So, with three children at home and the end of my husband's six month deployment so close I can taste it, here I am in the hospital. Admittedly, there is likely never a *good* time to get hospitalized. I am so lucky my parents and my brother have rallied and are at my home taking care of my kids and my dogs while I am on Full Pancreatic Rest. (Nothing by mouth until my levels return to normal.) IT SUCKS!!!! I have so much I wanted to do before my husband gets home, and here I am, laid up in a bed with an IV in my arm! I am so frustrated, I could scream.
And they don't know what caused it! I had pancreatitis last year due to gallstones. My gallbladder was removed and they sent me on my way. That was Thanksgiving weekend. Yesterday, I was in a great deal of pain, but I figured it couldn't be pancreatitis because I have no gallbladder and haven't had any alcohol in almost two years. (Pregnant then nursing and when I'm all my kids have, I don't like to risk not being at 100%.) Doctors have done blood work checking my calcium and triglycerides.... no answer. The CT came back "good." And there is absolutely no chance I am pregnant. Why they Hell am I here, then!?! They seem content to leave it with "10 - 20 % of cases of pancreatitis the cause is never known." That doesn't sit well with me. I NEED to know. I need to know so I can maybe prevent it from happening again. I can rest fairly easily knowing my kids are being well taken care of, but I am worried about my long-term health. Adding to my angst is the fact that my grandfather died of Pancreatic Cancer, so my whole family is understandably tense about that particular organ.
Yes, this post is somewhat of a vent, but does anyone have any experience with a mysterious case of pancreatitis? Please share.
I have no experience with this, but wanted to tell you that my heart goes out to you. Hang in there! Hopes and prayers for a swift recovery and no future recurrences!
I'm an RN and treat patients with pancreatitis fairly often. As frustrating as it is, what your doc said is true. Fairly frequently there isn't a known cause for pancreatitis. It is a painful and incredibly frustrating illness, as sitting around getting nutrition and pain meds through an IV for a week is miserable. Hang in there and hopefully this'll be your last pancreas problem!
A friend of mines husband was in the hospital 4 months with pancreatitis.
This was 15 years ago.
They never knew the cause and for a while they were afraid he might die.
It took a long time, but he got better and he's healthy and leading a completely normal life right now.
I have seen many patient's with pancreatitis, some severe enough to be on TPN (total parenteral (IV) nutrition) anywhere from two weeks to five months. Some of them had a pseudocyst that had to have surgery, some went away spontaneously, others had to be drained. Sometimes pancreatitis can be drug induced, surgical trauma like gallbladder surgery or stones, or a blockage in the pancreatic duct and many, just no explanation. For some it can be chronic and can recur, others not. Hope yours will recover fast!
i stayed in the hospital for it 6 days with the same stupid explanation.
It has not happened since and it has been 3 years.
I just wanted to tell you that I hope you get well VERY soon. Best wishes to you and your family. I also want to send a special THANK YOU to you and your husband for the sacrifices you make every day with him being in the military. I'm sure the only thing he cares about is that you get well and are there to give him big hugs and kisses when he gets home. The rest just isn't important. Keep your chin up!! Take care, B.
