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...
For awhile my wife, her Dr. and myself have felt that my wifes Pancreatits has something to do with her menstruation, ovulation. prosgesterone,estrogen. She had been receiving Lupron shots to induce menopause to see if it helped.
The attacks seem to not be as strong but as soon as the 3 month shot would wear, she would get an attack, and we'd be in the hospital with her numbers over 22,000. One time they gave her Progesterone for the Lupron side effects and also got an over 20,000 attack. Well, now it's been 3 Lupron shots and time for a hysterectomy. She has had issues with endometriosis and this would help that issue but we really feel it might help the Pancreatitis issue. We'll let you know how it works out. Anyone else found a connection or gone this route?
John Hopkins wants to look to do a Pancreasectomy with auto-islet cell transplantation but her pancreas isn't really dying off and all the Dr's around here say they don't know if they would go that way. I guess we're gonna try the lesser of two evils.
The attacks seem to not be as strong but as soon as the 3 month shot would wear, she would get an attack, and we'd be in the hospital with her numbers over 22,000. One time they gave her Progesterone for the Lupron side effects and also got an over 20,000 attack. Well, now it's been 3 Lupron shots and time for a hysterectomy. She has had issues with endometriosis and this would help that issue but we really feel it might help the Pancreatitis issue. We'll let you know how it works out. Anyone else found a connection or gone this route?
John Hopkins wants to look to do a Pancreasectomy with auto-islet cell transplantation but her pancreas isn't really dying off and all the Dr's around here say they don't know if they would go that way. I guess we're gonna try the lesser of two evils.
I had endometriosis and had a hysterectomy many years ago. My endo caused an intestinal blockage which was diagnosed as Crohn's disease. Once I had the hysterectomy my Crohn's symptoms went away and I felt great for about 15 years. Then 20+ years later, I had GB issues, caused by scar tissue (prob from the endometriosis) and that progressed into CP. My GI thinks the pancreatectomy surgery is still experimental and it's too early for me to consider something that drastic. Oncve it's gone, you can't put it back. if your wife's pancreas is still functioning, I would think about a more conservative approach- that's what I'm doing. Since this is still such a new surgery,they will learn a lot over the next 10 years about the long term impact, etc.
Good luck
GG
Can you please keep us posted about your wife?