Living With Pancreatitis Pain?

Living with Pancreatitis pain is not something I wish to do nor did I want to live with pain years ago when I was very sick with Pancreatitis. It simply wasn't something I wanted so ...

In order to overcome the pain of Pancreatitis I looked at what Pancreatitis actually IS.

I know I have covered this before and I also realize that you probably know what Pancreatitis IS but what we are going to do is review because repetition is the mother of invention or in this case the teacher of truth and enlightenment.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas.

It doesn't matter what the cause is, it is the meat of the problem we are going to address and the meat is inflammation.

Eliminate the inflammation and two things happen.

1) The pain subsides.

2) Further damage is prevented.

The pain of Pancreatitis is caused by two factors:

1) Swelling of the pancreas due to inflammation

2) The pancreas devouring itself due to backed up enzymes (this is what causes the major damage)

The swelling can be relieved, diminished and resolved by eliminating the inflammation and the digestion and/or destruction of the pancreatic tissue by pancreatic enzymes can be resolved by also eliminating the inflammation in a majority of cases however ...

Some situations will not see total resolution simply by the elimination of inflammation because there may be underlying circumstances that need to be rectified first before the inflammation can be completely resolved. For example:

1) If a gallstone is stuck in the common bile or pancreatic duct the stone obviously must be removed before the inflammation can be totally eliminated.

2) If there is some other underlying cause which blocks the flow of enzymes such as an obstruction in the pancreatic duct due to scar tissue, fibrosis (as in cystic fibrosis), a tumor, a cyst or some anomaly.

3) An autoimmune disorder which may or may not be able to be controlled.

4) A hereditary disorder such as hyperlipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia (high blood fats) very difficult to control or cystic fibrosis which has no cure and becomes progressively worse.

5) Alcoholism is a common cause of pancreatitis that of course needs to be addressed and overcome before healing can take place.

And so, unfortunately, there are certain complications that could result in the inability to permanently resolve the inflammation without removal or repair of the the underlying cause which may or may not be possible to accomplish.

Obviously, in my case, I was extremely lucky and seem to have suffered no lasting complications or damage and I certainly can not commend the medical community for this stroke of luck due to 7 ER visits and 6 other doctors with no diagnosis and certainly no resolution.

I must have had an Angel riding on my shoulder because doctor #14 told me "You are lucky to be alive" when he was able to gather all the information and facts from various tests and observations to make a difinitive diagnosis.

Once the diagnosis was achieved the healing began but the healing was not achieved quickly. In fact, it was mostly due to a lot of luck (Divine protection) in the beginning, then, research, trial and error and more luck (Divine protection).

When I look back, I have no idea how I survived. Whether you believe or not my survival had to be due to God's love and the protection of Angels sent by Him to help me live through one horrible nightmare. And why He chose to help me survive I have no idea.

Maybe it was so I could share what happened and what helped me so that you too may be able to receive help and relief from pain.

I don't know.

You figure it out.

What I do know is that for some reson I started drinking grapefruit juice.

Lots of grapefruit juice.

I was told I could no longer drink alcohol (man I miss a cold beer on a hot summer day at times) and when I started drinking grapefruit juice the Acute Pancreatitis episodes disappeared. Of course I had cut the mjority of fat from my diet at that point as well but ...

Since I have recently found where grapefruit juice seems to stop acute attacks I must conclude that it was grapefruit juice that began my healing
and ...

I can NOT take credit for discovering grapefruit juice.

It was something I was led to drink.

No research.

Nobody said "hey this will help."

I just started replacing alcohol with grapefruit juice. I'd hit the bar (all timeshare resorts have bars) after work and drink grapefruit juice with my fellow associates or while shooting pool.

People would ask me what I was drinking and I'd say "grapefruit juice" and they'd make a sour face and weird noises and ask me "How can you drink that stuff?" and I'd just tell them I liked it.

I did.

It went down easy, didn't get me drunk and I drank a ton of it.

Why did I choose grapefruit juice in 1981 when there was absolutely no research on it as far as pancreatitis was concerned?

I have only one thought on that.

You figure out what it might be.

Now, 30 years later, I find that grapefruit juice stops acute pancreatitis. And ...

Back then it did stop mine.

It did NOT totally heal me but it did stop the acute attacks and that was one big benefit. I'm almost positive it was the GFJ along with low fat diet since there is now research that points to GFJ as a major Acute Pancreatitis arrestor.

So, if you want to prevent Acute Pancreatitis try Grape Fruit Juice or better yet ...

Grape seed extract, vitamin C and curcumin because those are the 3 supplements I started taking that eliminated all pain, abdominal tenderness and stopped the Acute Pancreatitis episodes from happening and have protected and healed my pancreas.

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Living with Pancreatitis Until You're Beating Pancreatitis

Living with Pancreatitis can definitely be a challenge for people who suffer with this condition. Beating pancreatitis can be even more difficult with underlying issues.

Those who have hereditary (genetic) issues such as Familial hyperlipidemia or Familial hypertriglyceridemia (high blood fats) or those who suffer with another genetic disorder called cystic fibrosis or congenital malformations such as pancreas divisum or an autoimmune disease such as Lupus or Celiac disease which causes their pancreatitis will most likely experience the most frustrating challenges simply because there is an underlying condition that needs resolution (which may or may not be possible) in order to completely resolve the condition called Pancreatitis.

The resolution of the underlying condition may not be possible as is the case in those born with cystic fibrosis and it seems that Pancreatitis caused by high blood fats is not easily controlled either. Those suffering with pancreatitis due to an autoimmune disease may be able to find resolution if they are able to control the autoimmune disease such as the case found in Celiac Disease whereby a gluten free diet may be of great significance in regards to living with and beating pancreatitis. However ...

If the pancreas has suffered damage due to Acute Pancreatitis episodes there will most likely be the resulting chronic pancreatitis that must also be resolved or put into remission in order to achieve relief from pain and other symptoms while also lowering the risk of continued pancreatic damage and pancreatic cancer due to long term inflammation of the pancreas.

This is where a strict chronic pancreatitis diet and helpful supplements such as grape seed extract, vitamin C and curcumin come into play.

Grapefruit juice and/or grapefruit seed extract may also be of benefit and has been shown in one study on rats/mice that it STOPPED acute pancreatitis in the little crittters while protecting the pancreas; however, it is important to note that consumption of grapefruit juice and/or grapefruit seed extract has been linked to a 36% increase in breast cancer among postmenopausal women yet another study indicates that the first study may be erroneous. However ...

Grape seed extract and curcumin do NOT have this link to cancer and in fact show just the opposite in regards to positive potential. Both grape seed extract and curcumin have shown definite ant-cancer potential including the ability to promote apoptosis (programmed cancer cell death). This fact ...

Would clearly indicate there is potential benefit to be realized, for those who suffer from any form of pancreatitis, by integrating grape seed extract and curcumin into their daily wellness regemin.

For those who suffer from the more common forms of pancreatitis such as gallstone pancreatitis, alcoholic pancreatitis or idiopathic pancreatitis or that which is suspected of being caused by genetic or congentital issues I am convinced that, due to my own experience, beating pancreatitis, in almost all types/forms, can be achieved via a strict pancreatitis diet and the above mentioned supplements. Of course ...

This is also premised upon any damage that can actually be healed. Resolution of pain and symptoms will not be achieved over night. It may take weeks to months to see significant results, depending on the amount of damage already sustained but with complete discipline and due diligence I firmly believe most victims of chronic pancreatitis will see major benefit via diet and supplements. It is important again to note ...

There will not be the complete resolution of pain, symptoms and potential risk of disability and death as in the case of alcoholic pancreatitis unless the person suffering determines it is in their best interest to completely quit drinking. Alcohol is of course completely out of the question for anyone who suffers from any form of pancreatitis and should be completely eliminated from consumption in any form.

In the case of gallstone pancreatitis it is clearly indicated that removal of the stones is needed in order to remove the risk of necrotizing pancreatitis and any additional recurrent acute pancreatitis episodes due to an obstruction of the common or pancreatic duct by a stone or sludge. This of course can only be achieved completely via surgery and removal of the gallbladder. Once the offending stones, along with the potential of recurrence, are removed then healing via diet and supplements may give the patient a more positive experience, again subject to the amount of actual damage. 

Always remember I am NOT a doctor. Everything I say is simply my uneducated opinion from personal experience and indepth research, nothing more. Everything you do that is suggested or hinted at on this beating pancreatitis blog site is done at your own risk.

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Pancreatitis: Popular Diabetes Drugs Pose Risk

Popular diabetes drugs have been attributed to the cause of Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer. You can read one story here in U.S. News.

Another classic example of the FDA approving toxic poisons yet they harrass the supplement industry and if they have their way will take your ability to choose whether you want to use non-toxic natural supplements, herbs, or vitamins to treat your condition.

This has been happening fro about 10 years now, eversince the FDA became the puppet of the drug lords (Big Pharma). Prescription Drug User Fee Act

Our protective (sarcastic) FDA calculates the fees based on the expected work (applications etc) and the amount it wants to raise from the fees. For 2008 the application fees were :

1) If the drug company submitted a full application, requiring clinical data (that is bought and paid for by the drug company) the fee was $1,178,000.00; There are also establishment fees and product fees.

2) $589,000 per application not requiring clinical data or per supplement requiring clinical data.

Here's more about the Act from Wikipedia.

Our own Congress allowed the drug lords to grease the palms of those who are there to protect us and since this act was passed more drugs than ever before, that harm and kill people, have been approved by the FDA.

Toxic FDA approved drugs together with incompetent medical staff account for hundreds of thousands of deaths per year with Toxic drugs killing approximately 100,000 Americans yearly.

1) Death by Medicine

2) AlterNet

3) Dr. Mercola

4) Natural News

5) Pfizer

6) 100,000 deaths yearly (documentation provided)

7) Worst Pills

If you live in the U.S.A. I urge you to write your senator, congressman and governor and let them know that if they allow the FDA to continue to harrass the alternative, natural care and supplement industry that you will vote for someone who will keep the FDA at bay and unable to take your ability to choose.

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