Pancreatitis: Questions about further investigations

Anyone who would like to get a copy of this would need to contact the National Pancreas Foundation directly as they were the ones who presented this. Here is the email to contact them: info@pancreasfoundation.org.

The presentation might have been recorded for future viewing but I do not know for sure. You will need to contact them directly.

Here is the Foundation's website where you can get more information about disorders of the pancreas, https://pancreasfoundation.org/patient-information/

Let me know what you find out.

For anyone that has missed webinars from the NPF. You can find all past webinars on our Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/NationalPancreasFdn

Hello, @jojo19 Thank you for finding this website! I'm sure @redhead1116 and others will appreciate this information on videos from NPF.

please let me know how you are doing.....saying prayers for you SOrry, just read your post.
Lissa

Hi,
I was recently diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. My pain is a dull ache nothing terrible. I went to urgent care bc this pain lasted a few days. While I was there, my heart rate was crazy so I was sent to ER. I have an extreme anxiety to going to doctors office. They did CT, US, Xrays , and bloodwork. Just looking for support and talk to individuals with acute pancreatitis.

Welcome @beachlover78, I moved your question to this existing discussion so you can connect with others talking about pancreatitis.
- Pancreatitis: Questions about further investigations: https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/pancreatitis/

Do you have a treatment plan? How are you managing your anxiety?

Not treating my medical setting anxiety. They gave me lots of IV fluids. They did bloodwork the morning of my discharge and it appeared most of my levels were in the appropriate range. The pancreas word just scares me. I am to see my PC doctor who said she wants to do more tests, which has further increased my anxiety even more. She did mention cardiac testing , but now I am worried she wants to do more

Hi Beachlover 78,
I'm so sorry to hear of you having pancreatitis! That is hard! My husband had pancreatitis as a result of his getting Keytruda, an immunotherapy infusion for his lung cancer! (Pancreatitis is a side effect of Keytruda.) It was an awful time for my husband, but he got through it with prayers and good doctors and you will too. My husband's primary care doctor sent him to a specialist who gave him some medication that made it easy for him to eat. Before that, he could keep nothing down. Is it that way for you? The pills worked and he ate a lot of good quality beef with omega 3 in it. I made him a lot of beef stew with vegetables which he loved! He finally started to gain the 30 lbs. back that he had lost. He is doing fine today even with the lung cancer.
Perhaps you could ask your primary care doctor to refer you to a pancreatitis specialist and then buy yourself some good quality beef for dinner. Also drink a lot of water. It helps your body so much! Be patient. It took my husband about a month to fully recover and he was in his 70's at that time. Now, he's 82 and feeling good enough to leaf blow the yard, fix breakfast, lunch and dinner, drives the car, repairs anything in the house and unplugged the kitchen drain!
I hope things work out for you! Pancreatitis can be overcome! I'll remember you in my prayers.
PML

I'm so sorry you are feeling so anxious...but I truly understand the fear concerning the word "Pancreatitis".
Acute Pancreatitis is a temporary condition, but repeated attacks can lead to Chronic pancreatitis which is what I have now. I had Acute Pancreatitis following a pancreatic biopsy and with it, the worst upper abdominal pain I've ever had in my life. I was shaking so hard on the ER gurney, it looked like I was having repeated seizures. The key is discovering what caused your Acute Pancreatitis and preventing further attacks. Start a journal and write down anything you remember from about 7-10 days from the actual attack. Include drinking any alcoholic beverages, eating spicy food, smoking habits, eating more than usual and being under stress. Take the journal with you to your PCP appointment and share the information, and also to the Gastroenterologist that you will be referred to. Consider discussing your anxiety with the PCP as stress can cause pancreatitis and there are many medical and non- medical methods to manage stress. Pain as well as other conditions can cause an increase in heart rate and your PCP may want to rule out some of the more serious conditions to determine what direction to take in your plan of care.
With time, testing and the care of a few trained professionals, I'm hoping that you will find the answers and support that you need. Let me know if I can help.