Re: Similiar stories

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 4/14/00 11:35:29 PM Central Daylight Time,

LenhartROCKO@... writes:

<< My levels no longer go up but I continue to live with debilitating pain,

nausea, vomiting, bowel obstruction, swelling, dehydration, sleeplessness

and now severe depression. >>

<<My doctors in my hometown and at the University of Michigan say: they have

done all they can lets hope it burns itself out.>>

Hi Tammy,

Thanks for letting us know a bit of your story. I suffer with all of the

complaints you listed above. When my depression is manageable it is easier

for me to find joy in what God has given me. I've been off my antidepressants

a few days (due to the financial reasons I mentioned in my post on COBRA). As

a nurse I know that antidepressants have a long half life which means it

takes a while to get out of your body, but combined with the fact that I am

having my period I have been feeling sad.

We all have such different circumstances but in the end it seems as though we

all share the same stories. I also have a morphine pump. How long have you

had yours? I started on it in February. It isn't enough to keep me from being

debilitated from the

pain and I take Percocet to help. However, tonight, I am having classic

pancreatic pain to the back, and you know the rest. My dose on the pump is

8mg/hr with 5 mg bolus every 20 min.

My doctors have all said the same thing that they are sorry that they have

nothing more to offer me. I am so grateful for the people I have met through

this Network. We are a group that doesn't give up. We may not be able to do

research, but so many people have shared web sites, alternative treatments,

and hope. It seems that we are a growing group and dedicated to pushing the

frontier of research. I wish I knew what path to take to make our voice

heard. I continue to pray about it. At least this is a place that will

answers any questions that you have, truthfully and not beat around the bush

like so many health care providers (doctors) do.

I am happy for you that you are married. I think it would be so much easier

to handle this disease if I weren't single. There seems to be a different

level of support from people who " drop by. " This is such a socially isolating

disease, primarily due to the unpredictability of pain, etc.

Please post again. You have had this disease for some time and I am sure you

may be able to share some informational websites. Go to the Pancreatitis

E-group web site and click on Links. Send me some of your that you think

would be an asset.

Again, welcome.

Karyn