Where am I? Long

[Guest guest]

Hi all,

It's been quite a month and a half for me.

Since my first bout a the local hospital (Aug 1 - Aug 7), when my

pain could not be relived with Vicodine ES (Aug 13) I was given a

Duragesic Patch and sent to a " specialist " at Ciders- Sinai Hospital

in Los Angeles . On my first visit to his office (Aug 19), he became

extremely alarmed by the fact I was on the " patch " . He immediately

had me admitted to CS and did a ERCP the following day. During the

procedure, he could not find any blockage and called in Dr. Simon Lo,

head of the GI Department at Ciders, who thought my inner pancreatic

duct was too narrow. The original admitting doctor kept me NPO, (no

food, drink, or ice chips) I was given a Dilaudid PCA and by

injection as needed, plus but on anti-nausea medication. I was

scheduled for another ERCP in a week, to be performed by Dr. Lo.

It was a hellish week of pain and vomiting. The original MD was

extremely concerned that I was not eating any food, yet I was

experiencing so much pain. His concern became my mental duress.

After 5 days I asked the doc to arrange for me to talk with Dr. Lo. I

was told Dr Lo had a very busy schedule and that I would meet him in

pre-op. The next day, after a very bad night, I had my wife call Dr.

Lo's office direct, he came to see me that night and spent 25 minutes

answering all my questions. He did reassure me that the pain with no

food was very encouraging because it pointed to the narrow duct being

the problem. After a week of worry, I became optimistic and not so

depressed. Needless to say the original doctor was not pleased that I

went around him to see Dr. Lo.

I had the second ERCP on Aug 27. They did measure a significant

pressure difference between the inner and outer pancreatic ducts.

They performed a small cut (sphixterotomy?) to widened the inner duct.

That night I finally hit the 9-10 pain level. I had held off making

that determination all month. I was released, much to my relief, on

Aug 29. I was in severe pain and nausea for another day. A week

later, after pain levels of 3-4 all week, I was pain free...

On this last Monday (Sept 8) I went back to the original Doc at CS to

have the stint removed as an outpatient. They could not find the

stint, nature had removed it.

I returned back to work the following day.

Well yesterday (Sept 11) at 4 am the PAINcreas pain returned (6-7),

with vomiting and fever. First off, I switched Doctors. Dr. Lo is my

primary physician. (Something about trust and my confidence level)

I had a blood test for the usual suspect enzymes (results today) . I

put back on the patch.

I'm fighting depression. I thought I was done... Now I feel done for..

Where am I?

K.

[Guest guest]

,

PAINcreas, rather than pancreas - I like that. It is very appropriate.

Best Regards,

Jerry/NC

*****************************************************************

Where am I? Long

> Well yesterday (Sept 11) at 4 am the PAINcreas pain returned (6-7),

> with vomiting and fever.

[Guest guest]

Hi Jerry,

Honestly I got that from someone else on the group. I too found it

very appropriate. I'll take the smiles when I can get them.

My best,

> ,

>

> PAINcreas, rather than pancreas - I like that. It is very

appropriate.

>

> Best Regards,

>

> Jerry/NC

> *****************************************************************

> Where am I? Long

>

>

> > Well yesterday (Sept 11) at 4 am the PAINcreas pain returned (6-

7),

> > with vomiting and fever.

[Guest guest]

,

unfortunately, the doctors just don't know enough about pancreatitis to

really be able to tell who will continue to have pancreas problem

regardless of what they do. For some people, the duct procedure that you

had done, that is all that needs to be done. Unfortunately for others

and you it seems, that is not the case. Once the pancreas is bothered,

it becomes sensitive to all causes and makes them more likely to occur.

Did you have any unusual stress just before your latest attack? Eat any

heavy fat meals or fried food? Sometimes it's a good idea to keep a

journal of what you eat, do and what stresses you've got going at any

particular time. That way, you can look back if you have an attack and

see if you can identify the trigger so that you can avoid it in the

future. I just recently started a journal myself.

As for the depression, you might want to see a psychologist or get some

anti-depressants (or both) to help deal with the depression. I would

suggest a psychologist who is familiar with chronic illness or chronic

pain. That's what I do and the psychologist is a great help in keeping

me from sinking into any long term depression (short term periods of

depression are normal - it isn't normal if you stay there for more than

a week or so at a time).

I hope I've been of some help.

Kimber

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.

[Guest guest]

Hi Kimber,

Once again the my heroine.... Stress, Yes... the company I work for

is having major problems and of course I had been gone for a month..

and yes food.... the original doc had told me I did not need to limit

my diet, I could eat anything.... I had been following your advice

with the low fat diet, but gave in to one of my cravings for some

fried spaghetti.. Ouch... and double ouch... Since yesterday I have

gone back to clear liquids and low fat... Good bye " fried "

As for my depression, it is indeed only minor... After past

experiences with anti-depressants and anti-anxiety (7 years worth)

I will tune up my chi-kung which I find to balances me out better

than the meds... http://www.energeticsforhealth.com

Thanks again...

K.

> ,

> unfortunately, the doctors just don't know enough about

pancreatitis to

> really be able to tell who will continue to have pancreas problem

> regardless of what they do. For some people, the duct procedure

that you

> had done, that is all that needs to be done. Unfortunately for

others

> and you it seems, that is not the case. Once the pancreas is

bothered,

> it becomes sensitive to all causes and makes them more likely to

occur.

> Did you have any unusual stress just before your latest attack? Eat

any

> heavy fat meals or fried food? Sometimes it's a good idea to keep a

> journal of what you eat, do and what stresses you've got going at

any

> particular time. That way, you can look back if you have an attack

and

> see if you can identify the trigger so that you can avoid it in the

> future. I just recently started a journal myself.

>

> As for the depression, you might want to see a psychologist or get

some

> anti-depressants (or both) to help deal with the depression. I

would

> suggest a psychologist who is familiar with chronic illness or

chronic

> pain. That's what I do and the psychologist is a great help in

keeping

> me from sinking into any long term depression (short term periods

of

> depression are normal - it isn't normal if you stay there for more

than

> a week or so at a time).

>

> I hope I've been of some help.

> Kimber

> Kimber

>

> --

> Kimber

> Vallejo, CA

> hominid2@c...

> Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a

licensed physician or health care professional.

[Guest guest]

,

I know all of us are tempted and give in at some point to and have

something that you know you shouldn't eat (i've given in a few times too

and regretted it a lot). We're only human. Some doctors, unfortunately,

don't know how important it is to eat a low fat/no fat diet with this

disease. Hope you are feeling better soon. As long as you have some way

of dealing with the depression, then that's all that matters.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.