Re: Another niggling question

[Guest guest]

Hey patricia -

My name is Tonya. I just read your post and I couldn't believe it. I too

have recently started having neck pain with all this mess. I haven't posted in

a couple of years to this site but I do try to keep up w/everyone. My story

is too long to go into now but its hard to believe everything I've been through

with no real diagnosis. I finally gave up on the doctors in early 2002 and

just started trying to raise my kids and enjoy them as much as possible even

though I have to try my best to hide the pain I'm in on a daily basis. Hope it

all works out for you.

take care,

Tonya

[Guest guest]

... why worry of dying? Sounds as though you have a lot of

living to do with a 3-year-old son!

First of all, my daughter is 19 (truly truly a blessing) ---- but I

do have an ACTIVE 3-year-old nephew who's a cutie. I have to

applaude you because I forget just how very active little ones can

be.

I'm sure your little 3-year-old angel will learn that Mommy will have

good days and she'll have not-so-good days. He's growing up along

with you and what you're dealing with ... which he'll eventually

understand and it will be a normalcy to him. He has a 'special'

Mother!

What kind of pancreatitis do you have, ? Why do you worry of

dying?

I worried I was going to be a widow at 37 years old these past few

months. But then, since I'm powerless at deciding the fate of my

husband with necrotizing pancreatitis (which can have a high

mortality rate), I decided " QUIT WORRYING AND ENJOY THE TIME THAT'S

LEFT. "

Even though he has aches, pains, weakness, and is carrying around two

pseudocysts ... he is riding horses, we're building a log home,

making plans for the future, and LIVING LIFE. You can do this with

your son too!!!

Ya know something ... because you do have this fear, I bet you REALLY

appreciate the time with your son ... you don't take one moment for

granted. I bet you two have formed a super special bond!!!

No one knows what tomorrow will bring ... but I bet you'll be around

for a long long time for your little angel!

Warmly,

Beth

[Guest guest]

Wow, ... so very sorry to hear what you've been through for

so long.

Coincidentally, Barry (my husband) has dead tissue for the tail of

his pancreas - as your pancreatic tail was injured. (He never had

any pancreas trouble before. His story: blood work showed elevated

liver enzymes - doctor scheduled an ERCP. Flukey things happen ...

pancreas didn't like the ERCP procedure and decided to die. The tip

of the head of the pancreas is still functioning - thank goodness.)

He, as you did, has two pseudocysts - which the surgeon says let them

go for a couple of years and see what they do. So glad you finally

rid yourself of those darn things.

You say you had the occasional drink. That is a question I'm

researching since Barry would like to have a lite beer during the hot

summer - maybe one can a week --- he never did drink much. I found

information on the internet stating if pancreatitis was caused by

alcohol - do not drink. What if the pancreas was ok with alcohol

from the beginning and the pancreatitis resulted from an ERCP (or car

accident injury)? I don't want Barry (or you or anyone out there) to

do anything to jeopardize their health over this!!!!! I just don't

want him to take a drink and regret it. (A question for the next

doctor's visit.)

Did you rule out a pinched nerve in your back from the accident years

ago? I'm new at this pancreatitis thing ... does pain from

pancreatitis radiate through the arms? I need to keep alert of the

signs of an attack.

Hey ... I wouldn't say you'd be a lot sicker as the one doctor told

you ... everyone is different. All options should be kept open!

Doctors get surprises too.

Maybe enzymes would help if there's malabsorption (floating

stools)??? Are you suffering from " wasting " (muscle loss)? Get

tested and get well, ! But skip the worrying ... ok?!

Warmly,

Beth

[Guest guest]

Beth,

about Barry drinking. Even thoug alcohol is not the reason for his

pancreatitis, once you have had it, it makes the pancreas more sensitive

to other causes and makes it more likely that an attack will occur.

That's why most doctors say not to have any alcohol, even if that isn't

the cause. My initial cause of my CP is a pancreas divisum, but I've

learned that if I even eat a food dish with alcohol in iit, the pain

levels sky rocket, even if the dish is low or no flat. So for me, I

can't even use alcohol in my food. This means even the non-alcoholic

beers are not a good idea as they still have some alcohol in them, just

not enough to be labeled alcoholic.(usually about 1% alcohol or so.)

It's not a risk I would take.

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!

Thanks so much for your input regarding alcohol - and your personal

experiences even cooking with it. I don't him to take any chances

either. He's doing so well - compared to a couple of months ago - we

don't want to go backwards --- rather ONWARDS!!!

Thanks again, Kimber!

Beth

[Guest guest]

Hi Beth,

I don't think your husband should ever, ever drink even a sip of

alcohol again.......just reading what some of the people on the board

go through may scare him not to want to even try. I sure wish I

listened to my surgeon and GI specialist at the time. And my

problems were caused by trauma initally. It is wonderful to hear how

supportive you are of your husband....he is a very lucky, lucky man.

Warmest wishes, and again thank you for responding!

> Wow, ... so very sorry to hear what you've been through

for

> so long.

>

> Coincidentally, Barry (my husband) has dead tissue for the tail of

> his pancreas - as your pancreatic tail was injured. (He never had

> any pancreas trouble before. His story: blood work showed elevated

> liver enzymes - doctor scheduled an ERCP. Flukey things happen ...

> pancreas didn't like the ERCP procedure and decided to die. The

tip

> of the head of the pancreas is still functioning - thank goodness.)

>

> He, as you did, has two pseudocysts - which the surgeon says let

them

> go for a couple of years and see what they do. So glad you finally

> rid yourself of those darn things.

>

> You say you had the occasional drink. That is a question I'm

> researching since Barry would like to have a lite beer during the

hot

> summer - maybe one can a week --- he never did drink much. I found

> information on the internet stating if pancreatitis was caused by

> alcohol - do not drink. What if the pancreas was ok with alcohol

> from the beginning and the pancreatitis resulted from an ERCP (or

car

> accident injury)? I don't want Barry (or you or anyone out there)

to

> do anything to jeopardize their health over this!!!!! I just don't

> want him to take a drink and regret it. (A question for the next

> doctor's visit.)

>

> Did you rule out a pinched nerve in your back from the accident

years

> ago? I'm new at this pancreatitis thing ... does pain from

> pancreatitis radiate through the arms? I need to keep alert of the

> signs of an attack.

>

> Hey ... I wouldn't say you'd be a lot sicker as the one doctor told

> you ... everyone is different. All options should be kept open!

> Doctors get surprises too.

>

> Maybe enzymes would help if there's malabsorption (floating

> stools)??? Are you suffering from " wasting " (muscle loss)? Get

> tested and get well, ! But skip the worrying ... ok?!

>

> Warmly,

> Beth