I was very frightened for about 8 months that my future would be nothing but hospitalizations, pain and vomiting and loneliness. Admitedly, I was very depressed also. In July, I decided to ask for antidepressants and I started therapy. At the same time, I saw a specialist who put me on high doses of creon 24000- like 30 pills a day. Since then, my life has changed dramatically. I now have energy - the creon helps me to absorb nutrients better - and I feel happy when I wake up. I'm looking to get back to work and have resumed my social life, seeing friends and family. So, yes, you can get better with the right approach. I still take norco daily, but it controls my pain well. My nausea is gone and I am no longer afraid to eat. It took me to be proactive about the antidepressants, and telling my regular doctors that what they were doing for me wasn't good enough. " I have to get better" - and then they sent me to a specialist who put me on the large doses of enzymes, which I credit for my improved health. As I'm starting to feel whole again, I believe attitude counts for a lot, and persistence in finding answers to feeling better is a solution that more patients should take. Doctors prefer patients who want to have control over their disease and who are active participants in their treatment. It also takes the right doctor, so if you have problems with your doctor, keep searching for the right fit. And now that I'm feeling better, I am exercising, which gives me more energy...the body likes being active and now I feel I am in control. And coming to terms with depression is another battle. I think all people struggling with this illness tend to be depressed. Talk to your doctor honestly about how your moods are - there is no shame in asking for help for your emotional state.
Many hugs,
Theo

thank you for your reply. I have been quite depressed lately because I am so scared. I have good days and than days that I can't stop crying. I love my family more than anything. My baby girl will be 2 in October and I want her to grow up with a fun and active mom. I have yet to be diagnosed, but I do feel that this is what I have. When I have gone to the hospital my entire blood work was always ok, so people tend to blow it off. I'm tired and scared but try to remain upbeat for my children. I have a low fever (99) off and on and with it I am tired. I just pray every night and thankfully my husband and family have been quite helpful. Thanks again and I hope you are doing well

I just hit my 5 year CP anniversary. Up to now the road has been long and hard. Yes depression hit me also. I think my way of coping was a daily cry after work. I would get home and be so physically exhausted the only thing left I could do was cry. So I would lay down on my bed and cry for a few minutes and then zone out for 30 minutes or an hour sometimes I was gone for the night. Right now I've felt the best that I have in the past 4 years. I'm able to eat without the food causing me pain. I can even eat some chicken and lettuce both of which have been a struggle in the past. The food is giving me energy and it is great. I even went to our state fair at night usually by 7 I'm ready for bed but we were just leaving the house. I'm not sure what brought on the change I'm calling it remission because that's what it seems like to me. You'll read all sorts of varying degrees of CP inhere. Some of the people have and are going through some very hard things and tough times. Try not to dwell on what might happen and concentrate on your needs today. I wish you well & strength & lots of great days! Jen

I have so much admiration for all of you that still work and take care of young children. This illness took alot from me. I had just divorced my husband and moved across country with my youngest son. I am surrrounded by family and became part of a very caring church. When I was told that I would be on a feeding tube the rest of my life, I filed for and got disability. The hardest thing for me is that I have always been very independent and I hate having to depend on others to take care of me. I dealt with depression and some pretty bad days, before I came to the conclusion that this is my life now and I needed to stop the self pity and get on with it.
I still consider myself to be a very lucky woman. I have a great family and two wonderful sons. No matter what, we are all survivors. I haop this discussion group helps you as much as me.
Nita

I am ok I guess I am in the early stages. I had two stents put in and both times they cut me too. I have divisuim. I eat low fat, but I can eat meat, chicken breast, turkey and lots of pretzels. My pain is ok, when my stomach is bothering me my pain gets worse. It is in the center of my back and hurts sometimes when I lean back on something or twist sideways. I get lots of gas and bloating my doctor said that was because of poor digestion. I am scared as well about what this diease is going to bring me and how long I will be ok. On bad days I have problems with low blood sugar, I have to eat something or I shake and sweat.

I found out July 2009 but I had symptoms before and each ercp procedure made it worse after the first 3 months. There are so many people in horrible shape on these web sites you don't hear from that many the have lived with it many years and are ok. I don't take any pain meds and live pretty much a full life. I walk 4 miles 3 times a week. Other excerise is difficult. I would love to hear more people that are ok. I take Creon too.

We have to just live each day and not think about what will happen.

thank you all for your support and for your comments. This is very hard for me because my littlest one isn't even 2 yet. I try to be positive, sometimes I'm happy and sometimes I break down crying. I haven't been diagnosed yet but it seems to be the problem. I'm just hoping that I can deal with it well and have some pain free times. There are some things I will miss of course...I do love food, even though I eat healthy....but nothing I can't get over. My main priority is my children. They get sick often and I need to be able to take care of them. My family is my life. I thank you all for giving me somewhere to talk and vent. Hope you all have a blessed day and are feeling well today!

I have pancreas divisum also, had procedure done 22 months ago, have not had another attack since. I watch my fat intake, not as strict as I was with myself. When I get bloated I know to be careful. I feel good. What i don't ever have nay more is soda diet or regular, I will drink iced tea. Raw veggies can be a problem. Meat only very lean ground beef, like 90% fat free and than I strain in a paper towel, cheese only fat free or very very little 2%mozzerella, whole wheat bread, turkey, chicken, broiled or grilled. I think small portions help alot also, notice if I eat to much I feel bloated and uncomfortable. I have irritable bowel syndorme also, so hard to tell what my symptoms originate from.
Hoping to hear from others that are feeling good. I do not take any meds for my condition and see the gastor dr. every 6 months. It is scarry, not having anyone to really relate with me about divisum, it isn't like talking to someone who has had gallbadder problems (common) Would like to hear from those that have this and are doing good after years, that would be nice to hear.
Thanks for listening and sharing.
Patty

Hi Patty,
I have pancreatic divisum also. What sort of surgery did you have? I've had three stents and 5 ERCPs - and nothing helped me as much as the enzymes. As a matter of fact, I take 6 Creon 24000 with every meal and 4 with every snack. They have made such a difference in my life. Today I walked 5 miles with no fatigue, which is hard for me to believe. I really thought my life was over a few months ago, but now I feel I have a second chance. I will not take good health for granted ever again. It took a lot of persistence and many prayers to get me here and I feel I owe it to my fellow pancreatitis sufferers to help them through the rough patches and to claim that yes, you can get better as long as you fight for it and be your own advocate. I'm still limited on diet and still have pain, but these are all manageable factors and I am in control. I hope my story helps.
xoxo
Theo

As always, listen to Theo. I take creon 24000 also. I don't take as many as Theo, but they are very helpful.

Hi everyone, I had had a minor papilla sphincterotomy procedure done in 11/08 at the Indiana University Hospital, they were wonderful there, I had to go out of my state of NY because the Drs here did not have the equipment or expertise to open my duct that was the size of a hair strand.
I work, walk for excercise, go out to eat (watch the fats), sometimes I have bloating and discomfort but Dr. feels that is my IBS and so do I. It certainly is not pancreatitsis, that pain is so horrible.
do you have divisum also, how are you doing? Do you have other complications?
Just would like to know that I can put this behind me. I went to my dr yesterday, he said the Dr. in Indiana did a good job and that I am doing fine as far as pancreas goes. IBS with constipation is a whole other problem, but even that is not to bad, Eating sensibly is the key, when over eat or to much fat or raw veggies that can cause a problem for me, dairy also.
Hoping everyone is doing fine and hope to hear from anyone who has gone through this procedure and has had no other problem with it.
Patty