Taking long trips to other counties can be difficult so anything you can take that might help is a good idea. Travel insurance isn't as important for you Americans with your health insurance you have, but we have to get some for every trip, and with something like CP it can be very difficult. We managed, though as soon as I start having more tests it might well not be covered, and as part of the trip is in the US that would be terrible!!
I do have to take a covering letter from my GP with regards my controlled medications to go through customs etc with so would suggest that for you too.

For many months, my GI doc didn't have an answer for me as to why I developed CP. Eventually, on my second EUS, he discovered I have pancreas divisum (meaning my pancreatic duct divides and jets in two directions instead of a solo duct) which can have a variety of implications and complications.

And in poking around the internet, I found an interesting website for people for whom this is significantly problematic (http://gisurgery.musc.edu/surgeries/chronicPanc/puestow.aspx)

Poohtle, as far as cutting down on pain meds goes, a couple of thoughts go through my mind: 1) Working at reducing medication is almost always laudable. 2) In my job as a medical transcriptionist, I see dozens of patient reports every day. One thing that always stands out in my mind is when patients, on their own, decide to alter their pain meds because "they're feeling so much better". All well and good, but I want to reach through my computer monitor and shake them and yell, "WHY DO YOU THINK YOU'RE FEELING BETTER? IT'S THE MEDS, DUMMY! (not that you are one, by ANY means!-- LOL!). IMHO, dose adjusting is nothing to be taken lightly and must almost ALWAYS be done in collaboration with your GI doctor. If you can reduce pain meds, wonderful! Many many kudos. Glad you're feeling better! :) And many hugs to all of you folks. I am so grateful we have this forum to be here for each other. :)

Ty Poohtie..yeah wasnt thinking that about needing a letter for the opiod.
Myswendy...I am a nurse and know all to well about patients thinking that they dont need meds anymore r/t feeling better. I on the other hand stopped my opioid, which i would never recommend to anyone. I personally couldnt take feeling like i was "losing myself". I take ibruprofen to take the edge off...last night i almost took the opioid cuz the pain shot up to an 8-9...i worked through it....I guess I am trying to convince myself that i am getting better since March.....this might prove me right or wrong....but at least for me i will see where it brings me....and the final answers that I am looking for......did i tell you i am stubborn too lol!
Hugs all hope all of you are having a better day!

Myswendy, I know I wouldn't reduce the meds without going through my doctor, I am new to all this so would be very scared. I wonder if other people go through the same thoughts when having a longer pain/symptom free period. i.e. has it gone away? Did I ever have it? Etc. Then the awful guilt about being on opioid medication. But then my husband reminds me what I was like before we got the pain under control. It is all so puzzling.
Thank you all for your replies, I so appreciate them.

h i poohtle.i live in gb too. i suffered with cp for 2and a half years now. had g.b removed thought i was cured for 6 months then flared up with avengance, i can go maybe 3 weeks with just mild pain then think i cured only to find next day i on morphine tabs and laid up for a week.everyone on here has different pain thresholds, sum cope better than others but we all are cursed with the damned condition . keep your chin up .

Thanks Chris. Yes, one thing I have noticed is that no two people are alike with this illness even down to what they can or can't eat. I hope you have more pain free days.

Well sad to say the good period didn't last, though it was great while it did. All the wonderful thoughts about it not being CP or having mysteriously disappeared(!) have gone for now. At least I know I can have longer good periods.
Thanks for all the kind words. I hope and pray you have your own good spells.

I too have what I would consider 'mild' pancreatitis. Strangely enough, being pregnant has taken care of my symptoms for the past 4 months or so.... I read these discussion boards and try to stay in touch with others who are sick so as not to take my new found condition (however temporary it may be) for granted. My heart goes out all of you who are suffering right now...... oh, and my joints hurt as well :) Take care all, mwah!