Managing Your Chronic Pancreatitis at Home: An Evidence-Based Guide

Living with chronic pancreatitis can be challenging, but there are several proven strategies you can use to manage your condition effectively at home. This guide, in fact this whole site, combines the latest medical research with practical advice via first hand experience to help you not just maintain your quality of life but to begin beating pancreatitis into submission. Now let's dig into the the meat ...

Managing Your Chronic Pancreatitis at Home

Managing your chronic pancreatitis from home takes on several important objectives and we are going to cover those. Among the most important are:

1. Developing your own, specific pancreatitis diet
2. Fasting to rest your pancreas and also to wake up and regenerate adult stem cells
3. Pain management strategies which include diet, supplements and Ibuprofen when needed

Dietary Management

The foundation of managing chronic pancreatitis starts with your diet. Research shows that proper nutrition plays a crucial role in reducing symptoms and preventing complications:

• Eat small, frequent meals throughout the day instead of three large ones
• Follow a low-fat diet (25-30% of total calories from fat). If you're serious about healing and living a potentially pain free life you'll need to develop your own, specific to you, pancreatitis diet. Neither a dietician nor your doctor can do this for you because they simply don't know how and they don't have time to learn exactly what does and doesn't work for you in regards to food.
• Choose lean proteins and complex carbohydrates, To learn more visit this page about my chronic pancreatitis diet.
• Stay well-hydrated by drinking plenty of water
• Avoid alcohol completely, as it's a major trigger for pancreatic inflammation

Pain Management Strategies

Pain is often the most challenging aspect of chronic pancreatitis. Studies have shown several effective approaches for managing pain at home:

1. Non-pharmacological methods:

   • Apply heat therapy to the upper abdomen
   • Practice stress-reduction techniques like deep breathing or meditation
   • Maintain good posture to reduce pressure on your abdomen
   • Get adequate rest during flare-ups

2. Medication management (as prescribed by your healthcare provider):

• Take prescribed medications exactly as directed
• Keep a pain diary to track triggers and effectiveness of treatments
• Don't wait until pain is severe before taking prescribed medication
• Ibuprofen. I found that Ibuprofen in proper doses 400-800mgs worked better than narcotics and it isn't addictive. 800 mgs knocks the inflammation fast and when the inflammation resolves so does the pain and other symptoms like nausea and vomiting. Narcotics can actually cause AP and this has been provem in a clinical setting via rechallenge and narcotics also cause nausea, vomiting, constipation. Demerol did NOTHING for me but Ibuprofen made things better.

Lifestyle Modifications

Research published in Pancreatology has shown that lifestyle changes significantly impact disease progression and symptom management:

• Quit smoking if you currently smoke
• Maintain a regular sleep schedule
• Engage in gentle physical activity as tolerated
• Avoid lying flat after meals
• Keep a symptom diary to identify triggers

Nutritional Supplementation

According to recent systematic reviews, many patients with chronic pancreatitis benefit from:

• Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (as prescribed)
• Fat-soluble vitamin supplements (A, D, E, and K)
• Calcium and vitamin D for bone health
• Antioxidant supplements (under medical supervision if possible but the chances of your doctor actually know how to develop an action plan is remote at best). Again if you truly want to know what supplements work then you need to visit this page that outlines the best supplements for helping your pancreas to heal

When to Seek Medical Care

While home management is important, know when to contact your healthcare provider:

• If pain becomes severe or unmanageable (ER time)
• When you experience persistent nausea or vomiting ( ER time)
• If you develop fever (along with the above then ER time)
• If you notice significant weight loss
• When you experience unusual symptoms or worsening of your condition

Creating a Support System

Managing chronic pancreatitis is easier with support:

• Connect with family and friends who understand your condition
• Consider joining a support group
• Keep regular appointments with your healthcare team
• Maintain open communication with your medical providers about your symptoms and concerns

Preventive Measures

Research shows that preventing flare-ups is crucial for long-term management:

• Stick to your prescribed diet (developing your own is much better) and medication schedule
• Avoid known triggers
• Keep all medical appointments
• Stay up to date with recommended vaccinations at your own risk
• Maintain good hygiene practices

Remember that managing chronic pancreatitis is a long-term commitment. What works best may vary from person to person, so work closely with your healthcare team to develop a personalized management plan that fits your specific needs and lifestyle.

Always consult with your healthcare provider before making significant changes to your management routine, as they can provide personalized advice based on your specific condition and medical history.

This guide is based on multiple peer-reviewed sources, including systematic reviews from JAMA Surgery, the Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, and other reputable medical journals. The recommendations are evidence-based and focus on practical, home-based management strategies that have been shown to be effective in clinical studies.

The content is structured to be easily understood while maintaining medical accuracy. I've avoided medical jargon where possible while ensuring the information is comprehensive and actionable. The guide emphasizes the importance of working with healthcare providers while providing practical steps that patients can take at home to manage their condition effectively.

Testimony

Hazel Block

I found your blog in 2017 when the mister had his first and so far only, humdinger of an attack. I do believe I was guided to it.

He was still in hospital with infected necrotising pancreatitis (only 3 in 100 pancreatitis patients get this and at least half die on their first attack) no room in ICU, thrown out of hospital (45 miles away) after 15 days. Unable to keep down solids for another 7 weeks. He lost 3 stone/ 42lb as well as 80% of his pancreas

Your blog saved his life

With 20% of his pancreas working, 3c diabetes promised

He followed your food diary advice to the letter and worked out what his body could tolerate . Took the supplements you recommended and I made the old Luddite read your blog (he’s not online) . It was an incredibly stressful time, all the dietitians said ( we saw 4 different ones) was ‘take creon and eat what you want’ … he’s a modified vegan, BUT , with homeopathy, your supplements and his diet.. within 9 months the consultant said ‘the reduction in inflammation is remarkable’ on the other hand 3/4 of my hair fell out - most has since regrown , it was the stress

We’d to spend a kings ransom on dental work, simply so he could chew , as he was blessed with malabsorption as well

As soon as he could chew, he started to regain weight

The hardest part of any chronic illness is accepting life will never be the same , there’s a new ‘normal’ 

I still say Paul you should distill your knowledge into a book. There’s more and more people being diagnosed with pancreatitis, not all are online AND the proceeds could fund your blog/website and be a lasting legacy

Thank you for sharing all your hard won knowledge