Huge archive

Pat,
Do not need to apoligise. It got Robert to do the homework ( he would
have done it anyway, but it got him to do it NOW)It still is not good
for the kidnys, I just vented out in a post ealier!!!!Thank you for
bringing to our attention.
Denise
XOX

Hi All,
I just came here to vent today a little. This morning I woke up and
came to the computer and started readhing the post and I found out
that a couple of you nice and friendly guys were concerned about a
medicine that Robert was going to take or thinking about it. Well,
Robert woke up and did a little homework on it and found out that it
is a bad drug and it does cause Kidney damage. Well, Roberts doctor
put him on it, not only did he tell him that he wanted Robert to go
on it, he said there was a way that he could get it for Robert free(
now----there are other 'good medicines' that we would love to have
free!!!And don't!!!)He said that he would call Robert when he got it.
That was thursday. He probadly will call on Monday. I am goning to
get on the phone and tell Dr. Shongo that RObert is not going to take
it. He can't take any more kidney damange. I am going to print the
information and take it there to him. Just makes me soooooo mad. This
is a persons life, not only just a person, but my soulmate. I can't
loose him, I am not ready to lose him. He promised me 45 years when
we met and we've only lived 9----No way am I gonna let this oversite
form the doctor hurt Robert anymore.I am usually a calm person who
gets along with others. But sometimes when you go to the hospitals,
and get treated the way you do---uuh!!! Just to let you know what we
deal with up here---When Robert was in the hospital, he had a sugar
drop one day and his nurse bought him a diet coke----WHAT????-----No
sugar in that!!!To bring it back up----I went to the nurses station
and spoke out loud---My husband in room 709 is having a sugar drop
and I need something to give him, can I have some O.J.and a pack of
sugar? The response---Your nurse will be the shortly!!!!I said---NO
way---she just gave him a diet soda, I am coming up here for some
O.J. Well they had found her in a room and she went pass me to his
room (without , you mind,any O.J.) I stayed up at the nurses station
and this kind nurse gave me 2 O.J.'s and 2 packs of sugar and told me
to mix the sugar with the O.J. and give it to him, she said that her
husband was diabetic.I went back to the room where 2 nurses stood in
front of my sweetheart who was having visual signs of the suagr
attacts.I didn't ask, just started fixing the drink for him, (he
wasn't saying anything either, just looking grateful for the O.J.)
He drank it and his nurse barked out " How many packs of sugar did
you put in there?" "I said only 1". I know what I am doing. She left
the room and then came back in a little while and the surgar had only
went a little, not too much like she had said. But I was satisfied,
cause lunch would be coming soon. But what if I hadn't been up there.
Would they had let him go into another coma? Well I have seen him in
1 and don't want to be in that position again!!!
Maybe that is why Robert is so stubborn. He just hates to go to the
ER cause he knows they are going to put him in the hospital. He tells
me" Please dont put me in the hospital if I get too bad" He makes me
promise. But sometimes I dont!!!
Well , I am grateful for this venting time. Hope I haven't offended
anyone!!!!!
Denise Hammett

Oh dear, I've done it again, I knew you had memtioned a drug that is
primarily give to treat epilepsy or other seizures.
Epilim is the original drug they used, Neorontin is a much safer drug
to use but you should still make sure that your liver is not affected
by it.
That was the the real bad part of the orginal drug, Epilim, it caused
havoc wth the liver and sometimes the kidneys too.
gven the problems with roberts kdneys, they would never take a
chance, i should have realise that.
am so so sorry for any distress you suffered by my error, t was the
connection with epilepsy treatment that was at the front of my mnd.
As far as i can remember, i was put on Neurontin later on but i still
believe they regularly checked my liver too. Maybe it was because the
Epilm did my liver no good.
i'll check them out but i think your ok wth Neurontin.
God bless
Pat

Thanks to one all who have warned me. I did my home work!!!!
Thanks,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Note all of the side effects. Itching is there.
Thanks,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Dear Tammy,
It looks like the perocet was your biggest problem. I will put out a
report on this after this reply. Please consult your doctor asap
before taking much more of this drug.
Thanks,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Yes. I sometimes itch in the pain area too. It drives
me crazy. Tammy

Dear Loretta,
Sorry aout your recent condition and your hospitalization. I wondered
where you had gotten to. I have been missing you in chat. Got a
question. Have your medicines changed since this itch started? A lot
of opiates cause itching. Tylox and Lortabs drive me crazy with
itching. If you post your meds, we will figure it out.
With many thoughts and prayers,
Robert
A Founding Member,

DITTO!!!DITTO!!!!DITTO!!!!
Pat,
Lisa called Robert to find out how he was doing and I talked to her
and found out just how kind and sweet she really is. And we stayed on
the phone for about a hour. It just uplifts your feelings. It did
ours , thats for sure. Just wanted to let you know, the angel touched
us in little ole SC too!!!
Denise Hammett
XOX

AND SHE'S LIVING IN SIMI VALLEY CALIFORNIA, HER NAME IS LISA CHAMBERS,
AND WE ARE BLESSED INDEED SHE HAS CHOSEN TO BE AMEMBER HERE WITH US!!
Ring the bells, bang the drums, and sing it from the rafters if you
can.
Hello Gang!
I don't know if you all have noticed, but let me tell you, the TPP
Family just got extra lucky.
I was sitting up in bed at home yesterday afternoon, I was not very
well on Friday night/Saturday morning and I had been knocked out most
of yesterday from an injection my very kind PCP had given me early on
Saturday morning to avoid my going to the E R at the weekend when
nothing much can be done.
I could hear the phone ring and Lily came up to the bedroom with the
phone and told me that Lisa from California was on the phone asking
after me.
I was stunned, no exaggeration, I thought I was imagining things.
I am not unused to friends here in Ireland ringing long distance, but
for someone I have never met, but feel I have known for a very long
time despite it's only been a few short months, had cared enough to
locate my number and take the time and spend the money to ring not
just long distance but INTERNATIONAL long distance to offer comfort
to a friend was a new experience for me. You could have knocked me
down with a feather.
Not only did she ring me, but she held up her hubby and her two small
sons while she chatted with me like we had known each other all our
lives. All the time I could hear her little ones squealing and
running about, their fun and games clearly heard from so very far
away, from a world away really.
I have never visited the US and it's now not very likely I will, the
problem with obtaining insurance would make it almost impossible to
even contemplate, apart from my reluctance to fly anymore, but I
cannot imagine more diverging locations than a rural town in damp,
cold, dull Ireland and a sunny, bright, and dynamic place like
California, we really are worlds apart.
I thought Lisa would just quickly say hello, enquire as to how I was
and then hang up, but even that would have been a most wonderful,
uplifting gift for me. But oh no, none of the "how are you", that's
great, now goodby2 for this young lady, the Angel Lisa, she was going
to have a chat if it was the last thing she did, and her two little
boys could squeal their little hearts out, she was not hanging up.
Actually, she told them she was talking to me in Ireland but the
seemed under-whelmed by that fact and just ran away screaming like
kiddies the world over do.
We chatted for about an hour, I'm glad I'm not paying the phone bill,
I have really no idea how much phone costs are in the US, but here
they are exorbitant, I think I would have to take out a mortgage to
make a call to the USA for over an hour!!!
I have not enjoyed a phone call so much in my life, very often they
can be an intrusion, but this was a wonderful gift for me, especially
at such an unhappy time for me, I had missed my nieces wedding and
the opportunity to spend the day with Maura, I will treasure the time
I spent on the phone with our
Simi Valley Angel and I understand that I'm not the only one she has
taken the time to call when she knew there was a problem, and that
was a long distance call too. I hope that Erik (c or k?) is as
understanding as he is supportive of Lisa, he must be, because he was
also there too, waiting around like the boys, until she was god and
ready to leave.
Some weeks ago there was a long thread about various substitutes for
high fat things such as sauces. Lisa and Jerry I think, were
comparing notes on a sauce called Original Country Gravy, debating
the merits of the store bought low fat version against the
traditional home made full fat Pancreatic Attack in a Sauce boat
variety.
My tongue was hanging out as they described the merits of having it
with pork chops or just on mashed `taters, and cried halt in the name
of mercy!
I explained how I was so hungry from the descriptions and our Simi
Valley Angel, despite being in the heart of an attack, went out to
the store, bought me a packet of the gravy and posted it off to me
urgently.
I don't know about anyone else, but that is an example of true
kindness, it didn't cost a fortune but it was a priceless gift for me
because I know full well how much effort it had taken by her to do
all this, she was hardly able to manage her sons at the time she was
so ill but she took the time to do a kindness for another.
What a beautiful role model she is for her two sons, she involves
them in every aspect of her life, including these acts of kindness
I am also the proud owner of a black rat, compliments of our In House
Angel!!
Lisa and I and Jan and some others were having a running banter about
her boys Guinea Pig or Hamster, and my total dislike for our Rodent
Brethren, and again, she brought at least one of her sons with her
and had him assist her in obtaining this very lifelike black Rat,
packing him and making out a customs declaration too!!
My Rat arrived as if with military precision on my Birthday!!!!
I promptly named him Ratsotoo as I had named their pet in California
Ratso.
Ratsotoo has pride of place on my computer desk in the den, he
spends his time living on the edge of oblivion as he is a source of
some terrible outburst of violence by my lovely Louie, my Yorkie
Puppy who spends all day almost grafted to me.
My instinct tells me that Lisa may be influenced somehow by our
resident Saint, Jan Lowe, another example of that Heart of Gold that
makes such an impact on all of us. Long may we be blessed with such
member's.
So, Lisa, our Simi Valley Angel, take a well deserved bow, you
deserve recognition for the happiness you bring so readily and
unsparingly to those of us lucky enough to come within your beautiful
glow, your very existence is part of Gods great plan.
Thank you for your most precious gift of all, your time, you are far,
far too generous, but I for one and glad of that.
Lovezz, hugzzzs, kisszzzsszs,
Pat.

Hi Pat,
How are you this morning? Sorry you didn't get to go to the sedding
as planned. Robert will be on in a little bit , once he feels up to
it, but he wanted me to ask you about the epilim drug. He said he has
never heard of it. Are you talking about when he said that he was
going to take nueroton? Is that in the same family? Please respond.
Robert has been on the nueroton years ago and remembers some of the
side affects but he would like to know more about the epilim.
God Bless
Thanks, Denise

Hi Jan,
Sure glad to see you on the board today. Missed you yesterday!!! I
got up this morning before RObert did and was reading the post and
saw about waht you said about the epilim. I don't even know what that
is. And when Robert woke up , he said-look back in the post and find
out. The only thing that he said he may start taking is Nueroton, Is
that what you are talking about?Please let us know, as we are
concerned about this epilim ( and don't know anything about it)
Denise

To All:
Hello: It has been awhile since I posted. I have a question for all. Lately
deep in my gut and in my back area where I have pain, I have a deep itch that
drives me crazy because it can't scratch it. You know how the roof of your
mouth itches sometimes it the same kinda itch. Did not know if I was just weird
or
other may have it too? I have not been very well lately my enzymes have been
very high and doc wanted me to go into the hospital but trying not to go till
I get some business cleared up. My blood pressure has been very very low, to
the point of standing I get dizzy. He (doc) was upset because I would not go
into hosp. it was 30/0 when I went in. Before I could leave it had to come back
up I think it was 60/40 when I left. But, it has been that way for months now.
He says it is totally pancreas related. I have just pretty much felt like
garbage. Yesterday was not too bad though. Hopefully, I am getting better an,
enzymes are lowering. Been going in for bloodwork several times. I just was
wondering about the new symptoms of severe itching on my insides? Everyone take
care.
Loretta in Oklahoma

You are such a kindloving person.! Have i understood correctly that you
rescue animals? Is this work or independent? Are you on disability?
I am an animal lover over all. We have a big ddog (Lady) who is part
chow and part pit bull... who is a lover and always by my side.... making
sure i'm ok. We got her from an Animal shelter. Down here in florida...
there are some idiots that train pit bulls for fighting til death! This
is what they call a betting sport and against the law! Lady was one of the
pups who escaped the owners ill will and was found in the deep woods when
she was tiny... maybe 5 weeks old. I had been buggin Tom for a dog for a
long time.... to be here with me when i'n sick and by myself. When we
were at the adoption place..... we looked around at all the sad faces and
it was a difficult decision to m ake as if i could... i would take them
allll home with me. I asked the man who ws showing us around if he had a
special dog he loved or a favofrite? He took us down the last isle and in
a small cage he lifted a short haired red pup with brown eyes and black
lips!!! I just love her black lips. He handed her to me and she
immediaately put her little paws around my neck and squeezed me tight. I
started crying like crazy................... i looked at Tom..............
and took her to our home where she is our little girl. ( Our boys are grown
and out of the house) She would get in bed with me and i would make her a
plate of lunch just what i was having... and togethet we ate on the bed
everyday. The it was nap time... cuddle time. She's 7 now and is
very aware of my pain days. All i have to say is... "Lady, i need you" and
she comes runnning and sits by me untillll nap time. She gets a sad
look on her face when i leave the house for errands. Tom says... she's
afraid that your going to the hospital again and not coming back home.!
I've spent most of this year in the hospital. I don't know what i'd ever
do without her... she's my little girl and knows it when my days are bad.
She makes sure that her body is touching mine in bed incase i move or get
up.... she will followme right at my side. My older son, Jason... started
with Animal Resscue about 3 yrs ago and training dogs to sniff and find
people. His wife's family has many dogs that do this for police work. Jas
is now working on being a deputy in Aalabama... he is a prison guard and
wants to come back to florida and work with the wildlife again. After he
is certified as a deputy .... they will move back here to florida. He gave
me the most wonderful present last May 23, 2003.................. a baby
boy who's name is Joshua! The light of my life! Sso when things get
down and the pain is too tough... i have all these wonderful gifts right
before me to fight for.! Sorry for being so long... i just love animals
sooooooooooooo much and l loved you story about your dog an your cat.
We have a cat , too... a white persian named Merlyn who i s the king of
the castle! Lady looks after Merlyn... grooms him at times.... like she was
his moma! i''d better go now.... i''ts great knowing you... and i'll
lsten for your animal antics anytime you write! thaank yoo for your cheer!
love, jan xox

Hello Sweetie, and hello Tom,
Well, I didn't make it Jan, I let her down.
She could rise above her problems, they are a million times mine, but
she did it and she pleaded with me over the past two weeks to make
sure I was there and I failed her.
I'm gutted, I have no more energy to fight this bloody thing, not now
at least. I just want to sleep for a while and not feel the pain, the
pain in my gut and my back and everywhere else it's paining me, but
especially I don't want to fell this pain in my heart.
I love her so very much Jan, there are only three of us and soon only
two. I needed the time with her yesterday to have for the future, now
I only have my old memories and a new one that will haunt me forever.
She rang me last night from the hotel where the reception was held
and she cried for most of the time, I don't know which of us cried
more, the phone lines must be rusted with the tears.
But I needed the tears, my tears anyhow, I did not want her to cry
like that on what was supposed to be a happy day for everyone, and
especially for her, and I spoiled it for her. It seems to be the only
thing I'm any good at lately, letting those I love most down all the
time by being in pain all the time.
But I can't help it, I try my best but this disease just does exactly
what it likes, it's the town Bully of a disease, the more you do to
appease it, the more it makes a fool of you and ridicules you for
even trying. It's running out of control all over the world and
nonone is doing anything about it. Except for us, the ones it is
bullying, we help each other to fight back at it and for a lot of the
time we win, we knock the Bully down and he cowers in the shadows and
for a while we can all come out to play in the sunshine without any
fear but the more the Bully rests, it seems he gets stronger each
time.
You, and many others are fighting this Bully called Pancreatitis for
a lot longer than I am and it's taken it's toll on you all but thank
God you are here to help the newer pupils to deal with the Bully.
But for now, the Bully wins, he can have my lunch, he took my juice
and favourite sweets yesterday, so he wins for now.
I'll be back to play Jan, but I might only play for a while,
especially if the Bully comes hanging around again.
Love you loads,
Pat

Robert.... do you remember a while back when there were some family
members who challenged some diagnosis for their doc's and weren't sure if
the information we had given them was accurate..? On occassion i refer to
my "gut instinct" or better yet.. "my intuition" and listening to those
who love you when it comes to matters like these. Your choise
of wether to take the epilim or not. I'm sure you'll be robert and look
up all the info on it before taking it.. After all... you KNOW YOUR BODY
more than the doc's or anyone else. I have total faith when it comes to the
experiences and knowledge that our family provides to us.... We are livi
ng proof!!! Do your thing (research) and be careful..... listen to what
Pat had to say.... i'm sure you have. Don't be a risk taker anymore/
those days are gone now... brother. I feel like a mother talking to her
son, now...

Hello Robert My Brother in Pain and Life,
Robert, Robert, it's like a miracle to see you posting again!
For a while there, you had me worried sick, I was truely afraid that
He had decided He needed you more than we did and as you know, He is
the Boss, and we have got to do as he says.
Please, do not hold off like that again Bob, it's not worth it for
you, not worth it for Denise and it is certainly not fair to your
beautiful young daughter either, so don't go there any more, O'K'?
I was scanning through the posts and I read one from you saying you
wre trying to find me, well here I am, come get me!!
Another thing I read was that you were going to take EPILIM, is this
correct?
Please check this drug out before you take it Robert, if it is the
one your going to take then you need to know some important things.
Many years ago I was seeing a Pain Management consultant, one of the
best in the world by the way, and he was having a hard time treating
my CHRONIC INTRACTABLE NEUROPATHIC PAIN! I have highlighted that
because you are having that type of pain now because of the diabetes
I expect, mine was from an accident.
He eventually gave me a scrip for a cocktail od meds to assist me
with the pain and one of them was EPILIM.
He warned me from before he wrotew the scrip that he was taking a
chance givinh it to me but it would only be for a while until he
could work out something better, but his words were that this drug
EPILIM was one of THE MOST TOXIC drug he had come across barring some
of the then HIV drugs and some early Chemo treatments.
Before I took it he had me have a liver function test and while I was
taking it he repeated this test every 10 days. He actually did the
first of the follow up liver tests only 3 days after starting on it
as I was feeling pretty messy indeed. In that short time my liver
function results were gone ballistic, he was shocked.
He discussed the dangers with me and we agreed I would take it for
another 10 days, and believe me, I was really glad to stop it when my
last liver function bloods showed my liver under extreme pressure and
he said straight up it was the EPILIM.
To my knowledge, it's now only prescribed, at least in Europe, as a
drug of last choice. It is so toxic most modern neurologists won't
use it if at all possible.
Although I only took it for about 20 days or so, since then I have
repeatedly had crazy, unpredictable results come up in blood test
involving my liver.
And to be fair to him, he warned me that this was likely to happen,
how right he was Robert.
Now, with the extent of the damage that Pancreatitis does to our
systems, and given it's so close connections with our livers, I will
go on the record now and say, with absolute convistion that,
regardless of my condition, I will never take that drug again, never,
unless of course I'm dying anyway and there is nothing to lose.
Please, Brother, check out this drug if it is the one your supposed
to take, you do not want to take chances and you do not want to make
a bad situation more complex and worse, do you?
Regards and God bless you and Denise and keep your young daughter
safe and well.
Pat

http://my.webmd.com/search/search_results?
query=pancreatitis&filter=mywebmd_all_filter&go.x=19&go.y=11
Hello Everybody,
The link above is to a fantastic site, it's called "My.Webmed.com".
It's asite with a simply massive database of diseases and drugs,
symptoms and treatments, virtually everything you could need to know,
at least about the fundamentals. There are detailed drawings and XRay
images and even animated images of various elements of our digestive
and other systems.
The link above is directly to their Pancreatits section and each page
is filled with good stuff, and there are about 20 pages of headings
with dozens of pages for each heading.
It's really simple to navigate but the information is amazingly
detailed and I urge anyone that has never visited this site to go
there and check it out.
It has become my "database" for initial research into medical matters.
Regards,
Pat
FOR THE RECORD, I HAVE NO COMMERCIAL CONNECTION WITH THIS OR ANY
OTHER SITE. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED HERE ARE MY PERSONAL OPINIONS AND
I AM NOT MEDICALLY QUALIFIED BEYOND BASIC FIRST AID LEVEL.

Those kisses are for you....sweet Ale. Please tell your doctor that you are
willing to go NPO , but you have to be able to work, too so you can pay
the billls! AAMaaybe she can come up with aan aalternaative for you... I
hope you are doing better.... and NPO will give your pancreas a chance to
heal... because it won't have to work with the NPO. I'll have candle
prayers for you, Ale~~~~ that you get some answers to make you better.
thinking of you~~~ love, jan xox

Hi Chiggey~~~~~ how are you doing these days???? It' been toooooo ong
since we've heard from you... but you're still with us in our candle
prayers. Your family, too! How are you holding out? Are your med's working
for you? It will take some time to heal after what you've been through...
so just be patient, my friend... Ii'm here at home most all the time...
if you ever want to chat! We've got candle prayers going for Robert and
Denise and also Pat is in a bad way, now. I have so many candles going
with prayers attached to the flames... God has a lot of prayers to be heard
and answered. He hears us.... i just know He does. There are others that
are in need of candle prayers, too. We haven't heard from Jim to see how
Chey is dooiing in the hospital. I hope it's good news.. Are you taking
care of yourself??? That's very important... and a little nap in the
afternoon refreshes you, also. I love my naps!!!! So, does my dog,
Lady... when it's nap time 11:30-noon... You'll find her on top of the
bed burried under the pillows ... waiting for me to get in and cover us both
up. It can be a chore as our sweet little Lady weighs 80 lbs of pure
love! We got her from a shelter whe n she was a pup... She's part chow
and part pit bull................... and loves to lick you all over!!!!
She has a healing tongue!!! It's good to hear from you, Chiggy... hold on
to faith..... and know how mucch you are loved......................
THISSS MUCH!!!!! love, jan xox

Ohhhhhhhhh Louie.... when it rains.........~~~ I'll have a candle
prayer going for you innocent daughter and ask God to help her. I know He
will....Boy...... this has been a real hummer of a year for some, here.
Geeeeeeeeeeeeeese i'n here if you want to talk or anything at all. my
other address at home is janwestlake@... and i'm home most the
time.... My heart breaks for you and all this confusion and unnecessary
situation. If you show her that you are confident in this outcome.... that
will get her to relax and think about other things. It's when a child see a
parents worry.... it really wipes them out emotionally bnecause they don't
know what to do. So.... try and keep your chinney up and set an
example... ( i know it's difficult) for her... My heartfelt prayers are
with you all... and i hope to talk to you as soon as you want.... love,
jan xox

Lisa
How are you today? are you felling beter?, I hope you are doing
better, I'm at home a little sad all my friend went out for dinner
and I wasn't felling good, is hard to say no some times, I really
waned to go.... the pain is not good this days, I haven't had enzyms
for 2 days, I hope I will get some this week
Last tuesday I went to my doctor and she wants me to go for a month
in NPO, I don't know if that is a good idea, I will do enything that
will make me fell beter. So I think i will do that, I don't know if
she will let me go to work, that is the main problem, I need to
work...
all my prayers are with you and your kids.
Muchos besos
Ale

Robert... somehow we're going to get through this... i haven't figured
that part out yet... but i've been praying for answers.. AAND i
KNOW there are answers somewhere, so hold on, ok..... Together we can do
just aabout anything.... wwwe're a family.... not to be recccconded with!
I you only knew how much i love writing you...... Tom knows... because i
come out of the room where i write letters and have a most wonderful
feeling and a grin that can hardly fit through the door!! and i can wait
til he gets this one.! (Letter) I sent Denise a letter.... don't tell
her... let it be a surprise, ok??? She's in my heart, too! She sent me a
lovly e card that had beautifull music and words to go with it.... full of
life and comfort.! I hope you slept last night ok.... and today is going
to be better. I think Lisa had a great point to drink cranberry juice
..... it's suppose to be fantastic for the kidneys...( ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh i
hate the taste though..... but you gotta drink it now.) I'ts early... 5
am and i'm going to get some coffee. And you,,,, you fine man...... i'll
be talking to you later... ok???? ok. much love and hugssssssssss, jan
xox

Chiggy,
I was on my way to bed and my wife was telling me that you do not use
your spa. I found that a jet swirl spa is the best and fastest way to
relieve pain in the pancreas area. Try it, I am sure you will agree.
You and your family are in our prayers also.
Pain-Free Days to you brother,
Robert
A Founding Member,

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/4078585/

Hi Chiggy,
Nice to talk to you. Yea, Family is very important. We have to lean
on each other to get by in this world. Robert enjoyed talking with
you when you called. I was having one of my headaches then, sorry,
maybe next time you call I can get on the phone also. Your family is
in our prayers also.
Denise Hammett

Denise. I have missed you also and the pancreatitis place. Things
have been going crazy here. It has been stress after stress. I have
been trying to restore order after being away so long. I think the
saying is when the cat is away the mice will play. I can not stay in
business that way. We have a certain duties that must be kept up or
we lose stars. When I am able I will take my wife out for a few days.
We have a spa that I really never use. I hope you and all of our
family is not going through any of that pain. We keep you all in our
family prayers. Christina told me to give her reguards to all.
Chiggy

Denise it is good to see you on the website. Family is very important
when going through problems like we have. If not for my family I
would probably died in my bathroom from shock from the pain. They
have all pulled together to help with our hotel. They also make sure
I eat and drink proper now. Please keep a watch on Robert he is a bad
place with his health now. You both are in our familys prayers. Tell
Robert that we enjoyed speaking with him. Chiggy

Hi Lisa,
Is you little son Devan feeling any better since they have started him on
medicine. Your are very lucky that your own doctor has taken a personal
interest in your son too. Take it easy and try not to get too stress out about
your son condition. I know that this is easier said than done. When you do
have children, no matter how old they are, you still worry about them when they
are not feeling well. I just wanted you to know that I'm thinking about both of
you. I have been keeping you both in my prayers and hope you both feeling ok.
Take Care,
Louie in WV

Thank`s for replying so quickly,i do hope you wake with out your
migraine in the morning, and Robert without he`s swelling, but with
his cranberry juice, hang on in there, we are all with you both.
Best wishes, Jac. xox

Hi Jac,
I think it must be the stress, cause when I was in the hospital, the
doctor gave me a shot of Atitivan. But didn't send me home with
anything but tylox and I hate taking them. I didn't even get them
filed. When the headaches get so bad, I take some tylenol and go lay
down with a cold wet cloth over my eyes. I just ride it out. Man that
is tuff.As for Robert---he said to tell you that they swelling gets
worse at night and its night and he said he fells like the michilan
tire man(hee hee) And thanks to something that Lisa told him , he is
drinking camberry juice for his kidneys.
Denise
XOX

Hi-ya!! How are you both???? I have migraine and the worst ones are
when you are stressed,and also blood pressure, you then feel very
sick,at times will be and it really does drive you nut`s. You have
been under alot off stress lately, what with one thing and another
it is probaly just a way off release. Some times you can not just
unwind or relax no matter how hard you try, so the tension comes out
by way off migraine, yuk eh!! Once the migraine has gone, you will
feel the differance your body will feel relaxed. It just goes to
show you how much damage stress does, you must also worry inwardly,
it is also a sign of tiredness, you must have got very tense during
the awfull time you have been having. How is Robert?? has he`s
swelling gone down any????. Wishing you both well, lot`s of hugz.
Jac. xox

Hi everyone. Made it back home late yesterday evening and am still
trying to recover from the drive. I'll make this as brief as I can
since I'm currently in so much pain I just bit my lip so hard it
started to bleed (Right now I'm trying to type while holding a piece
of cheesecloth to my injured lip. Not your most comfortable position
to find yourself in...).
Back to the point, my dad is doing a great deal better but I don't
hold out much hope of him making much more headway in this regard,
which is almost as sad to me as his dying would have been had that
happened. If you knew him prior to his stroke and see him now, it'd
break your hearts I'm certain.
Anyway, I'll have to leave now since I want to go back and try and
catch up on what I've missed in te posts during my absence (probably
an impossible task). Thanks for all of your prayers and kind support.
Andre'

Dear Pat,
Happy, Happy, Happy, Belated Birthday!
I so sorry that this is so late getting to you, but I've been offline for a few
days & just found out you had a Birthday. May 57 be your best year ever. Happy
Birthday to you Sweet "Older" Man. May you have many more Birthday, as nice as
this one has been for you. I'm sorry I'm late in sending my Good Wishes your
way, but they come from my Heart in Wishing you the Very Best Birthday Yet.
Your Pancreatitis Friend,
Louie in WV

Copy and paste it if it is not clickable.
This is from John Hopkins.
http://www.hopkins-gi.org/pages/latin/templates/index.cfm?
pg=disease3&organ=4&disease=24&lang_id=1&pagetype=12&pagenum=263#1278
Thanks,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Thanks,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Hi Pat,
I glad to see that the meds that the doc gave you for your leg swelling is
helping. I'm sure that your must have been scared from the reaction you had
from the CT Dye.
Has this ever happen to you before? About my fatty liver.
When I finally got to the doctors on Jan 28, they told me that the fatty
liver has cleared up on its own. The preverious CT Scan I had in June still
showed it, but the on they did in December didn't show it up. The only
thing we can figure is that I have lost over 20 pounds in about a months
time with a bad attack of pancreatitis, last summer and since I have lost
the weight, it has helped the Fatty Liver clear up. We got another 2 inches
of snow overnight last night, but the roads are now cleared. On Wednesday,
I finally got to drive. I think this was the first time I have drove since
New Years. I really glad that the snow doesn't bother my husband at all to
drive in, I guess he is really used to our hill, as he has lived up here
all his life, except for 3 1/2 weeks. My daughters both drive in the snow
and they are not afraid of it. It's just little old Mom, that is chicken
little when it some to driving in the snow.
How did you make out at your Specialist on February 6th? Were you able to
make your Wedding today? It seems that I just get caught up on all my
e-mails and then I get busy with something else for a few days and then
there are a couple hundred to go through and I'm behind again.
I'm sorry for taking so long to answer you back, but we are having a few
family problems here. My daughter is being falsely accused of doing
something she did not do. She was not even in the area where this happen at
the time they said it happen. She was at her friends house, playing cards
when the accident happen and her car was sitting outside of her friends
house at the time when the accident supposable happen. She even has a
witness on her side, so we had to go get a lawyer to represent her in court
this coming Wednesday Feb. 11. The Lawyer says it an open and shut case,
(Since she is a white female)and they really don't even have a case against
her, since the police says someone else(a black man) was driving her car and
it wasn't her driving. Just her car was supposedly involved. The lawyer
said that we really didn't even need him, but we thought we better retain
him, to clear her good name.The lawyer said they can't hold you responsible
for someone else driving your car. He even got out his law books and showed
us that the driver is responsible for the car and not the owner here in WV.
The police department will not even give her a copy of the police report.
They said it cost $25.00 and the only person who can get it is your
insurance company. We found out from the lawyer that this is illegal, that
according to state code you are entitled to a copy of the police report for
a nominal fee and they can not with hold it from her, like they are doing.
She has never even had as much as a speeding ticket. The police has her so
scared, they told her she could go to jail and/or suspend her license. She
said if she goes to jail she'll loose her job, that she needs it and she
needs her license to get to work. Our Lawyer has guaranteed us that she is
not responsible since she wasn't driving the car, and she will not go to
jail or even loose her license. She was going to just pay the fine, even
thought she is not guilty, just to get it over with, but then the police
clerk said that she still would have to go to court, so this is why we are
fighting it to clear her name, for something she did not even do. What a
mess. My stress level is up and the Cp is starting to act up, even through
the lawyer says we have nothing to worry about. I'll be as glad as she is
when it's over. I feel so sorry for her, she can even eat anything without
throwing up, she is so worried. We try to reassure her, but I don't think
anything will help until this whole mess is over with. And when the
children were little we thought if we made it through the terrible Two, we
had it made. I guess, as long as your a parent you still worry about your
children, no matter how old they are. She is 28 and a really great young
lady and has never been in any trouble in her life before this mess. I'll
let you know what happens after Wednesday court date. This is a very small
town where it happen, that is very well know for their speed traps and I
think they will be surprised when we show up with our lawyer. One good
thing did happen today, she did get a check from her insurance company to
get her car fixed. So, they are believing her, which is great. I hope you
doing ok. Sorry for rambling on and on, but this is all new to us, as we
have never need a lawyer for anything like this before. So everyone, please
say a prayer for my daughter that this nightmare is over and dismissed on
Wednesday.
Take Care,
Louie in WV

Brue,
I have some information for you. I will run start it now to help you
out and finish it later.
Thanks,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Lisa,
I have been checking my sugar while I am awake every 2 hours. I am
running out of places to make myself bleed. My fingers look like a
sprinkler system while I am getting a new drop of blood. I am having
lows still as my insulin is at an all time high intake. This is the
time that I can safely drink cranberry juice without to much damage.
My swelling is getting worse during the night and that is now. I must
do what I gotta do to control this. To bad that I am not a vampire
bat so that I could hang upside down. There is a nother problem where
my face is swelling along with my upper body. Do I switch later?
Thanks,
Robert
A Founding Member,

HI everybody would like to hear from anybody that has or is going to
have the puestow procedure. This is very important to me also if you
know of any web sites with information on the puestow.
Thank you all, hope this finds you well
Bruce

Dear ReeAnn,
You are correct on the depression issue. I will do my best to make it
to this chat. I need this one for sure!!!
Thank You,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Robert,
Remember not too juice it will make the blood go up too fast, and keep your feet
elevated above your heart to help keep the swelling down. Is it any better
today, Michelin man? :-')
Lisa

Dear Tammy,
I would like to welcome you to our family. The family of TPP. It is
true that it is a woderful place. A place of true brothers and
sisters of pancreatitis. Where do you live and how long have you been
having problems?
Welcome my sister,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of ThePancreatitisPlace
Hosted Chat - ReeAnn
Sunday February 8, 2004
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
This event repeats every week.
The next reminder for this event will be sent in 23 hours, 4 minutes.
Event Location: AOL's TPP Chat room
Notes:
ReeAnn ~ CoOwner will host a chat in AOLs TPP Chat room. You will need AOL or free AIM (www.aim.com) to access this Chat room. Please email us for the link.
DeniseHallock@...
MsReeAnnBetts@...

Pat,
With your recent probles with your healthcare team, we are going to
have to admit Ireland as our 51st state. We can get you ranked down
here at the bottom of the list for sure. Just do not try to get below
SC in the rankings though, Our healthcare system will go wicked
stupid and will try to get worse. It seems as though they work very
hard in SC to keep their inabilites on top. If it can't be fixed here
with a big cottenball and enough tape to pull all your hairs out, it
can't even be thought or even looked into. I hope you are resting and
getting your health back together. It looks to be a tough year ahead.
We need you and if it takes waking up Ireland's healthcare hospitals,
so be it. We will do what whatever it takes to insure this.
You are in our thoughts and prayers,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Hi-ya!! Christine, it was good to see you post, but bad that you
have been in hospital, and your panc has got so bad so quick. Think
any one would be in shock,you poor thing. Alot of us were praying
for you and the longer you did not post, the more we worried. You
have helped so many people in this group, we are returning it with
our prayers, thought`s, love, and of course our very best wishes
that you feel better soon. You are not alone, you have us at TPP we
will be there for you. So just you take thing`s easy, and take-care
of yourself. ok!! Jac. xoxox

Dear Jan,
You lift my spirits, you know that? You have confetti all over my
house, and the hospitals floors. You have Mr. Froggie watching over
me day and night. My snail is more than just bills now. The candles,
thoughts and prayers. The help you are giving TPP. I am so glad you
are my sister.
I am so glad you are you,
Love,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Linda,
Levels that are considered normal vary from lab to lab, so I'm afraid I
can't give you a definite answer of what is considered to be normal or
below normal. Yes, I do take a letter as some ER doctors have been known
to state that a person can't be having a pancreatitc attack because
their levels are normal or below normal. I have run into this a number
of times and was turned away from the ER at times that I feel I should
have been hospitalized for. Quite a few other members have encountered
this as well. Sometimes I even got this attitude from doctors who were
on call for my primary care physicns/GI physicians (at one point, my PCP
was a GI physician until I changed insurances), so having them call my
doctor's office didn't necessarily help any. It shouldn't matter how
you got the disease, but unfortunately, a number of doctors/nurses don't
feel that way and we have to deal with them. This time, I have a GI who
understands about enzyme levels and she saw no problem with signing the
letter I wrote up for her to approve. I know that when I have had
doctors call her for verification, she basically tells them to listen to
anything I say and give me what I request since I know alot about my
disease and how it should be treated. Needless to say, I find this
doctor a keeper.
Kimber
Kimber
--
Kimber Allen
Vallejo, CA
hominid2@...
Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed
physician or health care professional.

I enjoyed spaeaking with you yesterday. You gave me some important
things to check into. I am trying the cranberry juice today. My
swelling seems to get worse at night. I think it because I am not
laying down as much. The fluid is running down hill after a days
life. I also noticed that walking is adding to my problems as well.
That is not fair, this thing is eating away my life. Thanks for
everything you do for us.
God Bless You,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Dear Denise,
I am so sorry this is happening to Zena. I still include her in my
prayers. I was planning on e-mailing you to check on her condition,
thanks for the update. Please do not give up on her, God does perform
miracles even at the last minute.
You and your family are in our thoughts and prayers,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Linda,
How long have you been dx with pancreatitis? Do you know what the
cause of it is? Are you a diabetic on oral meds or shots? Have you
had any operations in the past?I would like a little more detail,
please to see where you relate with our TPP family. There are many
stages of this illness. I am sure that if you give more details on
your (now) condition we could better help you. It may be me, that
could help you??????
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers,
they are needed.
God Bless,
Robert
A Founding Member,

Jan,
No, not really feeling much better. Just was getting my bills around and
happened across the card I had stamped and gotten ready to send out way back
then. I thought I had sent it even, thats terrible isn't it. I think I have
oldtimers too.
I will have to find some goodies to send out though, because I know how good
it makes me feel.. I would love to share that feeling.
ok... I'm going to try to lay down for a little bit. {{{HUGZ and Prayers}}}
Denise
Denise Hallock in Michigan
Co-Owner ~ The Pancreatitis Place

To Patrick and Kimber, thanks for the information. I do think that
the doc meant atrophy, Patrick. He always tries to keep the
discussion low-key and seems to be afraid that he will upset me.
I've tried to get across to him that the truth is better than being
in the dark any day. Kimber, my enzyme levels are always normal or
below normal. Do you know what levels are considered normal? Do you
take a letter to the ER about your enzyme levels because the doctors
won't believe that you are really sick otherwise? I have had that
impression from an ER doc before,but I've always made them call my
gastro doc. It can get really hard sometimes from people, nurses in
the hospitals included {no offense meant} to er doctors thinking
that you're either an alcholic getting your just rewards , or a drug
seeker looking for a quick fix. It shouldn't matter how you got the
disease. Patrick, does everyone who has this disease
eventually "burnout"? When I had a MRI last July, there was no sign
of atrophy. Now there is. I know that this is progressive, but does
it always progress this fast? Can you guys tell me a little about
your story? Thanks for the help. From Linda from Atlanta

I am writing to advise you of an exciting development for clinicians,
patients and caregivers interested in achieving better pain care. In May of this
year, Congressman Mike Rogers [R-MI] introduced H.R. 1863, the Pain Care Policy
Act of 2003. The bill provides important federal recognition of pain as a major
public health priority in the United States. It would authorize additional
federal resources for pain and palliative care research, professional and
patient
education, public awareness, and professional training. In addition, the bill
has provisions to improve access to appropriate diagnosis and treatment for
pain in federally financed health care facilities and federally financed
managed care programs.
I suffer from a condition that requires proper pain management, Chronic
Pancreatitis. This condition affects thousands of men, women and children. This
disease has no real cure and is at its worst life threatening, as sometimes
attacks can become acute and toxins from cysts that occur on the pancreas can
leak
into the abdominal cavities can cause serious damage to the surrounding
organs. The longer a patient is allowed to suffer in grave pain, the worse the
damage becomes as the pancreas autodigests itself. These patients suffer pain
that
can lead them down a path of agony and an uncertain future. Chronic
Pancreatitis is often unrecognized by doctors and is well into the end stages of
its
effects before it is even truly diagnosed correctly.
Some of the procedures used to try to allieviate some of the pain ends up
making things worse for the patient. The patient often times ends up needing
treatment for depression and anxiety because of the stress that the disease puts
them under.
This insidious disorder can cause irreversible damage and can be a silent
killer.
As a patient who suffers daily from chronic pain due to chronic pancreatitis,
I urge you to co-sponsor this bill and work for its consideration in
Congress. Its enactment into law will help make pain care research, education
and
treatment a priority within federally funded programs and facilities. It will
encourage a more comprehensive focus on pain throughout our nationâs health
care
system.
On behalf of all who suffer from chronic pain, and as one of your
constituents, I strongly urge your active support for H.R. 1863. Should you or
your staff
have any questions, please contact me or the counsel to the "Pain Care
Coalition" in Washington D.C., Bob Saner, at 202-466-6550 and for more
information
on Chronic Pancreatitis, you can contact The Pancreatitis Place Web Support
Group at: DeniseHallock@...

Robert,
I am on the telephone with Pat right now. I will let you know more in a few
minutes. He is ok.
Lisa

Now that is a really good idea. I will try it!
Thanks
Lisa

I can't locate you. Got a bad feeling something is going major wrong.
With thoughts and prayers,
Robert
A Founding Member,

ReeAnn, if you need any help with the incorporated paperwork, please
let me know. My sister is an accountant, my husband prepares taxes,
and I'm an editor, so I could proof any documents if you needed or
wanted me too. Anyway, just thought I'd offer some services. Tammy

Lisa,
this may sound weird, but I'd stick it in the oatmeal if that's his
favorite food. It would be hard to find it in there too. He'd have to
eat it pretty quick or it would melt though. Just an idea. Anything to
get him to take the meds he needs.
Kimber
--
Kimber Allen
Vallejo, CA
hominid2@...
Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed
physician or health care professional.

Patrick/Linda,
I also have an atrophied pancreas that is burned out, but I am not as
bad off as Robert. Yes I am diabetic, but I'm not brittle yet and
hopefully won't ever be. How, it does mean that now when I have a
pancreatic attack, my enzyme levels are normal or below normal and I
have a letter from my GI stating this so that if I have to go to the ER,
I get treated properly and admitted when I need to be.
Unfortunately, unlike Robert, I still have daily pain and pancreatic
attacks, so having a burned out pancreas, doesn't necessarily mean that
your pain will go away. It does for some, but not everyone.
Just thought I'd let you know that Robert's form of burn out is not
always what happens when it burns out.
Kimber
--
Kimber Allen
Vallejo, CA
hominid2@...
Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed
physician or health care professional.

Kimber,
Devan is the pickiest eater there ever was. Even as an infant he wouldn't any
fruit baby foods! He will not even drink juice! The only way I get any veggies
in him is by hiding them in different foods. My turkey meatloaf and meatballs
have finely grated carrots, celery, onions, and sometimes even green beans in
them. It sounds gross but you can not taste it in there. I have never met a
kid like him. He will not even eat corn on the cob or apples or even melons!
But his favorite food is plain old oatmeal, yuck! My little one Colin will eat
fruits and veggies before anything else, though! Thank you for the hint though,
it will work with Colin when I need to get medicines in him.
Lisa
Simi Valley, CA

Hello Everyone,
The topic for February's Focused Chat is Depression. This chat will
be held in the AOL TPP Chatroom on Thursday - February 12th at 7:00
pm - US Eastern Time.
Depression goes hand in hand with pancreatitis. I believe mostly
because of how drasticly it changes our lives. We go from
productive, active members of society to a very restrictive
lifestyle. I think all of us have suffered from depression at least
once since this disease took over our lives. How did you cope with
it? What helped you get through the dark days? What things worked?
What didn't work? Come share your experiences with others Thursday
night. If you are currently dealing with depression, come find out
what has worked for others. Let's help one another here.
In order to access the chatroom, you need to have AOL or AIM software
installed. (www.aim.com) Once installed and you have a *screenname*,
send a message to either "ReeAnn" or "DeniseHallock" and we will get
you into the chatroom. If you need assistance installing the
software, send me an email at ReeAnn@... or
ReeAnn@..., and I will help you get it
installed.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn in Virginia
CoOwner ThePancreatitisPlace
434-409-7162
ReeAnn@...

Hi Kimber,
This is Denise Hammett, Nice to meet you. Yes I would like the list

Hello {{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{Everyone}}}}}}}}}}}}}}}
The past 2-3 weeks have been really rough for me. I had two attacks and a cold
with both of them. Today is the first day I actually felt better. Thanks to
everyone for understanding and being patient with me as I fell behind on my
email.
Though I haven't spent much time here, I have been busy doing a lot of reading
while stretched out on the couch, unable to do anything else. I had ordered a
bunch of documents from the IRS about Nonprofit corporations. Enough to fill a
4" binder.... I am trying to save us the cost of an attorney with the
incorporation of TPP. There is a lot more to this process than I imagined. I
also got the book Incorporation for Dummies and ordered some informational
software off of eBay for establishing Charitable 501(c)(3) corporations. The
IRS designation for chartiable nonprofits.
Now that I well underway with my education (it certain is that with all this
reading), I will be starting to write the various papers needed to complete this
process. It is unreal how many documents are required. Didn't the IRS pass
some kind of paperwork reduction act?? Sure doesn't seem like it......
Over the next few weeks, I will be devoting most of my energies to completing
this paperwork and I probably wont have much time for posting on a regular
basis. Though I will be around and keeping everyone updated on my progress. So
if anyone should need anything, please just send me or Denise a mesage or an
email. I will also be at all the chats. We are here for all of our Family.
Speaking of messages, I want to be sure everyone has my contact information. On

Lisa,
don't know about getting him to eat the applesauce. I gather he doesn't
like it? I know stores have other mushed fruit flavors as well that you
might want to see if he'll try those? Well, it was a thought.
Kimber
--
Kimber Allen
Vallejo, CA
hominid2@...
Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed
physician or health care professional.

Jan,
I am going to take a pain pill and lay down. Maybe I will be able to get to
that party tomorrow. See ya! Have a good night.
Lisa

Wwe can talk back and forth if you want. I just don't know how to do those
things you were talkig about and Tom has gone to sleep for the night. Let
me get to the kitchen and get some more tea and i'll be right back.. love,
jan xox

Jan,
Thank you so much. I have taken all of my meds, compazine, phengran, Percocet,
lomital, etc. I had to take Devan to the dr. this afternoon because he was
running a fever and had bad chills, his ear infection again. This has been
going on since Tuesday. The dr said it is better and the fever was probably
just the tail end of the infection going away. He told me to watch him over the
weekend and call him on his cell phone if I needed him. He saw I was not doing
well so he gave me a shot of phengran and tordal. This should help. My hubby
has a sleep study thing to do tonight so he will be there snoring his heart out
for all the world to hear. Tomorrow is the pirate thumbed birthday party so I
have make sure we make it to that as it is Devan cried when I got to the school
to pick him up because he was painting a picture for me when the teacher sent
him to the nurses office. He wanted to go back to his class so he could finish
it. The poor thing! It makes me want to cry when one of my boys cry. He also
has real separation problems with me. When I was pregnant with Colin I spent
the end of my pregnancy in the hospital with high blood pressure and pre-term
labor so he really freaks out if I go to the hospital. He is afraid I will have
to stay and not come home for a long time. I am lucky because my Dr knows about
this problem and he will do everything he can so I can stay out of the hospital
and home with my boys. Well hubby just got home so I have to go and make sure
he eats before he goes to the sleep clinic. I will chat later though.
Lisa

Hi lady! ohhhhhhhh i love snail mail surprises!!! they are so much fun to
get.... thank you for thinking of me.. Do you have any goood news? It
seems like most everyone here is having troubles and pain that jusst won't
leave! Is it delayed holiday stress and fat that has caught up with us????
I know , for me... this particular holiday season was entirely tooo
stressful. I doubt i'll be putting up the tree next year. It took me over
2 weeks to take everything down.... and another 2 to get Tom to put them up
in the attic!!! Ohhhhhhhhhhhh is it worth all that???? i'm getting toooo
old for all of this. You sound good in your post.... so maybe you're feeling
a little better??? or are you up to something?????HUMMMMMMMMM?????? Talking
to Lisa this afternoon... she has been in some bad pain the last couple
days.... and she didn't ay anything until now.. It's out of
control........ bless her heart... I told her... don't lay nanother minute
in pain through the night..... go to the ER and get some relief. She has
had candle prayers going all day long, too! NOW we need to get a candle
prayer or 2 for her.... It's going as i write...... WEll... i can't wait
for my surprise, Denise...... does it breath.. or squeak???? love, jan
xox

Why didn't you say anything to me? I jjust lit a prayer candle for you,
sweetie. Did you eat something with too much fat in it?? O rjust something
bad? or is it your nerves acting up again??? If you're nauseas... don't
even try to eat anything... it will make it worse.. the pain and the nausea.
Is it time to change pain med's cause sometimes that will increase the pain
..~~~ if they're not working right. Do you have any sleepy time tea? It
tastes like peppermint and mint is good for nausea and indigestion. They
sell it al all the grocery stores.. It's just called sleepytime tea... and
it's caffene free and will make you sleepy...... so maybe you can sleep the
pain and nausea off?? or is it tooooooo bad at this point? Instead of
going through another night of pain... why don't you have your honey take
you to the ER for some real pain relief so you can sleep through the night
anyway???? You don't have to stay if you don't want to... Maybe that's just
what you need...... a good jolt of strong pain med's to knock it all out?
Did you try a hot shower???? Don't suffer needlessly, Lisa. Go get some
relief,...... if just for the night and then you can see what tomorrow
brings. The boys and your hubby will understand... they don't like seeing
their love in pain. It's ok to cry. I do it often... when Tom is at work..
so he doesn't see me.... cause it makes him upset to see me like that. Do
something for yourself for once. i wish i lived closer to help out.... i
don't know what else to tell you... except pack yourself withpillows in bed
and pray yourself to sleep if you can. Do you have any med's like nausea
that will knock you out and let you sleep? Ohhhhhhhhh sweetheart..... go
get some relief. It's ok... Let the ER see you crying i n pain..... enough
is enough! i'll be praying for you some more..... the candle is going. Is
there anything at all i can do... just tell me.. i'll be here all night.
love, jan xox

Pat,
I just read your post and wanted to let you know how grateful I am to
TPP. All you guys are awesome. It makes a person feel good to know
there is someone out there in the world who cares!!! By the way,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! I don't usually post cause Robert is always in
front of the PC, but since he has been so sick, I have gotten on. At
first, I wrote to ReeAnn and Jan and asked them about the swelling
and told Jan about my blood pressure. I didn't know that she was
going to put it on the board. I am glad she did. Cause the prayers
help so much, I believe in prayer. Sometimes when my head is hurting
so mad with my blood pressure so high, I will say Jesus over and over
again and I will get relief.
Allot of people wondered why I just didn't take Robert to the doctor.
Well what is the old saying " You can lead a horse to water but You
can't make him drink?" Well that is Robert. I begged and begged him
to go in the hospital for weeks before I finally got him there. And
he refused to go. Finally, when I was spoon feeding him in bed and he
refused to take it anymore and he was down to 104lbs. I went and got
his suitcase and stood in front of him with the car keys and told
him. "We are going NOW" I think he was really to weak to argue.
Well, Now I think that he might not be so stubborn. (hopefully)
Have a good weekend. Again Thanks for the prayers.
Bless you
Denise

Hi Jac,
Thank you so very much for all your prayers and candles. I don't know
where we would be without prayer. This Site blessed my heart and made
me very happy with all the post and letters. In fact, I cried while
reading them. I will be glad when they doctors find out more about
Robert and his kidney problem. We did not know that the swelling was
due to the kidneys. We are home though, but the swelling is still
bad. They had mentioned water pills for him, but water pills mess
with Robert's pancreas. So , I do not know where to go with that.And
the fact that in 1 week and 5 days he gained 26lbs. I told the doctor
this and he said, well we wanted Robert to gain some weight, but I
said, Not that fast!!! He finally said that is was fluid. Still not
good. I sometimes wished we lived someplace where there was really
decent healthcare. Here is S.C is not all that good, they do have a
good hospital in Charleston SC but that is 5 hours away. And then the
next good place is Duke NC.I just want a doctor to tell it to me
straight and not beat around the bush, you know? I'm not knocking all
the doctors but its just that we have dealt with so many that didn't
answer my questions, and I DO ask alot of them.
Well, anyway, I want you to know how much I appreciate TPP for
everything you all do.
Bless you all
Denise Hammett

Denise,
My prayers are with your family right now. The boyfriend sounds likes a real
ASS! Can you report him for using her benefits? Did you call SS and let them
know where she is? The nursing home should have someone there that will do all
of that for the family. They will make the benefits get to them for sure. Good
luck.
Lisa
Simi Valley, CA

Hi Linda,
Great to see your nicely settled in, it wasn't too painfull I hope?
Your post about your having questions caught my eye anf having read
it, is it possible you misunderstood what word your doctor used?
I can't locate anything under "ATROPIC" but I wonder if he meant or
said, "ATROPHIED" ? It would make sense in light of his other
sentiments about his hopes for your Pancreas's future!
As I uderstand it, when an organ has atrophied, it means it has died
off basically, it has sort of withered away or shrunken. Have you
ever come across this term then? Perhaps myou will check this term
out for yourself and it will give you a better definition of it than
I have as I have just scraped the surface, try it at least.
Now to your doctor's other point about your Pancreas.
There is no intention to scare you or upset you in what I'm about to
say, and you must also understand that I'm not medically qualified so
don't act on anything I say to you, if your unsure then you MUST
check with a health professional.
You have read in recent post's about Robert, well just so you know
where I'm coming from, Roberts Pancrea's has BURNRED OUT. This is the
stage where your pancreas will no longer function. The theory is that
at least you will not have the pain you now have. Some actually do
realise that state. But unfortunatly, when it happens, you are almost
certain to become a full blown diabetic, and that's not a pleasant
replacement for your pain, believe me.
Some patient's are very lucky and their doctors can harvest enough
Islet Cells and can implant them so you can avoid diabetes.
Frankly, I'm surprised at your doctors seemingly cavalier attitude to
such a serious issue because reaching burnout is not really something
that anyone would actually look forward to.
My advice to you would be to do your research on this now, ASAP,
because there is now a very aggresive approach to anyone with
diabetes, especially in Europe, whereby doctors will prescribe the
oral medications used to treat insulin dependent patients, but they
use smaller doses and they have huge success in holding off the onset
of full blown diabetes.
As I have said, do your own reasearch, use google it's the best
search engine, and then check out what I have said here for yourself
also. I'm tempted to tell you to give your doctor a swift kick in the
ass, but i won't!!
God bless
Pat

Hello again....
Just me, here to vent, some more. Remember last summer when my car broke
down and I ended up being without it for 4 months because the warranty company
went bankrupt?? The garage did $2050 in repairs and the quoted me $1500 and
never gave me a written estimate???
Well, I ended up filing a complaint against the garage and they got fined up
the wazoo because nothing about the way they did their business was legal, and
so on and so forth... well... anyway, it took 4 months but I finally got my
car fixed and things have been going wrong on it left and right since then.
They never refunded my money, nor did they ever send me a completed work
order... They said they did timing, valves, heads the whole shebang...
SO guess what???? Yesterday, I noticed that it was running a little rough.
Then last night, Ryan took it to school... on the way home from school it just
quit, and it kept on quitting all the way home. Today I babied it up to the
place where I usually take it for tune ups and stuff and had the guy look at
it.
At first he said... "Yeah, sounds like it needs new plugs, wires and a fuel
filter... clean the injectors and you'll be good to go." Then I asked him
about the knock... he said he didn't hear one... so he would give it a minute or
two to warm up. Oh boy.... he had me come back into the garage and gave me the
news. "I can't be 100% sure, but it sounds like the timing." Just what I
wanted to hear... (well, it kind of was, because maybe I can get it fixed
free... since that is what the other place just SUPPOSEDLY fixed.) Anyway... I
needed to gripe.
Hopefully they won't have to have the car forever and even more hopefully it
will be covered by the warranty or the State of MI will make the other place
pay for it. Please cross your fingers for me Monday... and say a prayer to the
car repair Gods and to God that this will work out for me.(Pp
pppluhlease!!!!????)
{{{{HUGZ and Prayers}}}
Denise
Denise Hallock in Michigan
Co-Owner ~ The Pancreatitis Place

Pat,
I just wanted to send you my best wishes for the wedding this weekend. I
surely hope that you and Maura have a wonderful time!! Be sure you get a nice
picture of you and Lily too, with Maura so we can have it on the photos section.
Please be sure you take extra enzymes with you and your glucose monitor for
those just in case times... don't forget your tube of cake frosting and extra
pain meds so if you need releif before the party is over you have it available.
You could do like I do Pat and put together a goody bag of things I "MIGHT"
need. I always include a comfortable pair of sweat pants and a loose T-shirt,
extra underclothes (ya just never know when those UT OHS are coming up) an
extra pair of socks, a bottle of enzymes, my phone book, current meds and docs
lists, a heating pad (when my daughter hasn't run off with it, lol) a pair of
slippers and last but not least, a lap blanket. (oh yeah, I have a few extra
nausea tablets in there too, I forgot about those.) I call it my "Go Bye bye
bag". If I am going to be away from home for more than two hours I take it
with me. Even if I am just going to my moms.
My mom says its excessive, but I know me, and I know what can go wrong in
just a short period of time! Believe me, its far from excessive!! Besides, if
I
don't need something from the bag, one of the kids might. (especially that
blanket and my sweats... they are always stealing my clothes now.)
I sure hope that you all have a Lovely time, and that the Wedding is a
beautiful one. I'll be praying for Sunny skies and warmer weather for you all!
Much Love and Many {{{HUGZ and Prayers}}}
Denise
Denise Hallock in Michigan
Co-Owner ~ The Pancreatitis Place

Wnella,
Hello and Welcome to The Pancreatitis Place... I only wish it were under
different circumstances that we were meeting. It would have been so much nicer
to
have met in a different forum than here, but I am so glad that you did come
here to seek support and education!! You couldn't have asked for a better
family to help you cope with this disease and all of the illness and strife that
go aloong with it.
Please feel free to jump into the conversations with both feet, we really
don't mind, and share your feelings with the group too!! Its something we have
learned is a very important part of healing and dealing with this disease. We
have quite a nice family group here and I am sure you will fit in quite
nicely!
If you have any questions or concerns, just give a shout and someone will
lend a hand post haste! We are all here to help!
{{{HUGZ and prayers}}}
Denise
Denise Hallock in Michigan
Co-Owner ~ The Pancreatitis Place

Jan,
hehehe... I sent out something today for you that I have had for a long time.
I thought I mailed it wayyyyy back when you were in the hospital. Its not
frilly or filled with goodies, but I hope you will like it anyway!
Love Ya!
Denise
Denise Hallock in Michigan
Co-Owner ~ The Pancreatitis Place

Linda,
I think atropic is a variation of the word Atrophy.
Main Entry: at·ro·phy
Pronunciation: 'a-tr&-fE
Function: noun
Inflected Form(s): plural -phies
Etymology: Late Latin atrophia, from Greek, from atrophos ill fed, from a- +
trephein to nourish
Date: 1601
1 : decrease in size or wasting away of a body part or tissue; also :
arrested development or loss of a part or organ incidental to the normal
development
or life of an animal or plant
2 : a wasting away or progressive decline : DEGENERATION <the atrophy of
freedom
"
"Willa Cather
- atro·phic /(")A-'trO-fik/ adjective
- atrophy /'a-tr&-fE, -"fI/ verb
I hope this helped!
{{{HUGZ and prayers}}}
Denise
Denise Hallock in Michigan
Co-Owner ~ The Pancreatitis Place

HI ROBERT,
REALLY GLAD THAT DENISE IS GETTING SOME HELP FOR THAT AWFUL BLOOD
PRESSURE, THAT WAS AWESOMLY HIGH BROTHER, TOO HIGH.
MAN I'M REALLY SORRY YOU ARE HAVING THE BIG TROUBLE YOUR HAVING.
KIDNEY PROBLEMS ARE NO FUN, BUT EVEN DIALYSIS IS BETTER THAN THE
ALTERNATIVE, AND YOU PERHAPS COULD HAVE A TRANSPLANT IF IT WAS
POSSIBLE.
I KNOW YOUR TIRED OUT SO THIS WILL BE SHORT, SORRY I GOT OFF ON YOU
IN MY POST TO YOU BUT I JUST WANTED TO TRY SHOCK YOU INTO ACTION.
DID IT BECAUSE I LOVE YOU BROTHER, LOVE YOU ALL THE WAY, WE WILL ALL
BE BEHIND YOU WITH AS MUCH PRAYER AS YOU NEED, AND WHEN WE HAVE USED
UP ALL OF THAT, THEN WE WILL START OBER AGAIN.
REST BROTHER, GO TO YOUR SAFE PLACE AND LET THE BLACKNESS COME ALL
OVER YOU UNTIL ALL THE BAD IS BLOCKED OUT, COMPLETLY. LET ALL OF YOUR
MUSCLES GO TOTALLY SLACK AND RELAXED, LET AS MUCH CLEAN AIR INTO YOUR
LUNGS AS YOU CAN MANAGE.
GOOD NIGHT MY FRIEND, SLEEP WITH JAN'S ANGELS STAND OVER YOU TO KEEP
YOU SAFE.
PAT

Barbara ... 15 mgs of extended release is nothing at all.... no wonder you
are still having pain. Tha'ts like 2 tyolenol for goodness sake! Xanax
calms the stomach down... It slows the organs down, i guess is how you'd put
it so they won't UP and swell and push against each other. It's not an
opiate... not a pain killer.... it just calms the stomach down... and i
guess your thoughts.... if you get upset easily. When i get upset over
something ( usually very silly) the acids in my stomach really start
churning... so the xanax calm the nerves... so the acids won't go wild.
Maybe some kind of a nerve pill... but Jeannine explained it to me one time
cause i thought it was an antidepressant.... but she said it just calms you
down so the acids stay down. It's like.... if i feel like i'm going to
jump on somebody or say something i'll regret or just plain ol actin like
a witch snapping... the xanax takes those urges away for good.... and you
can relax and feel yourself. Also... you demand to be put out for the SOD
or tell him you won't approve of it without sedation. You have that right
to be comfortable during any procedure.... and as i'm finding out...( from
my hospital) for some insane reason... the doc's are easing up on the
sedation for procedures and make you endure them without anything. I about
flippped the last time i had a 3 lumen put in.. ( my neck) Previously....
they'd give me a "i don't care" shot in my hip and then numb the area where
they're going to be working... ! This last time.. was totally different.
I asked for something to calm mmy nerves down as i was terrified of this
procedure ( i've had it done many toooo many times). They siad they don't
give anything .. anymore!!!! And when they were cutting my neck to get
those 3 lines in.... no novacaine or anything at all. They placed a sheet
over my head... my head was turned sideways on the pillow and put oxygen in
my nose and then just started cutting away!! Believe me... i was screaming
and asking for relief... they gave me nothing. NEVER again will
i endure things like that! We shouldn't have to... we're in enough pain as
it is... without having to endure more ~~~~~ when there are drugs to make us
more comfortable.... like it should be. If my doc's try that on me
again... i'll get up and make a scene like they've never seen!!!! It's just
barbaric!!!! So... you stick to your guns.... when you see this doc..
tell him whawt you want and you will not accept it any other way. I thik
you could ask anybody here and they'd tell you there experiences like
this... They treat medicade patients like trash... and i won't stand for
it! So... good luck, lady.... i hope you have a good visit and things
turn out to be good for a change. I'll be thinking of you.... let me know
the date so i cn say candle prayers for you. love, jan xox

Now folks, I'M PISSED, real PISSED OF.
I left home just after 7 am with my wife, to go see a specialist in a
Centre Of Excellence in our Capital, Dublin. I had this appointment
since last year and my PCP and local hospital doc's all admit their
limits, you have to respect people ready to do that, especially
doctors and medics as so many of them think they are even above God.
My PCP had told me on Monday that this guy's next in line had phoned
to get updates on my latest tests, scans and Xrays. Given all this
info and trusting her, I was really looking forward to the meet.
I got there and checked in, went through the "new patient" routine
and had blood drawn, you all know the general deal. We waited the
obligatory hour or so, when you live in Ireland you learn that if you
are punctual, you'll find yourself with time on your hands.
My name was called and straight away I knew something was wrong, the
person calling me was the wrong nationality to be MY MAN!
And it all went downhill from there.
Turns out that the specialist I was to see stopped holding this
clinic early last year! There is a specialist in attendance but not
the one my doctor had written to last year and had all the follow up
calls etc with. But now I'm asking myself, did she really, or am I
being conned?
Now, so long as the specialist I see is well qualified to sort out my
situation and give me some definite answers and ideas as to the WAY
FORWARD, I don't much mind who it is. But to do this, any doctor
needs information. But these clowns didn't even know my doctors name
for God's sake.
All that was on record was my appointment and my name. No address, no
nothing at all.
I was dumbfounded, how can these people justify behaviour like this?
I sat with this other doctor and he asked me to go along with him for
now and give him a history starting as far back as I could. We did
this and he was amazed why they were still dithering about moving
forward with this as CP at the very least. based on my own history
and in light of some other information I received late on Thursday
afternoon from one of Me Mah's (Mom's) 2 remaining sisters, he said
it would probably be a good thing to consider having some work done
to check out HP! Let's do the CP bit first I said.
Truthfully, I'm hoping that there is no possibility of this being a
runner but I won't deny I was suprised, to say the least, with the
info I got on Thursday, but more on that anon.
I already have an appointment at the back end of March for an MRCP,
my local team are not keen on ERCP's, and based on the outcome for
most members that have had them, I'm not keen myself.
It's a major discredit to the Mrdical world that patients already in
dire straits from a difficult disease have to have tests that
virtually guarrantee them another attack of the very disease they are
having the test for! This guy is anxious for me to have the MRCP and
he made an appointment for me to return the following week after the
scan. Meanwhile, he has undertaken to contact my local hospital and
get all the information they have so far. Watch this space.
I have been unable to contact my PCP's, Friday "itchy feet" syndrome
must have set in.
When I do I will be non too nice to them, this whole thing is simply
unacceptable to me.
The sad part is that I love my GP, she's a doll, she will do
everything in her power to help.
Perhaps she has been let down by the other guy in Dublin, we shall
have to wait and see.
The good news is that I WILL BE ABLE TO GO TO MY NIECE'S WEDDING AND
BE WITH MY SISTERS, ESPECIALLY MAURA!!!!!! I promise, I will try to
get some pictures, and I will post some if they are any good.
But for now, early night tonight, early day tomorrow and late night
to follow and to be honest, I have the BEAST in full fury just now,
trying to tunnel out of me with rusty nails from how it feels.
God Bless all,
Pat