To be so worried

[worriedwife82]

I've just left my husband in hospital overnight. He's been diagnosed with suspected pancreatitis after an emergency admission this morning and scans and bloods tests this afternoon. Anyone have experience of the treatment/recovery/change in lifestyle required after a diagnosis of this.

Sorry I don't but bumping for you

Hi. I had severe pancretitis in 2008. So things may have changed. I also have additional complications so my experience will probably be completely different.
I ended up being in hospital for 9 weeks. But a friend was home in a week, so it does vary a lot ime.
Lifestyle changes were cutting out alcohol completely. And following a low fat diet.
I'm fine now. No recurring of pancretitis. Still no alcohol but diet is pretty average now.
Hope your DH recovers soon

My aunt had severe pancreatitis about 15 years ago. Hers was caused by gallstone complications and I remember at the time the doctor commenting that pancreatitis is very rare in non-drinkers (which my aunt was).

She was very ill for some weeks, hospitalised for 2 weeks and critical but only for a short amount of time.

She made a full recovery and hadn’t had to make any changes.

If, however, it’s caused my excessive alcohol consumption then one needs to cut out booze going forward.

Much luck to your husband, and you of course. It must be a very scary time.

I have cared for several patients with pancreatitis. The ones I looked after all recovered well. Sadly one of them did have recurrent pancreatitis, but we were able to get it under control each time.

*if it’s caused by...

Thanks. I had assumed that diet would have to change. He has been drinking more than I realised. So that seems to be the cause - he realises it means completely giving up to recover. I was kind of hoping I'd get him home tomorrow but from your responses it doesn't look like it

My mum went through this about 10 years ago due to gall bladder issues. Gall bladder got removed.

She basically is fine but fatty food can sometimes be a problem for her. Just makes her feel a bit sick. Alcohol wise she seems fine, but she never drank much anyway.

Good luck to your husband.

My dad had pancreatitis about 25 years ago caused by his heavy drinking. I think he was only in hospital for a week or so. He was told to give up alcohol completely but he didn't (he's an alcoholic). It never came back though.
I hope your husband is more sensible and gets well soon.

Alcohol intake is the most common cause of pancreatitis. It's usually heavy alcohol intake that creates the problem. The second most common cause is gallstones, but it's a very rare complication of gallstones.

My wife had pancreatitis and was admitted to hospital. She has now been told that she is fine, no sign if inflammation, but if she has another flare up to contact the consultant directly.
It seems there is hope.

My dad had severe acute pancreatitis.
I don't have a positive experience to tell you, so I'll just keep everything crossed for your husband - hope he's on the mend and out of hospital very soon.x

My dad's was a complication of gall stones.

My dad had this, said it was due to drinking. He didn’t drink ‘excessively’ or have a problem with alcohol but would have maybe two bottles of wine a week, over all 7 days.

He’s cut out alcohol almost entirely now, a glass here and there, Sunday dinner etc. He eats extremely healthy. Goes the the gym, goes walking.

He’s fine. Took 6/8 weeks til he was back on his feet but he is ok.

Thanks. I wouldn't have said my husband has a problem with alcohol. But he has definitely been using it as more of a crutch to cope with stress at work. I guess - it has taken its toll. I know he will do anything to get rid of the pain and never let it come back!!!

My DH was an emergency admission due to acute pancreatitis last year. He had his gall bladder removed (apparently there were too many gall stones to count!). Recovery was steady and he still can't face fatty foods, some foods will give him a dodgy tummy but he eats them anyway, was worrying at the time as he is generally in very good health. Hope your OH makes a speedy recovery.

My DH has pancreatitis 5 years ago. Not alcohol/diet related though. It was horrible. Nil by mouth for a week, in the hospital for nearly two weeks.

You need lots and lots of patience, you just have to wait it out I’m afraid.

The pain is like no other. I was on morphine for two weeks! Horrific. And I've had three children.

My MIL had this due to gallstones, had gallbladder removed when she was over the acute stage. She has been fine ever since. Try not to worry, DH is in the right place, it will get sorted out OP, try to get some rest yourself and I hope yr DH is much better soon

He is nil by mouth from this morning with drips and pain relief. He's had kidney stones in the past which he told me were the worse pain ever but he described this mornings pain as even worse than that!!!
I was really expecting 24 hours in hospital then home to change his diet etc but I may have under estimated the recovery time!

worriedwife, there's actually good support forum online, which has posts from sufferers as well as those close to them. It really helped when my dad was ill.

Thanks I'll have a look

My mum had it due to gall stones. She had her gall bladder out & has been fine since. Whilst waiting for the op she radically changed her diet and cut out fatty foods as advised, this meant she avoided another attack while waiting.

It really depends on so many factors. Mine was acute necrotising pancreatitis (ie the pancreas was killing itself) and I was in HDU for 2 weeks, and 8 weeks in hospital all together. But someone else in the same time as me was out in a week I think. Mine was caused by gallstones.

I never touch alcohol (lost quite a lot of my pancreas so it's better not to) but other than that am unaffected now. Struggle with really fatty food but that's down to my gallbladder being removed I think.

Hope he's on the mend soon.

I thought it’d be a quick fix too OP but I was so wrong unfortunately. You have to tackle pancreatitis really slowly, first with NBM and fluids and then reversing slowly to make sure the pancreas can cope. It was only when DH was eating a decent amount, on minimal pain relief and inflammation markers came down and CT scans looked ok that they discharged him.

Sorry

I developed pancreatitis as a result of gallstones, which eventually led to type 1 diabetes.

I’ve had a few reoccurring incidents of pancreatitis which were not painful, I just turned a lovely shade of yellow and was extremely tired. My diet hasn’t changed. I don’t drink and I didn’t for 5 years before my gallbladder was removed.