Pancreatitis?

Question

my boyfriend got pancreatitis in July and was in the hospital for 2 weeks ... hes been out for 5 weeks now and is still having very bad pains in his stomach, enough that he has to take pain pills. Is this normal ? Could he have an infection that could have started since leaving the hosptial ?

Answer 1

The pain IS absolutely normal and will continue for abot another 2 months.

Pancreatitis is a hole in the pancreas and is caused from excessive alcohol abuse.
The hole causes pancreatic fluid to leak into the body and can eat away at your organs.
This causes SEVERE pain, which feels like some has stabbed you in your gut and is twisting the knife.

Antibiotics help to repair the damage, but not completely.
He will ALWAYS have problems with his pancreas from now on.

He needs to stay away from EVERYTHING greasy, fatty, salty, and spicy and ALL dairy products.
This is only for a few months until ALL his syptoms are gone. Then he can start SLOWLY adding in the things he loves.

He will ALWAYS have problems from now on.
Once in a while he will notice a similar pain and will need to be extra careful from time to time until the pain subsides.

The first year he should avoid overdoing it as far as diet AND excercise (excesively bending at the waist).

This will help to speed up the recovery time.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Acute pancreatitis subsides and recovers gradually, but has a strong propensity to recur. Alcoholism is one of the commonest cause. If infection is the cause, two weeks of indoor treatment would have resolved the infection part of the illness. However, once the pancreas gets inflammed, its inflammation takes a time to subside.

Nevertheless, it would be pertinent to get some lab studies carried out to see what exactly is happening. A routine blood test for TLC and DLC will give a fair idea along with serum amylase. Amylase enzyme is secreted by the pancreas and its levels having reached the base line tells you that there is nothing to be worried about any more in the near future. If these tests produce raised levels, then reactivity of the inflammation or the continuation of it should be thought of.

A plain X-ray of abdomen may show some calcification in the region of the pancreas. Ultrasonography and CT scan may help in the evaluation. Let your doctor be the best judge, who will probably want these investigations to confirm his diagnosis.

Answer 3

There are various causes of pancreatitis, alcoholism is the most common but prescription drugs (sulfas, cancer meds, diuretics, and valproic acid) , infections, and other things can be a cause.

From what I understand, the opening that lets out the digestive juices which the pancreas makes is closed and therefore those digestive juices leak into the abdominal cavity. Your really being digested by your own juices.

In any case, alcohol makes things much worse and should be given up. There are acute and chronic conditions.

See the Merck Manual web site.

Answer 4

He needs to go back to the doctor. Pancreatitis is nothing to play around with. If he's still having pain then he's not fully recovered and pain pills aren't solving the problem.

Answer 5

Really hope he gets better but it is his pancreas and if he has a fever especially,..he needs to get back to see doctor...He should call his doctor asap...It could be just gas...and charcoal pills remedy that,..but do not take them within two hours of any medicine, as they will nullify the meds...

Answer 6

absolutely, and he needs to run-not walk to the Dr. for a re-check. If not treated, he could be in serious health trouble. I am a D O N and know these things. Get him in to have him re-checked. You both will be happier knowing one way or the other.