Pancreatitis

Oh my. I'm not sure on it developing that fast..

I got pancreatitis from Lialda. After the initial attack, I was still taking the Lialda for at least another year. I was also taking Imuran for about 8 months at that point (if I can remember right) and I didn't stop taking that either.

No surgery or anything, just waited it out, and my pancreatic enzymes calmed down. In the midst of all that, I did have an endoscopy that showed 'positive for inflammation of the pancreas.' DUH.

Really, they never even did anything for me for it. Have been watching my enzyme levels ever since.

I hope you find relief soon. That is one of the worst pains!

Heya,

My two cents....

I had pancreatitis, acute pancreatitis, blocked bile ducts (the ducts attached to your liver and pancreas) and now scarred and often inflamed pancreas, I suppose I always will.

These things happend to me before the crohns diagnosis and immuran.

My doctor has me on immuran now, one of the first things he told me was that there was a 5% chance or so of it causing my pancreatitis to return.

Short story, Im getting off Pred, AGAIN. Nanners talked me into talking my doc into immuran (I mean that in a good way), down to 15 mg pred now, tapering gonna take months to get off entirely. Things seem a little smoother but we will see at the 10 mg wall.

I am aware of the risks, but can no longer suffer the long term effects of Pred on my body.

My GI did not give me any time frame on how long it might take immuran to cause pancreatitis or any kind of indication when or how it might happen other then to say the 5% chance thing as well as telling me it may not cause it at all.

I researched it online when I got home and there were so many differnet sources of info on it with so many varying oppinions and facts, it just seemed like one of those risks I was just going to have to take, again.

As for treatment for pancreatitis, pretty much starvation until the lipase levels drop back to normal, same for acute pancreatitis, obviously in the hospital they keep you on pain meds and iv for hydration for acute, for pancreatitis, they never diagnosed it until it turned into acute form, 30 or so attacks, over about 2 to 3 years time. So I never knew I had it, till it blew up, so to speak.

Pancreatitis sucks, water, chicken and rice were about the only things I could tolerate during my pancreatitis years.

I am wishing you the best :)

Thanks

Jon

 

I did get severe pancreatitis, but mine was from 6mp. I had two hospitalizations because of the attacks,
and I have to say the worse pain I've ever had, even worse than obstruction. To cut a long story short,
those attacks badly damaged my pancreas and I now have chronic pancreatitis. During my flares the
pain gets bad, and I usually need hospital treatment for pain and hydration therapy. I'm not allowed to
have Imuran or 6mp anymore. My treatment for chronic pancreatitis is Viokase, which is a digestion
enzyme and pain meds. I really don't know what my prognosis is, but I know I have a good chance
of becoming an insulin dependent diabetic, I'm also at a greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer,
and last, but not least my pancreas will stop functioning.

Having said all of that, I was the small minority that this happens to. For most people these meds work
wonders. But if you're already having problems I would be very cautious.

I wish better health soon!!