Pancreatitis: Good times and rapid weight loss!

Well, folks I just got back from a fun-filled four day vacation in the HOS-PIT-ALLLLLL OH YEAHHHHH!!!!!!

That was like, totally great. IF you ever feel a tearing pain just below your sternum, actually it's a little more like the most intense muscle pull ever, and no position is even remotely comfortable, and food makes it grow exponemtailly worse -- you too may expereince the joys of IV fluids and morphine only.

If the morphine doesn't cut it you can probably score some delaudid (sp?)

On the plus side I lost eight pounds in four days AND they don't know what caused it so I get to stay on the lookout for all this fun again.

Oh here's a disclaimer: pancreatitis is NOT pancreatic cancer, so now that I'm better I'm more or less good as new, but I do have a new motivation to eat a low fat diet and never again drink a beer. :( (Alcohol is often a cause of pancreatitis, not in my case, but I've been told to give it up entirely, and this was such a great time I think I will)

At least it's finals week, so I don't have anything else going on....

instead of the big C.

isn't Crohn's pretty much chronic? At least the pancreatitis goes away.

Hey, I know I could stand to lose a few pounds, but dammmmmnnnnnnnn!

after their first attack.

:hug:

:hi:

My brother died from acute pancreatitis 11 years ago. He went right to the hospital, too. My doctors told me that drugs are also a cause ... and many drug inserts list it as a side-effect.

I'm glad you're better. :hug:

your brother. :hug:

This is in fact not the first time I've had this, the last time the docs and I concluded it was a likely a reaction to a medicine I was on. The last time I took those pills was a year ago, so it would sem that they were not the only cause. If they were a cause at all.

Oh well, I'm gonna go see the gastro-people and see what they can figure out.

:hug:
As far as I know, he only got it once and it was bad. They did several surgeries, but he didn't make it. We were pretty shocked.

I hope you can get it figured out. I'm not at all sure you can rule out those pills, even after a year, but I'm glad you're not taking them anymore. I hope you'll tell us what the gastro people say. Take care, OK? :hug:

Do something you'll enjoy!



BTW ~ Welcome Back!

:hi:

Call Me Wesley, The Wiley and Excellent Cat Named Ginger and I are sending you good vibes for your health and safe navigation of this time in your life. :loveya: :hug:

:grouphug:

He was in the hospital for 3 weeks. He had gall stones and one of them got into his pancreas and caused the pancreatitis. They wanted to take out his gall bladder (he had a problem with too many gall stones and he had a bad case of acid reflux). My husband lost 25 pounds. No food or water for 3 weeks will do that to you.

I know how much he hated it in that hospital. It was the worst! Good luck to you and yes it would be good to stop drinking. My husband was told it may kill him if he drinks in excess.

:hi: Got to be healthy for the spring run-off paddling season :-).

good to see ya! :hi:

That's pretty much what I told the docs!

pancreatitis ties with kidney stones for most painful problems that I know of. Take care of yourself and there are easier ways to get drugs and lose weight. Glad you are ok.

stopped drinking. How much danger is he in/

I think a whole bunch. This is a potentially fatal condition, any time you get it you pretty much aren't allowed to leave the hospital. It shouldn't be that hard to convince him of the necessity--he's felt the pain, he knws what I'm talking about.

I'm not sure how "attached" your friend is to alcohol, but if he needs help in kicking the sauce he should probably get it.

Y'know, it's kinda funny (well maybe not "funny" but...) I often go months without drinking but it WILL be hard the first time I'm at a party and can't have even ONE. hmmmm......sigh

how bad was it really?

They don't even question your need for painkillers or ask you about toughing it out. Often they'll ask you if need more. In this DEA age they don't do that much.

What it felt like to me was if a tennis ball size muscle was tryig to squeeze itslef into a marble size ball--and just woldn't take no for an answer. Obviously it's not a muscle, which is why a lot of people don't realize it's a digestive problem at first.

:hugs: Danny

Pancreatitis is an extremely painful condition, and I am sad that you had to go through it. Better stay away from deep fried possum pie from now on.

My pomeranian gets this from time to time if I am not careful about what he eats; the vet told me he usually has a bunch of cases the day after any holiday, especially Thanksgiving, because the doggies eat turkey and gravy, which sets off an attack of pancreatitis.

My my -- you're young to, to have it. Bummer to have it during finals. I wish you all the best in your recovery, and hope the end of the school year goes smoothly for you after this physical ordeal.

When I had my kidney infection I was given Percocet and eventually Dilaudid. That infection was the worst pain I have ever felt, and that includes toothaches and childbirth.

I'm glad you are feeling better.

The only thing I knew for sure was that childbirth usually has a baby associated with it and in most cases the baby is seen as a good thing--whereas the only thing this has going for it is.......

Oh yeah, nothing.

I ate a light dinner tonight, some rice, some veggies a little bit of pork chop and so far so good! :D

I did get babies out of the whole childbirth thing.

I don't know if the pain of advanced nephritis is on the same level as the pain of pancreatitis, but I'm pretty sure I don't want to know!

I'll be perfectly content to speculate! If it's an internal organ-"itis" it just isn't fun.