New Kid on the block

[Guest guest]

Hi,

I just wanted to introduce myself. I'm glad to see that there is a

group on Pancreatitis out there that doesn't cost money to join (the

only other one I found was in England and they wanted $5 CDN to

join).

My first visit to the hospital with acute pancreatitis was 5 months

ago in January of 2003. Previously, I had not had to go to the

hospital for 4 years previously, and then with a strange infection

in my neck. After experiencing abdominal pain, and then passing out

twice (once in the bathroom and once in the emergency room) I spent

the next five days on an IV drip. After I was released, the

specialist gave me a prescription for Pantaloc and sent me on my

way. Although he diagnosed the situation as pancreatitis (he didn't

mention acute or chronic), he was at a loss to identify the cause of

it. Nothing showed up on the ultrasound, the CT scan, the xrays,

etc. And except for a high white blood count on the blood tests,

nothing of consequence was found. I rarely drink alcohol (even less

since January), although I was eating too much fat and drinking too

much pop (as many as 3 or 4 cans of coke per day). When I was

released, I asked if there were any dietary measures I should take,

but he did not mention any.

That was five months ago and today I just got out of the hospital

from another five day stint on the IV because of another

pancreatitis attack. I originally thought one visit to the hospital

and I'd be good to go. However, after doing some research on the

web, and reading some of the posts, I realize that I'm going to have

make some long term changes.

I am now looking for low fat recipes (as I love hamburgers, pizza,

cheese, I need find substitutes) so if you have any good ones let me

know. I also had something very strange happen to me this time in

the hospital. Previously, with an attack, I experienced dizziness

and then passing out, but this time something else happened. I was

in the hospital and was asked to stand up for an x-ray. I stood up

against the way and was about to breathe in deeply and hold it for

the x-ray when I suddenly got light headed and began having the

strangest dream. Not realizing that I had passed out (as I did

previously) I awoke to find the x-ray technician and two porters

trying to wake me up on the floor of the room. It seems that

technician managed to catch me before I hurt anything (amazing feat

for a 5' 6 " woman of all 125 pounds catching me at 5' 11 " 235

pounds). But, the weird thing was, when I awoke I could see them

yelling at me and I could tell why they were there, but I couldn't

blink and I couldn't move and I couldn't talk. This lasted for

about 2 seconds and then released. Afterwards, my legs and my arms

were in pain as they had completely stiffened up. This I have

learned is a side effect. However, the " seizure " type of experience

I had was completely new and I have not read of anything like that

being caused by Pancreatitis. I told my doctor about it, but he

seemed to dismiss it. I had only seen something like that happen to

someone before (my sister who is mentally handicapped), although

never experienced it before. Has anyone else ever experienced

anything like that?

In any event, I look forward to reading more from the group and

hearing how you all cope. It looks like I will be dealing with this

for awhile.

Best regards,

Rob Larsen

Nanaimo, Vancouver Island, BC Canada