Re: New Just was diagnosed

[Guest guest]

,

check out this website. It has a lot of information on

pancreatitis. http://hopkins-gi.org/

Do a search on pancreatitis and check out all the

information you can find. On the sections on Chronic and

acute pancreatitis, there is a pull down menu if you roll

your cursur over the right hand side of the title bar (right

where the asian characters are). There is a lot of

information in all those sections.

Yes, chronic pancreatitis can increase your probability of

getting cancer, but it only increases the chance of getting

it by about around 5-10% more than other people. You may

want to have a CA-19 blood test periodically since you've

had members of the family who've had cancer in that region.

It can help in diagnosing you if you do have any cancer.

Check out the links and files section of the website as

there is a lot of information there too! You can find these

by going on the Yahoo website and going to the place where

you joined the group. Sign in using your Yahoo screen name

and password and you should then be able to access the files

and links. There are links to those pages on the left hand

side.

By the way, where are you located? You might have a state

representative that you can contact for further information

and help, but we can't tell you who until we know where you

are located.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

California and SW US regional representative

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to

that of a licensed physician or health care professional.

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Welcome to our group. While the reasons that prompted you to

seek us out aren't pleasant, I'm happy that you did, since you

should be able to find some comfort in the support and

information that you can receive with the PAI. I'm sure that there

was some relief to finally find out what was causing all your

problems for so many years. Many of our members have gone

through similar experiences, where it took them years to find a

good specialist and a confirmed diagnosis.

My journey with these problems has been quicker than most. I

was diagnosed with acute, then chronic pancreatitis with

pseudocysts within a couple weeks time in April 2001. Within

two years of this diagnosis I experienced total pancreas

burn-out, went into diabetic ketoacidosis shock and ended up as

a type 1 brittle diabetic. For most people with CP, it takes years

and years for any of these medical problems to appear, if they

ever do at all.

If you don't have a good gastroenterologist already treating you,

you will need to find one as soon as you can arrange to do so.

He or she will probably do some more testing, and most likely

would start you on enzyme supplements to take with your meals

and snacks to aid your digestive functions. The physician

should also advise you on the necessary vitamin supplements

you need to be taking, and would provide you with a prescription

for appropriate pain medication for you to take when you're

having pain episodes.

Hopefully the nutrionist that you saw already advised you on the

need for a diet low in fats and proteins, it's recommended that a

person with chronic pancreatitis consume no more than 20-25

grams of fat daily. Unfortunately, the majority of people with CP

rely heavily on carbohydrates to compensate for the low fat, low

protein diet. Yet, if you are having high blood glucose levels,

there is a good chance that you are diabetic, and would need to

limit your carb intake because carbs cause us to have rapid and

prolonged blood glucose levels.

Counseling with an endocrinologist is another necessary

appointment for you to make, and you should not delay in finding

one as soon as possible. This is just as important as the

gastroenterologist.

A good website to go to for thorough information on pancreatitis,

diabetes and all the related medical problems is our library at:

http://www.top5plus5.com/

There is a vast amount of research material available at this

website and it saves you a lot of time searching on the internet

for answers to your questions.

Our members here on the message board have a vast amount

of first hand experience, too, and will be happy to answer any

questions that you may have.

Presently I am the acting State Representative for Oklahoma, so

please feel free to contact me at any time, too. Coincidentally, I

will be in Oklahoma for two weeks in August. I'm taking my 11

year old grandson, who I've raised since birth, out there to live

with his father (my son), at Altus AFB in Altus. I'll be spending at

least two weeks there this summer to help the two of them get

settled into their new home and help make the transition easier.

Is Altus anywhere in your neck of the woods?

I hope this information helps. Please be back in touch if there is

anything I can do to help you.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep

PAI, Intl.

Note: Comments or advice are personal opinion only, and

should not be substituted for professional medical consultation.

[Guest guest]

,

the current acting representative for Oklahoma is Heide H.

Griffeth, so if you need anything, feel free to contact her.

You can always find the current representatives by going to

http://www.pancassociation.org and clicking on the link to

the PAI officers and State contacts if you ever forget who

your contact is.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to

that of a licensed physician or health care professional.