Two months ago I was hospitalized for intense upper abdominal pain. It felt as though someone had taken a sharp hook under my ribcage and radiated down my left side. I was diagnosed with exacerbation of chronic pancreatitis, which I have no family history of. I don't drink or take any of the medications that cause it. I was immediately hospitalized and was given Dilaudid 2mg every 2 hours, and a fentanyl 100mg patch for my entire stay. They tried to feed me liquids on day 10, 15, 24, but it just made things worse. After 34 days in the hospital I was released on a clear liquid diet and it took me a month at home to finally be able to eat a healthy diet.

Hopeful, try using a heating pad (low setting) on your abdomen and press gently with a pillow. That gives me relief from pain as it helps to decrease the inflammation of the pancreas. Also, acupuncture has been extremely helpful in preventing the inflammation rather than just dealing w/the inflammation. Acupuncture takes a while to work, but it does help a lot. I'm very sorry that you are so young and living w/pain. Best of luck, girl! Don't behave, give them hell!

My family on my mother's side has a hereditary gene for pancreatitis, dominant mostly in the females in my family. I was born with pancreatitis and have an attack at least once a year or more. I have been treated numerous times, (stents, removal of stones and removal of gallbladder) but sadly nothing has worked for more than a couple of months. I follow a strict low fat, non-dairy, low caffeine, low oils, no nuts no spice diet and it helps keep the flare ups to a minimum. I'm 16 now and I'm really hoping it's put to a stop before I have to get my severely damaged pancreas removed. Any further tips/ideas on how to keep the flare ups to a minimum would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

I had a gallstone that got stuck in the bile duct and it put me on a vent for 13 days. I have diabeties and have an insulin pump. Since all of this I have had my spleen out because the splenic vein became pinched and caused gastric varices. I also had the body and tail of my pancreas removed because it was dead. What seems to help me is the creon that I take at every meal and eating small meals so it does not flare up.

I hit a deer one day and hit the steering wheel and noticed a pain in my stomach above the belly button and it radiated to my back and sometimes in my right side. I have seen several doctors who all tell me that my enzyme levels are very high and now they say that I have chronic pancreatitis and pancreas divisum. I had four stents placed in my bile ducts and I still have the pain. Now I have to see pancreatic surgeon to possibly remove part of my pancreas.

24 year old female, BMI 23. neg DMt2, neg DMt1. 0 ETOH family history, or personal history. I've had Pancreatitis THREE times (treated). The first time I went to the local hospital at 3 am with chronic abdominal pain. (I work as a nurse for a family practice) Never been in so much pain, nor have I seen someone in so much pain. 11 days the first time with pancreatitis. My husband was in Iraq, the Army ended up sending him home because my condition was so chronic. My second time was 7 months later. I had a good idea of how I was going to be treated this time. NPO for 6 days. After 6 I started to perk up, just before they added a pick line. The third time with Pancreatitis, I had a few drinks (I was told not to drink, but it was never something I did before, therefore I didn't think that 1 or 2 would cause a problem) 5 days in local hospital. Idiopathic Chronic(only due to multi) Pancreatitis. Worst pain ever in my life. I would have to say the more often it happens, the more I have learned to manage the pain. 2mg dalaudid q 2hr prn. and believe me did I take the 2mg q 2 hr.

I was in ICU 4 days and in the hospital a total of 11 days. I had nothing by mouth except ice chips the first 4 days and then clear liquids the next 3 days. I received morphine, TPN, antibiotics, potassium, and hydration through a pick line for nearly my entire stay. My gallbladder was removed on day 8 and I started feeling more improvement after that. My recovery at home included 2 naps a day and exercise at my local YMCA. I started with 4 walking laps of 0.1 miles and worked my way up to more. I was off work exactly 1 month and was still quite weak when I returned to work.