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...

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What pain meds and how often when admitted

njdevil2
njdevil2
My wife suffers from Chronic Pancreatitis. She has had numerous attacks without elevated enzymes and inflamation showing on a ct scan. Luckily they haven't really seen any scarring or build up. I'm curious what meds people get in the hospital, and how often. My wife gets dilaudid every three hours or so. Just want to compare what other people are taking to get comfortable. Also, how long do you usually stay in the hospital?
deleted_user
deleted_user
Hi njdevil, first sorry to hear about your wife having CP. Everyone is on a case by case basis regarding medications and length of stay...it all depends how severe the episode is and what complications arise from it. But Dilaudid is the standard pain medication of choice for intravenous....it definitely helps me when I am in there. I was given 10mg Morphine in the ER and was in severe spasms with it....my Gastro dr showed up and he said you never give Morphine for CP because it causes spasms. Once I got the Dilaudid the spasm went away as well as most of my pain. My length of stay at the longest so far was almost 2 weeks....I had to get blood transfusion because I was leaking blood from the pancreas down to my appendix area. Some have had it more severe or less severe...again case by case. thank gawd your wife isnt showing any calcification or scarring yet....I have only the head of my pancreas and it is calcified because of the CP....and makes the pain worst. I hope your wife has a pain free day.
Diane
BTW im a njdevil as well:)
deleted_user
deleted_user
I also have CP and no longer have elevated enzymes or inflammation in CT, I do have significant scaring that showed up on EUS. I'm in the hospital right now and I am getting a combo of pain meds. I get morphine by IV every 4 hours. 1 hour after the morphine I get Percocet every 4 hours. It's controlling the pain well. I'm also getting Zofran every 4 hours for nausea. During previous hospitalzations I've received Dilautid and Zofran every 4 hours and it would control the pain/naseousness well. Im at a different hospital this time and guessing they prefer giving Morphine over Dilautid. Whatever works I'm good with. The only pain management I have t home is hyoscyamine so hoping to get prescriptions for this method.

As for length of hospitalization, I'm on day 4 now and expect to be here for at least a few more days. My previous hospitalizations have been 5-8 days.

I'm guessing your wife is in he hospital right now. Good luck to her and hope she feels better soon.
deleted_user
deleted_user
So sorry about your wife. I am currently under the care of Pain Management for my CP. I have pain every day. I currently use the Fentanyl 12 mcg Transdermal Patch and Nucynta 50mg every 6 hours. It definately helps but not 100%. I really do not want to go any stronger if I can help it. I wish her the best in her quest to become pain free but I can tell you it can be a long, rough road....

Take Care!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
Sorry your wife is going through this. I am on 1-2mg of dilaudid every 4 hours, plus tylenol in between for any other types of pain like headache or even fever. I am on ativan and gravol too. Not sure if this helps.