Re: Hello I am new to this club

[Guest guest]

Hi,

My name is Dodie and I am married to a Jim. He has chronic pancreatitis that

was brought on by a nasty gallbladder attack 2 1/2 years ago.

the major nono with this disease is that you cannot drink at all. You can

fake it with ginger ale and nobody is the wiser. You will be surprised who

your real friends are and they will be the ones who stick with you and will

jump on you if you even think about taking a drink. Diet is a big deal. Low

to no fat and cool it on red meat too. Trust me it is better to not go for a

beer or steak as the results are not worth it.

I hope you will stay and get to know everybody.

Dodie

Ps. You will find that there are a lot of Jim's in the group and healthcare

professionals also. We do not know why.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/00 1:24:30 PM Central Standard Time,

great12b@... writes:

<< I would also like to know if anyone has tried

drinking with this disease and what the outcomes were.Thankyou for

your time and hopefully we will make it through this. >>

james - i have never drunk other than a wine cooler maybe three times a year

and have pancreatitis. my doctor told me absolutely no alcohol and i am not

willing to push it and see what happens. some of the others may be able to

give you a better answer.

debbie

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Welcome to our group! My name is Becky and my husbands name is Chris. I

have to tell you your email caught my eye when you said you were from New

Orleans. My husband and family are from Louisiana, andria to be exact.

And there are relatives all over!

My husband and I are not drinkers but I understand the pressure you are

under as I know EVERYONE drinks in La. If you don't you are weird. I

suppose you can look at it the same way I look at food. I love red meat and

fattening foods. But I had to decide what was more enjoyable. Being pain

free and being able to work, or loving my food and ending up in the

hsopital. Some days my choices are not the greatest,especially when there

is a big juicy steak involved, and guess where I end up? Of course that is

just the way I look at things, someone else may look at it differently. For

me it is a lesson in will power.

I was diagnosed in January and have acute ideopathic pancreatitis. So I

am just learning and just beginning to face this. So far it has been a

rough road to haul. I am very active and very outgoing. This disease has

hit me like a brickand definatly torn it in two! I am tired, so tired I

haven't been able to work for 3 months. I am just now experiencing the

constant nausea. I have constant dull pain in my left rib area, it gets

worse with activity and stress. Or if I eat something I'm not suppose to.

I have been in the hsopital twice since January. I have lost 23 #'s and

have had a transfusion. My husband and I have only been married for 11

months. It's been tough.

As to how I handle it, I rely on my faith in God. I rely on my husband

and my Mom.

It is a great support system. I also come in here and talk. The people in

here are so inspirational ! So if you don't have a good support system,

come join us!!! I hope this helps you some .

Becky

great12b@... wrote:

>

> Since the one thing they told me I cant do is drink.(which at

> the time was the one thing i was good at).I haven't had a drink in

> over a year but am not doing so good as of late. I live in new

> orleans where everything seems to be alcohol related. On the outside

> my friends are proud of me because I seem so strong in my ability to

> not drink and change, but on the inside I just want to be able to

> enjoy a glass of wine on a date or toast a friend at his wedding and

> dont think I will be able to last much longer.

> I would dlike to know more about how yall deal with this disease

> because I feel that is taking the quality of life that i had and

> tearing it into two. I would also like to know if anyone has tried

> drinking with this disease and what the outcomes were.Thankyou for

> your time and hopefully we will make it through this.

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 2.9%

> Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW!

> http://click./1/936/0/_/593940/_/953061747/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/00 1:24:29 PM Central Standard Time,

great12b@... writes:

<< Well, since then I have experienced mild pains with some serious heartburn

and vomiting>> << I never know when its gonna occur seems somedays I am fine

while others I feel real sluggish and tired.>> << I live in New Orleans

where everything seems to be alcohol related. I just want to be able to enjoy

a glass of wine on a date or toast a friend at his wedding and don't think I

will be able to last much longer.>> << I feel that is taking the quality of

life that I had and

tearing it into two. Hopefully we will make it through this.>>

Hi ,

This disease seems to affect men with the name or Jim and members of

the health care profession?

At any rate, I am very glad that you found this site. We have a lot in

common as you will find many of us do. It just seems as though the dates are

different. For almost a year before I was diagnosed Aug 1999 I also

experienced severe heartburn. I didn't have a clue what it was. I would

forever go over what I had eaten, etc. The only problem is that someday a

certain food wouldn't bother me and other days it would. I spend over a $100

at the drugstore trying to find an over the counter medicine for my

heartburn. It burned terrible.

You mention that there are days you feel so-so and other days are bad. That

is to me probably one of the worst things about this disease...the

unpredictability of it all. Making plans is hopeless. I quit months ago. I

was unfortunately diagnosed end stage with my pancreas essentially calcified

and my pancreatic ducts packed with stones. I had part of my pancreas removed

to see if it would help the pain, but benefits were limited. Today, I wake up

with an open mind to what this disease has in store for me. I adjust my day

accordingly. As my condition has deteriorated the course of my day has also

become unpredictable. What has worked for me is to pay attention to my body's

needs. Initially, I only noticed the big bangs of pains which came with

attacks. I can now recognize very subtle messages that suggest I need to get

home or find a place to perch pretty quickly. The one consistent things seems

to be is that I have about a 2 hours endurance level. Other than that I have

no stamina and all of my symptoms seems to exacerbate.

I grew up in New Orleans, lived uptown by Audubon park. It is a great city,

but should be called the city of alcohol. It is hard to quit drinking, even

socially, when it is such a big part of all the activities. The bottom line,

however, is that if you drink, it will completely destroy your pancreas, as

well as the other organs which take over and support the pancreas when it is

damaged. There are many types or causes of Pancreatitis. Many cases are a

result of duct problems, cysts, or medications. There is another class of

Pancreatitis which causes calcification of the organ itself and produces

massive stones within the duct. Some physicians feel that the origin of all

Calcification Pancreatitis is due to alcohol. In my limited research, I

differ with this. HOWEVER, to give you an example of the effect that alcohol

has on the pancreas is to explain how numerous pancreatic nerve blocks are

done. This is a procedure that attempts to deaden or numb the primary nerve

running through the pancreas. The solution that many physicians inject into

this large nerve is 100% alcohol. It is the most deadly toxin known for this

purpose.

I understand completely the difficulty, anger, grief, and sadness you are

experiencing with how living with this disease has affected your life. It has

not only affected all of our lives but the lives of our friends and families.

One thing that makes things difficult for me is that I " present " pretty well.

I have been diagnosed for 6 months, no longer am able to eat by mouth, but

require IV nutrition and pain medication. When friends see me they don't

understand why I can't do what I used to. I don't look as sick as I am. You

will learn a lot about how it is to be a support person, friend, etc., from

the caregivers in this Network. They have taught me many important things and

helped my own relationship with those who help me.

I can tell that you are already on the right tract. It would be hard to cope

with all of these things alone. Never forget the most important thing I heard

you say in " hopefully we will make it through this. " It is the word WE.

Stay close,

Karyn

<A HREF= " http://hometown.aol.com/karynwms/myhomepage/business.html " >Pancreatit

is Support Network</A>

[Guest guest]

Thankyou Becky and

Thankyou for your encouraging words it is good to see that other people out

their understand. I wish the best for you and your treatment. As you put it I am

just going to have to way know that it is not worth going to the hospital

overThankyou for encouraging me. It no matter how hard we try is now apart of

our lives and I guess I have to make the best of it. Thankyou,

Becky and wrote:

>

>

> Hi !

> Welcome to our group! My name is Becky and my husbands name is Chris. I

> have to tell you your email caught my eye when you said you were from New

> Orleans. My husband and family are from Louisiana, andria to be exact.

> And there are relatives all over!

> My husband and I are not drinkers but I understand the pressure you are

> under as I know EVERYONE drinks in La. If you don't you are weird. I

> suppose you can look at it the same way I look at food. I love red meat and

> fattening foods. But I had to decide what was more enjoyable. Being pain

> free and being able to work, or loving my food and ending up in the

> hsopital. Some days my choices are not the greatest,especially when there

> is a big juicy steak involved, and guess where I end up? Of course that is

> just the way I look at things, someone else may look at it differently. For

> me it is a lesson in will power.

> I was diagnosed in January and have acute ideopathic pancreatitis. So I

> am just learning and just beginning to face this. So far it has been a

> rough road to haul. I am very active and very outgoing. This disease has

> hit me like a brickand definatly torn it in two! I am tired, so tired I

> haven't been able to work for 3 months. I am just now experiencing the

> constant nausea. I have constant dull pain in my left rib area, it gets

> worse with activity and stress. Or if I eat something I'm not suppose to.

> I have been in the hsopital twice since January. I have lost 23 #'s and

> have had a transfusion. My husband and I have only been married for 11

> months. It's been tough.

> As to how I handle it, I rely on my faith in God. I rely on my husband

> and my Mom.

> It is a great support system. I also come in here and talk. The people in

> here are so inspirational ! So if you don't have a good support system,

> come join us!!! I hope this helps you some .

>

> Becky

>

> great12b@... wrote:

>

> >

> > Since the one thing they told me I cant do is drink.(which at

> > the time was the one thing i was good at).I haven't had a drink in

> > over a year but am not doing so good as of late. I live in new

> > orleans where everything seems to be alcohol related. On the outside

> > my friends are proud of me because I seem so strong in my ability to

> > not drink and change, but on the inside I just want to be able to

> > enjoy a glass of wine on a date or toast a friend at his wedding and

> > dont think I will be able to last much longer.

> > I would dlike to know more about how yall deal with this disease

> > because I feel that is taking the quality of life that i had and

> > tearing it into two. I would also like to know if anyone has tried

> > drinking with this disease and what the outcomes were.Thankyou for

> > your time and hopefully we will make it through this.

> >

> >

> >

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> > GET A NEXTCARD VISA, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as 2.9%

> > Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees. Apply NOW!

> > http://click./1/936/0/_/593940/_/953061747/

> > ------------------------------------------------------------------------

>

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

> PERFORM CPR ON YOUR APR!

> Get a NextCard Visa, in 30 seconds! Get rates as low as

> 0.0% Intro or 9.9% Fixed APR and no hidden fees.

> Apply NOW!

> http://click./1/2121/0/_/593940/_/953068169/

> ------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Guest guest]

,

i have drank alcohol on my 21 birthday and i had

no ill effects but that does not mean you will not. I did okay this

with my doc and he said just one glass of wine and I would be okay, but

he also said if i did get pancreatitis her would hang me. I have

drank a few times since them and had a little nausea but that is about

it. But I would just quit if i where you it might be hard but everyone

of us in this group will support you.

Crystal

Servings

of fruit a day: 0 1 2+

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

My name is , as with the rest of us I too have

chronic pancreatitis, mine is because of congential defects of my pancreas,

also I am a nurse, there is one thing I really want to impress on you that

any alcohol is TOO MUCH, alcohol and pancreatitis don't mix, alcohol can do

more damage and you could not even know it, there are alot of people who

drank alot when they were young, only to find out in their golden years that

the drinking had done irrepairable damage to their pancreas. It is so

important to avoid alcohol that I even check desserts out to make sure they

haven't been made with liquer, like kaluah, or creme demint, or any other

flavored alcohol. My husband likes to drink a beer occasionally and I have

just learned that there is nothing worth this, in social setting I keep a

drink called ellis Sparkling Cider, looks like champagne, tastes great

and causes NO pain, look for it in the grocery around the wine areas or in

the juice sections. There are alot of others like Welches sparkling grape

juice in purple and white grapes, it helps to be able to participate in

toasts and group events. All to frequently we are left out of social

situations because of pain, and them when people are having a special event

we are again left out hope this helps.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/14/2000 2:24:18 PM Eastern Standard Time,

great12b@... writes:

<< I live in new

Orleans where everything seems to be alcohol related. >>

,

I too was born and raised in " The Big Easy " too. That is the worst place to

live if you have pancreatitis. All of the food is cooked in fat (fried) and

access to alcohol is too readily available (drive up daiquiri shops, all

night clubs, " go cups, " etc...)

The first thing you have to realize is that you can never drink alcohol

again, ever! Move on! That part of your life is over. Next, learn how to

eat smarter. Drastically cut the amount of fat and protein you intake in

your meals. If need be, use vitamin supplements if you feel this is

necessary to replace the loss of protein in your diet. Finally, get yourself

a good GI doctor from a " teaching " hospital. I strongly recommend Tulane

Medical Center on Tulane Ave. They treated me for over 5 years and were the

most successful of all of my doctors in determining a course of action that

allows me to continue to lead as normal a life as possible. I am so sorry to

hear you are having difficulty with this illness. You can control a good

deal of the discomfort you feel by making the necessary adjustments in your

lifestyle. Good luck.

Andre'

[Guest guest]

kARYN,

I CAN REALLY RELATE TO THE REACTION OF FRIENDS. mY FRIENDS ALL TELL ME HOW

GREAT i LOOK SINCE I LOST 25 POUNDS. ONE MAN TOLD MY HUSBAND HE HAD A TROPHY

WIFE NOW. LARRY SAID YEA YOOU JUST DON' KNOW WHAT KIND OF ROPHY. SO WHEN I

SAY ICAN' DO SOME OF THE THINGS I USED TO DO THEY TELL MY RELSTIVS THAT I

SHOUDL SEE S DOCTOR TO GET MY HEAD VACK ON STRAIGHT.

LYNNEAR

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/29/00 11:21:29 PM Central Standard Time, LynneAR@...

writes:

<< SHOUDL SEE S DOCTOR TO GET MY HEAD VACK ON STRAIGHT. >>

THAT IS HORRIBLE!! I am so glad that noone has said that to me yet! i'd

probably have to deck 'em. hang in there. yesterday i got a letter from

a lady that works with my husband telling me to keep my chin up etc; (she has

had cancer) and it made me feel so good. everyone needs some encouragement -

not addition to their frustration level! some of the people i work with had

been making so many comments at first about " can't they find what is wrong "

etc; - when the doctor knew what was wrong just couldn't find the reason for

it! that i finally copied some of the description of the disease etc; and

emailed it to them and asked them to read it at their leisure. no more

comments about trying to find out what is wrong! i might have given them

too much info! ha. but i wanted them to be aware and i got so tired of

telling everyone over and over again about it.

debbie

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 3/30/2000 11:33:31 AM Eastern Standard Time,

djssekis@... writes:

<< some of the people i work with had

been making so many comments at first about " can't they find what is wrong "

etc; - when the doctor knew what was wrong just couldn't find the reason

for

it! that i finally copied some of the description of the disease etc; and

emailed it to them and asked them to read it at their leisure. no more

comments about trying to find out what is wrong! i might have given them

too much info! ha. >>

Debbie,

I too had to do something similar to this. I had to get a letter from my

doctor explaining entirely the nature of this illness, long range prognosis

for full recovery, and work restrictions. Once they received this from my

doctor, the dumb questions and comments have ceased. While I too think my

doctor supplied them with more info than I felt was necessary, it was still

important to me that I know they understood what I was going through just to

remain at work. One negative from all of this has been my being " replaced "

in my current position as a Region Manager. They feel that this workload is

too taxing for me to handle with this illness, even though I have been

performing admirably in this position for over 3 years while being sick. I

expressed to them that I could continue in my current position but they felt

it would be best for me (yeah, right) and the company (more like the truth)

if I took a less demanding position. I don't know yet what my new assignment

is going to be but I do know that if it isn't something I feel I will enjoy

doing (no busy work), I may have to consider taking my disability benefits

and filing for Social Security. I am not going to kill myself trying to work

every day at a meaningless job. I'd rather stay home and work on my full

recovery from pancreatitis. Besides, that is what my doctor recommends for

me to do, stay out of work and take my disability benefits. He doesn't feel

I will ever be able to sustain the effort needed to keep a full-time

position. I had to beg him and promise I wouldn't try to over do it when I

return to work or he wouldn't have signed my release. So I know what you

mean by giving out too much info. Except in my case, it was unavoidable if I

intended on staying employed. Whenever you think you have fully adjusted to

life with this illness, it throws you another curve. What next?

Andre'

[Guest guest]

i HAVVVE A HARD TIME JUST SMILING WHEN EVERYOONE SAYS

yOU LOOK SO GREAT--BUT THEY ONLY MEAN GEE YOUR WEARING A 4 AND YOU USED TO

WEAR A 12. sOR sOUTHERN cALIFORNIA THAT IS AN

ACCONMPLISHMENT ESPECIALLY AT MY AGE.

LYNNEAR