in the following manner: You need an expensive blender. You need many "Ensure High Protein" bottles. You need a whole grain cereal of your choice that is very low in sugar and fat. Ensure High Protein is very low in sugar and fat. The calories come from protein. The cereal is for the purpose of adding whole grains and calories to your diet. Put 8-14 ice cubes in the blender depending on the size of the ice cubes. Next, put 1 cup of low fat and low sugar whole grain cereal on top of the ice in the blender. Next, put 1/2 cup of water in the blender. Finally, put 1 container of "Ensure High Protein" spread evenly in the blender. Blend the contents for 65 seconds on the highest level. Again, it must be an expensive blender. I use a Vitamix blender. Pour the finished contents into a very large cup. Enjoy! It is easy to take these drinks with you in 24 ounce thermoses. Each drink exactly fits in a 24 ounce container.
4) The only additional supplement you need is potassium, because the drinks do not contain any potassium. Take the RDA for potassium each day.
5) Avoid any activities that jolt your body. For example, I have discovered that I can not ride in a boat that is bouncing on the waves. Your pancreas does not like to be jolted.
I welcome any questions you or someone else might have. I would like to be a source of encouragement to you.
Thanks so much for the kind help. I have tried the lyrics just this week actually. How long does it take to work? Is it instantly? And how much do you take. I have also added the Q10 to my regimen.
I was wondering if you also experience exacerbation of your pain by exogenous enzymes? The viokase burns and hurts so much when I take it. I feel quite alone as I have not heard many people say this.
Was your pain also worse when you lack sleep? For example 1000 times worst when you miss sleep? I haven't heard anyone with this as well. It's though because most of the time I can't sleep. And was your pain also 24/7? Like my pain is not constant like everyone else it's always there but worst as the day goes by and hell when I don't sleep.
For the potassium you get it as a supplement I imagine. How much do you take and did it have a direct impact on your pain?
Sorry for all the questions but I'm desperate for help. I think what I may be experiencing is acute relapsing pancreatitis but everyday and that would explain why the enzymes hurt me.
At first I thought everyone had it like me but now I'm starting g to realize it's not the case.
Thank you for reaching out
Help is always welcomed.
I'm glad you found something that worked for you hopefully it I'll work for me too