What is Pancreatitis

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On Mother's Day of 2004 I awoke early with a severe stomach ache but decided that since I'd had my grandchildren the day before and overnight it was probably something I had eaten. Consequently, I decided that if I could make myself throwup I would feel better. Didn't accomplish that and only felt worse. By the time I called my son at 5:30AM and said "You need to come get the kids and take me to the hospital" (and just hungup?!?) I was in excrutiating pain. When my son got there I guess I looked as bad as I felt because he wanted to call an ambulance. Not for me - it was only blocks to the hospital. Wow, that was a long ride. I didn't even change from my nightclothes. There have been many hospital stays (local and in St. Louis) involving draining the pseudocysts that the pancreas was forming (every month) and for a 73 day stay to receive nutrients and blood. It is now 3+ years later and my last surgery involved removal of 80% of my pancreas, my spleen and a cyst. Thank God, there has been no cancer involved. However, I am now a brittle diabetic - VERY HIGH blood sugars and most recently I have suffered another attack of pancreatitis ( in the remaining 20%). My surgeon advises that since this is a major surgery and there is no guarantee that the pain will subside (no pancreas - I guess phantom pain?!?) that I should learn "to live with it". He advises that most people with chronic pancreatitis are addicted to painkillers. GREAT! At 53 years old I had finally attained a dream - I graduated and was a Nurse. I was able to practice at a local hospital before my initial attack and LOVED IT!! Since Mother's Day 2004 I have not worked. It is depressing. I try not to ponder on the downside and know that I am lucky to be alive. Every day counts.



Tags:	pancreatitis

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yorkies13

Posted 4 Years, 7 months, 2 Weeks, 5 days ago

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