Do I have Pancreatitis?

Thanks for your reply Theresa. At the moment we are looking into finding a specialist. It’s not something easily done. Hopi g once we contact them our questions will get answered. I’ll check out the NPA. Thanks again!

Hello @jojo19

I can appreciate your concern for your husband's eating given his history of pancreatitis. I went to the National Pancreas Foundation website and they had a wealth of information, including Pancreatic Centers of Excellence where you can find a good doctor to advise you. Under the "Patient Information" tab there is nutritional advice and recipes as well. Here is a quote from that section:

"The amount of fat you should eat varies depending on your weight and height, but for an average person, it is felt that you should not consume more than 50 grams of fat a day. Fat intake could range between 30-50 grams of fat, depending on tolerance. Daily fat consumption should not be concentrated in one meal but spread throughout the day in possibly 4-6 small meals. Eating boneless chicken breasts and most fish helps keep your meals low in fat. Cooking with Pam or any cooking spray instead of oils also helps. You can add fat-free chicken broth when you need moisture."

I would encourage you to look through their website for more information about this disorder. Is your husband seeing a GI specialist who works primarily with pancreas problems?

Thanks for your reply. Once you have chronic pancreatitis and the inflammation goes away do you know if you can still damage the pancreas?

I have had pancreatitis- acute and more chronic- after gallbladder removal.
I learned the hard way what fats I did not tolerate. Pork, olive oil, butter cream on cakes etc. I also always ask for dressing/sauce on the side.
Amanda’s links are very helpful.
I hope you will find a Nutritionist that you are comfortable with.

Thank you. Very informative readings. No unfortunately all his family dr said was to go on a low fat diet. If he wanted to speak with a dietitian he was on his own. No referral. Tbh kinda p o’d with fam dr. Very frustrating. So contacted a dietitian but hubby is not confident in her ability with regards to pancreatitis. She is not specified in pancreatitis.

Hi @jojo19 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Below I have offered some references that might be helpful, but I also moved your post to a conversation where others have been talking about their diagnosis of pancreatitis as well so you could connect with them and see what they have been doing.

- Dietary Guidelines for Pancreatitis - News Medical: https://www.news-medical.net/health/Dietary-Guidelines-for-Pancreatitis.aspx
- The Best (and Worst) Foods for Pancreatitis Pain: https://health.clevelandclinic.org/best-and-worst-foods-for-pancreatitis-pain/

Did his doctor give you guys any literature on it at all?

Hello. My husband has been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. He was told to stay away from alcohol and smoking. And to maintain a low fat diet. What is a low fat diet? How many grams of fat is one allowed on a low fat diet? He has lost 52 lbs since May of this year. Any help is appreciated.

I have had 4 bouts with acute pancreatitis in last 6 months and have been hospitalized each time. My recent MRCP showed:
Dilated CBD measuring up to 12 mm, focal narrowing of the CBD near the region of the ampulla or could be a distal CBD stricture or occult ampullary mass ,Probable right adrenal myelolipoma
. Few punctate T2 hyperintense foci within the pancreas likely represent IPMNs, there is mild intrahepatic biliary ductal dilation.
pancreas is atrophic
There is a cluster of T2 hyperintense foci within the pancreatic body
There is a T2 hyperintense focus within the tail the pancreas measuring approximately 3 mm.
My liver enzymes are fluctuating, but my Alkaline Phosphate never dip blow 164 and has been as high as 245

If anyone had any comments to what I am experiencing, please let me know! Thank you so much!

Hello @stormchild74

I am sorry to hear of the health problems you are experiencing. Being without health insurance makes it much more difficult. A good resource for medical help when finances are tight is to contact your hospital's social worker. Often social workers can help patients with needs such as yours.

There is also a social care organization that you can check online that can help with financial problems. Here is their website, https://www.findhelp.org/. If you go to the website you will see a place to put in your zip code and various helping organizations will be listed in your area.

If I were in your position, I would check the hospital's social worker first but also look at findhelp.org.

Will you keep in touch and provide an update as to how you are doing?

@stormchild74 - Welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect! It has been a while since you posted and I’m sorry you have not heard from anyone yet.
Pancreatitis is very painful- I have been through it too. Mine was caused by a tiny gallstone blocking the pancreatic duct.
Metformin has some adverse effects.
Januvia is great, but it is so expensive. There are other diabetes medications that you could take.
Do you go to Department of Health clinics? Are you seen by a doctor there? Can you go back there for a different prescription?
If not, you should go to ER since you again have symptoms of acute pancreatitis.
Can you please get back to us?