Newly Diagnosed / What to Expect

[Guest guest]

Jim & Becky  

You wrote, " will he be back to normal soon or are there always lingering

effects that he will have to deal with the rest of his life, and does it just

take

time to find out if he'll be back to his normal self or have problems to deal

with. "

Those are very reasonable questions. When I was diagnosed no one told me what

to expect. I am just ending up my fourth year, and only recently fully

understood the extent of how this illness has impacted my life. It is difficult.

On

one hand it is very important for you to know exactly what is wrong, what

caused the attack, what all of the tests indicate, but you don't want to

predetermine the prognosis. Hope is a vital ingredient to recovery and quality

of life.

Though, I don't know the data necessary to answer your questions, I think I

can say, regaining the strength lost from prolonged bedrest, healing after the

insult of autodigestion, becoming hemodynamically stable, and resuming normal

nutrition is a lot of work for the human body. Even in the best circumstances,

it takes time. Pushing yourself can only adds additional stress, increases

pain, disrupts digestion, and can even cause a relapse.

Many people get Acute Pancreatitis, recover, and do fine indefinitely, with

no residual problems. Many people develop Chronic Pancreatitis, suffer

extensive calcifications, endocrine insufficiency, and are plagued with severe

pain,

Diabetes, irritable bowel problems, among others, indefinitely. And, many

people fall somewhere in between. I really believe that faith and hope have a

significant role in where we end up.

Karyn E. , RN,

Exec. Director, PAI

*http://www.pancassociation.org