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...
I know no-one else with CP so I joined here a few weeks ago.. what an eye opener.. Just wondered if anyone had similar to me..
very first attack seemed to come from nowhere .woke up with god awful pain and practically fainted got those horrid prickles, sweating etc. STarted to ER in car with Hubby but had to pull over at firestation 5 mins away was so bad, Ambulance came I thought I had real bad trapped gas in my chest. Pain just progressively got worse had to beg for pain killers a friend in the ER heard me screaming in pain thought I was dying (at one point so did I) Fianlly got diagnosis of Pancreatitis. Hosp for 9 days on drip, etc got out only to be back same thing couple weeks later.. this went on for 4 and a half yrs once back in same bed 5 days later.. even went to Lahey in Boston twice..no reasons found.. Finally went in critical stage so after treatment for that was then sent to Brigham and Womens in Boston and after an ERCP and an MRCP found to have Pancreatic Divisum.they did a sphincterotomy and had attack ended in ER that night...tried to do stent later in week but Pancreas too swollen so could again only treat symptons. That was Oct in Feb finally had stent placed and removed a week later .. had attack after placement so in hosp for 3 days. Since then been fairly well (now 2 and half yrs) however get stitch like pains all the time.. they don't build just hit me hard out of the blue then go again some knock me off my feet but don't last long enough to even take meds for it.. also get what can only describe as "spasms" again not so painful but very often.. went for mrcp in Oct they said may need to have both sphincterotomy and stent placement again by end of this year or earlier if pains get worse..
sorry to ramble.. just wondering how others got on after stents, ercps, sphincterotomies etc..
very first attack seemed to come from nowhere .woke up with god awful pain and practically fainted got those horrid prickles, sweating etc. STarted to ER in car with Hubby but had to pull over at firestation 5 mins away was so bad, Ambulance came I thought I had real bad trapped gas in my chest. Pain just progressively got worse had to beg for pain killers a friend in the ER heard me screaming in pain thought I was dying (at one point so did I) Fianlly got diagnosis of Pancreatitis. Hosp for 9 days on drip, etc got out only to be back same thing couple weeks later.. this went on for 4 and a half yrs once back in same bed 5 days later.. even went to Lahey in Boston twice..no reasons found.. Finally went in critical stage so after treatment for that was then sent to Brigham and Womens in Boston and after an ERCP and an MRCP found to have Pancreatic Divisum.they did a sphincterotomy and had attack ended in ER that night...tried to do stent later in week but Pancreas too swollen so could again only treat symptons. That was Oct in Feb finally had stent placed and removed a week later .. had attack after placement so in hosp for 3 days. Since then been fairly well (now 2 and half yrs) however get stitch like pains all the time.. they don't build just hit me hard out of the blue then go again some knock me off my feet but don't last long enough to even take meds for it.. also get what can only describe as "spasms" again not so painful but very often.. went for mrcp in Oct they said may need to have both sphincterotomy and stent placement again by end of this year or earlier if pains get worse..
sorry to ramble.. just wondering how others got on after stents, ercps, sphincterotomies etc..
After two stent placements, I finally started seeing a doctor who is taking my case seriously, he told me he wouldn't do another one since "clearly they aren't working" and suggested I have the TP-AIT surgery to remove my pancreas altogether.
I'm so glad you found this group, and I hope that you continue to get good care! I have found these support groups so very helpful, in everything from selecting doctors, to asking for specific tests. Best of luck!!