I just had my first nerve block today. It was called a celiac plexis block. I went in with some amount of pain and came out with none. I go back on the 15th to have another one done. I am not sure how many are in the series, as I was a little nervous the first round. I will keep you updated on the results. As for the removal of the pancreas, I asked my GI doctor about that and he asked me, "Do you realize that there is a life span of 2 - 5 years with the removal of the pancreas?" No, I didn't. He told me that with the way my pancreas is now, that I might live a little longer than the 2 years, so he didn't recommend it. I would like to know if anyone has heard anything different than that or has lived longer than that with the removal, too.

I have not heard any given number of years if your pancreas is removed. There are many options for Pancreas surgery and removal is by far the most drastic. They can do and ICT (Islet Cell Transplant) as well which takes some of the cells of your pancreas and and put them into your liver to help with performing some of the pancreatic functions.

On Feb. 2nd, I will have had my 3rd nerve block. The anesthesiologist that has been giving them to me, says that they are working very well. Guess I am having a series of 4. During the first 2, I have only had one attack,which is really progress for me, because I had been having 1 - 2 attacks each week, so now am down to 1 in the timespan of 3 weeks.

This is good to know ladybug as I am looking into a splotnic (spelling) nerver block which is similar to the celiac nerve block. I have heard it can do wonders or it can have no effect. It is just as hit or miss as some pain meds.

The past 3 days have been pretty bad. Pain every day. I do have the other nerve block on the 2nd, and I can hardly wait. After I said that, I am wondering if I'm rather strange or what. Can't hardy wait to have a 5" needle stuck inside your body! It sounds weird to me! but I would rather have that than going through this pain day in and day out. I'm taking delaudid, and phenergan for the nausea, and it's taking the edge off, but it's still pretty bad. Will keep you all updated on the rest of the pain blocks that I have.

awww...i hope you find some relief soon ladybug!

The 3rd block that I had, 2 days ago, seems like it didn't work. I was having so much pain the day after, that I called them to see if this side pain was normal. They told me that it takes 3-4 days, sometimes, for the steroids that they shoot in you, to work. And that I was probably already irritated beforehand. I realize what irritated now means. It means that I was having a pancreatic attack, but since I have had 3 pain blocks, my body wasn't feeling the full effect of the attack. i did wind up going to the ER because the pain did get really bad, and the delaudid wasn't working and I was afraid of overdosing. The doctor at the pain clinic told me that I might be one of those type that has to have the block done every 2 weeks or so. OMG, I hope not! Take care and God bless.

i am on for my husband, he reads this late at night and was unable to sign on until now. he has been diagnosed with chronic panc since April of 08, he had the block done about 3 months ago. he did not think it helped at first, but now that it is wearing off, maybe it did do some good. just wondering how your are doing since yours. His is damaged thruought very bad, so they could only numb so much of it, so i dont think he will ever have total relief, without morphine.

The 3rd one seemed different somehow. It seemed to irritate the area that they shot the steroids into. The day afterwards was more painful so I called them to see if this was normal and they said that the worst was over. They were wrong that time. I had an attack and was in the ER the next evening. The doc said that I must have been starting to have an attack when he gave me the block and it just irritated things worse. Today, tho, I am better.

Ladybug, are you still taking pain meds eventhough you had the celiac plexis nerve block performed? I am trying to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of doing this.

The last think I want to do is "irritate" as you said aka have another pancreatitis attack.

Thanks!

Ladybug, sorry to bother you again but I just realized something. You said that you had the last celiac nerve block in the series. Does that mean there is more than one and then they last for more than a certain amount of time? I am very confused. Thank you so much for your patience and your answer.

to squid, according to my doc it depends on how bad the panc is. i read somwhere ladybugs panc was damaged at the tail, so that may be why it helped her so much, curious if she still has to take meds too. as for me my doc said after the first one that my panc is damaged thru out the whole thing and no way to block it all. i still had to take pain meds, just not as much or as often, it lasts about 3 months, or it did for me anyway, that is why i am going for it again......... i can tell it is worn off because i am in lots more pain now.....and having to take more meds to control or try and control the pain.

Sorry that it took so long for me to answer your question, but was out of state for a few days on business. The head of my pancreas is damaged. It is scared and has a lot of calcification on it. They gave me a series of 4 celiac plexis blocks. The anesthesiologist that gave them to me told me after the last one that I wouldn't need another one until I started having pain again. He said that the length that they keep working varies with people. I have only had one attack and that was with my 3rd block. He also told me that it varies with different people how many they get, also, with the amount of pain they have. I haven't had to take any pain medication since my last one, at all! It's been over a week now since I had the last one. Will keep you all updated. Hope I answered all your questions.

Ladybug, yes you answered all my questions. Thank You so much!

You are very welcome HealthySquid. Let me know if I can ever help you with any more questions that you might have. God bless.