Need tips on eating to heal acute pancreatitis

[channlluv]

Long story, but tonight I am on my second day of NPO waiting for a mysterious fever to break. I've been in the hospital since 2am last Sunday morning when I though I had a bad stomach flu -- I'd been nauseous for a week before that. I even took a pregnancy test because it was that medium level nausea that never quite goes away. Negative.

So Sunday night I start throwing up over and over...bad stomach flu, maybe I can sleep it off. But I'm weeping from the pain and trying to get comfortable in the bathtub with a warm shower pouring over me. DH told me to decide whether he would call an ambulance or drive to the ER, but either way, I had five minutes to get dressed.

Fast forward a few hours and they've got me on pain meds and a diagnosis: acute pancreatitis and gall stones requiring immediate removal of my gall bladder. Pain level: 10, shifted to seven on the meds.

So long story, but I'm looking ahead and trying to figure out how best to heal my pancreas. Oh, and a partially collapsed left lung. I've been using the breathing thing often, and I'm doing the long walks around the floor, but when I get home and start eating food I prepare myself, what do I do?

Anyone been through it and have some tips?

Thanks!
Roxy, currently grieving of the total loss of fitness

[hebe]

oh no! I have no experience at all, but couldn't not post. I'm sure someone will be along with more help, but in the meantime be easy on yourself and best wishes for a full and gentle recovery.

[OakLeaf]

Aw ((((((((Rox)))))))) - I'm the same as hebe, nothing to offer but sympathy and hope that they get it sorted soon.

Won't they set you up with a dietitian?

In the meantime, I ran across this: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/p...tis-000122.htm - the University of Maryland site has been reliable for me in the past.

Take good care.

[redrhodie]

Hang in there, Roxy! That sounds awful. I hope you get to go home soon.

[Blueberry]

Good grief, Roxy!! I have no advice to offer - but hope that you begin to heal quickly and can come home soon!! Hugs!!

[Crankin]

I second the advice of a dietician. Do it while you are still in the hospital, if you can. Or at least, have them set it up. Your gastro doctor should be able to recommend one.
Take care of yourself.

[jessmarimba]

I hope you're feeling better and can go home soon!! Thank goodness your husband demanded that you go to the hospital - it's so easy to think that familiar symptoms have a familiar cause, when sometimes it can be just about anything.

[indysteel]

((((Roxy)))). How awful. I sure hope you're able to go home soon and that you have a fast and full recovery.

I would hope that your doctor will help you develop a diet. My understanding is that fatty food and alcohol are particular triggers, but beyond that, I don't know much about it. Good luck; please keep us posted!

[channlluv]

Thanks, friends. I've added "see a dietitian" to my list of things for the doctor for when he comes by this morning.

I would have to put the pain level right up there with childbirth. I don't ever want to go through this again. I feel like I've had close to a full system reboot and it's a good time to make those hard-to-adopt dietary changes that I've been wanting to do, but haven't because I've been caving into cravings. Now, I hope can remember this level of pain and what caused it and use that as motivation to complete the healthy life transition.

Thanks for the love and support.

Roxy

[Biciclista]

oh sorry to hear you are in such pain. You will be put on a low fat diet.

[maillotpois]

I'm so sorry!

DH had this - right after Thanksgiving as well, about 9 years ago. Echoing Indy's comment about triggers - I think that was a trigger for him, fatty food, etc. He was in the hospital a couple of days, no surgery and it doesn't sound like his was as bad as yours. His recovery was ok. He ended up losing 30 pounds after that over a period of about 6 months and it has never recurred.

[Owlie]

Gentle hugs, Roxy.

Gallstones can cause pancreatitis. You'll probably be put on a low-fat diet to deal with the gall bladder (or lack thereof). Beyond that, I don't really know. Heal quickly!

[emily_in_nc]

Wow, Roxie, so sorry! That level of pain sounds on par with the pain I had when I had to have multiple x-rays after fracturing my pelvis in a cycling accident. Even on morphine, I was screaming like an animal as they shifted me around. Fortunately, you can't really "remember" pain like that; I just remember screaming.

On the silver lining side, from looking at some of the links, it surely sounds like you may end up losing a fair or significant amount of weight from all this. Too bad to have to do it this way, though!

Keep us posted and hopefully you will feel much better soon!

Thinking of you,
Emily

[Jones]

I know nothing about diets I just wanted to add my good wishes for a full and healthy recovery.

[Dogmama]

Just wanted my wishes for a quick recovery.