Hello world, it is me again. Couldn't stop the Blogging. It was a necessary thing to stop mypancreatitisjourney as my pancreatitis journey was over. Now onto life without a pancreas, although I have actually been living a life without pancreatitis for over 6 months now.
It is amazing how many people find the blog. When I see a person is about to embark on that less than traveled road I send them an email with the link and say " read it and email me any questions that you have". I have met some awesome people in their search for a less painful life.
It is my intention to journal my life now without a pancreas ( duodenum, and spleen) To write about insulin dependant diabetes from a total pancreatectomy patients perspective. I once had a dietary tech ask me what type of diabetes I had my response to her was " you tell me, I had my pancreas removed in September, what am I type 1 or type 2" her response with a ghastly look was " what you can't live without a pancreas" " well lady it was removed, I can assure you that one". She then went to tell me that you can't live without a pancreas and didn't have any idea that a pancreas could be removed and I really got her with the islet cell transplant part.
I have made up my mind the next person who tells me I can't live without a pancreas is going to have me tell them " are you kidding me.... does that mean I am going to die... now or later" I just believe that people who are working in health care should have some idea what can and can't be done. Oh, yea I forgot to mention I am a nurse also. I have been an LPN ( Licensed Practical Nurse) since 1988. My dear sweet spouse is also a nurse he is an RN about to get is BSN ( Bachelors Science In Nursing) He has certainly done the hard part, I am just here behind the scenes making sure he has clean clothes and food to eat, and a nice warm, clean bed to crawl into daily when he collapses. I will post a picture of my sweet husband.
To everyone from the boards.... Total pancreatectomy and others... HI... I will get into more specifics tomorrow.
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Thursday, April 12, 2007
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About Me
- Lisa Atwell
- I am a wife and a mom. I have 2 cat children that I adore. I suffered for 10 years with chronic pancreatitis. I suffered horribly, no one should have to live I like I did.
5 comments:
Hi Lisa! I am so glad to see that you are blogging again! I hope you are doing well! I finally have insurance acceptance and a surgery date!! June 8th! I can't wait to get this over with. I have a website that we have set up for donations to help me with the part that my insurance won't cover. I never realized how much I would be responsible for out of pocket and UP FRONT! Yikes!!
Again, I am so glad to see you on here!!
Tina
Yeah! glad you are blogging again! This will help others plan for what comes next!! Thanks for sending the link over!
I just found your blog. This is really funny, as I was just going to start a blog myself called, "You can't live without a pancreas." I am a post-pancreatectomy diabetic also, having had mine removed in January 2008 propylactically due to the presence of pre-cancerous lesions on top of a family history of pancreatic cancer and an inherited mutation (BRCA2) associated with pancreatic cancer.
I have had three people so far tell me (not ask me) that I couldn't live without a pancrease. So either I'm mistaken and I really have a pancreas, or I'm dead.
I would love to discuss some of the diabetic issues with you if possible. My endocrinologist is very experienced with diabetes, and as well I have a (diabetic)CDE and a very capable board-certified gastroenterologist caring for me. Not to mention the surgical and pancreatic guys from Johns Hopkins who did the initial diagnosis, the Whipple (four years ago), and the completion pancreatectomy. Nonetheless, there are care issues (especially management of BG levels) specific to pancreatectomized diabetics that they were not familiar with.
I'm doing great so far, using pump and CGMS, exercising religiously and being very careful.
HI- I am really happy to find your blog...I have suffered with pancreatic sphincter of oddi dysfunction which led to strictures and recurrent pancreatitis after many ercps...I am 38 and now facing surgery and am scared...Although there are many trials it seems, that everyone has been through this has had to go through, I am hearing it is well worth it. Everyone I have talked to will take insulin over the chronic pain associated with pancreatitis. It is THE WORST.. noone should have to go through that..and just the sterotypes that go with it " do you drink alcohol?" maybe that was my problem ! I didnt drink enough !( all jokes aside) In my quest for the right surgery i have had so many people tell me " YOu cannot live without a pancreas" and have even had to educate doctors and nurses.It seems not a lot of people are aware of this. Thank you for sharing your journey..It is helping me alot ! God bless
My daughter is 14 and had her gall bladder removed after 11 hospitalizations with chronic pancraetitis. We are under the care of a wonderful physician in Pittsburgh and recently returned after discussing total pancretectomy with islet cell transplant. She is not in pain in between episodes but the last hospitalization increased from 5 days to 10 days. Can anyone who has had this procedure speak to quality of life, complications, length of time to recover in the hospital and out? Successful for you? the decision and timing of surgery is ours. We're in the fact gathering stage now.
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