Happy Birthday Jesus - Merry Christmas Everyone!

As you open presents and watch your loved ones enjoy Christmas remember to reflect on the true meaning of Christmas.

It isn't the presents you receive from your friends and family that are the important gifts. The important gift - the most important gift is the unconditional love given by God, His Son, His ONLY begotten Son given for you as an atonement for sin so that whomever believeth in Him should not die but enjoy everlasting life.

The true gift of Christmas is Love and Forgiveness through the birth, life, death (blood atonement) and resurrection of Our Lord and Savior, the true King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus Christ.

So as you make merry, eat, and enjoy Christmas Day don't forget to thank God for His most precious gift, Christ Our Lord.

Merry Christmas everyone!


The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-20 (NIV)

1 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. 2 (This was the first census that took place while[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) 3 And everyone went to their own town to register.

4 So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. 5 He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7 and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

15 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

16 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. 17 When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, 18 and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. 20 The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

Pancreatitis Remedies: 5 Pancreatitis Remedies I Use

My pancreatitis remedies (I personally use what I'll share with you) may prove helpful in your journey to overcome pancreatitis because in 1979 I was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. I also know that you are probably still suffering if you haven't discovered the pancreatitis remedies that I was able to find. So ...

I KNOW the suffering you are experiencing with acute and chronic pancreatitis because I have experienced similar agony which enables me to have a pretty good idea of what your suffering may be like as well. I also understand your need for pancreatitis remedies, simple remedies for pancreatitis you can do at home and which seem to work, at least they have worked for me and will hopefully work for you too.

It took awhile to find a doctor that even knew anything about pancreattits but, after 7 ER visits and consulting 6 other doctors of various experience and specialties (GP, IM, GI)I finally achieved success with doctor #14 who gave me a firm diagnosis of Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis.

After diagnosis I was given medications to slow digestion (robinul), relieve nausea (compazine) and to help with pain (demerol). I found through experience that demerol did absolutely nothing to help with the pain of an Acute Pancreatitis episode, at least it didn't do squat for me.

I stumbled upon Ibuprofen one night while in a painful acute pancreatitis attack. How Ibuprofen releived the pain

Since demerol didn't do anything to help and Ibuprofen stopped the pain I told Dr. Langdon and he gave me a script for 800 mg tablets of Ibuprofen.

Unfortunately nothing was stopping the Acute Pancreatitis episodes from occurring. I had quit drinking alcohol (no I wasn't an alcoholic, I simply drank socially) but that wasn't enough. That simply eliminated ONE trigger and ...

I continued to have some extremely painful Acute Pancreatitis episodes and since being diagnosed Dr. Langdon had left to teach at a major Texas University and so I was left to the incompetence I had delt with previously via other doctors who couldn't even recognize and diagionose Pancreatitis let alone treat it so I was on my own.

I developed a lump just below my rib cage and my abdomen was extremely tender but I can't tell you with any certainty what that lump was because I never bothered to have it checked out. I should have, I imagine that may have been enough of a clue for an ER doctor to maybe order a CT scan to find out what it was but I had been subjected to such piss poor treatment previously that I didn't bother. I had Ibuprofen, which relieved the pain, actually it eliminated the pain of the acute attacks in about 60 minutes so I just didn't want to be bothered by those who didn't have a clue.

Dr. Langdon had told me, in a round-about way that I may be dead inside of 10 years and quite frankly with as many Acute Pancreatitis episodes I was enduring I thought he may have been generous in his time frame. The point is I didn't particularly want to die so I went in search of a way to stop the attacks and save my damn life. Below you'll find 5 Pancreatitis Remedies I use to stay pain free.

Pancreatitis Remedies

1) Ibuprofen and Aspirin. The first of the pancreatitis remedies I discovered was Ibuprofen and it was by accident during a painful acute attack. Of course the reason why Ibuprofen worked became clear once I found out from Dr. Langdon that it was an anti-inflammatory (pancreatitis is an inflamation of the pancreas). He gave me a script for prescription strength 800 mg tabs but it can be purchased over the counter in 200 mg tabs and is not addictive like morphine etc ...

Over the years I have discovered that 1300 mgs of aspirin (4 tabs) works as well as Ibuprofen and doesn't carry the risk of heart attack. However, aspirin does carry the risk of acidosis in those who are susceptible. I have also tried them in combinations such as 400 mgs of Ibuprofen and 650 mgs of aspirin. That worked too and the aspirin may help to reduce the risk of heart attack that NSAID's such as Ibuprofen carry. Both work to quickly eliminate the inflammation which inturn eliminates the pain so you may want to try them for yourself to see if they work for you.

Please note that the dosages I personally use for both Ibuprofen and aspirin are quite high. You should ask your doctor or pharmacyst if they think it is safe for you, with regard to your weight (weight has to do with possible toxicity), health and current medications (ask about adverse reactions or potential interactions), to take those amounts and if they will cause any adverse reactions with other meds you might be taking.

One other thing - I only consume Ibuprofen and aspirin in those amounts to stop acute pancreatitis. I do not take either one on a daily basis.

2) Pancreatitis Diet. The next of the pancreatitis remedies I found (through research) was to eliminate the fat from my diet. Dr. Langdon had already told me to eliminate alcohol which was no big deal to me because I only had wine with dinner on ocassion and drank beer when shooting pool or on a hot summer day. I wasn't an alcoholic, that wasn't or isn't the reason I have Pancreatitis. Anyway ...

Fat is the enemy. Eliminate fat (red meat, pork, lamb, duck and anything made with those meats including soups and broths, anything greasy such as deep fat fried foods, potato chips and anything else that has a high fat content, cooking and salad oil) from your diet and you should see some relief from pain and nausea.

What you have to clearly understand is that food is NOT your friend when you have Chronic Pancreatitis. This is a very important lesson to learn: If your pancreas is inflamed, you have pain - DO NOT eat. If you have nausea DO NOT eat.

Those two symptoms are HUGE signals that Pancreatitis victims need to heed. Nausea and pain signal that your pancreas ain't happy. IF you continue to piss it off you are going to pay so - get smart - Do NOT eat when you have nausea, pain or both and eliminate what I call "triggers" from your diet.

3) Grapefruit Juice. Ok, began drinking grapefruit juice by total accident, maybe Divine Intervention because I have had so many Acute Pancreatitis episodes that Dr. Langdon had already told me I should be dead and then continued to have some real bad ones after his diagnosis but those AP episodes STOPPED after I started drinking grapefruit juice.

I didn't match the grapefruit juice consumption to the elimination of my AP episodes until a shortime ago when I found research that suggests it was the grapefruit juice that stopped the AP and protected my pancreas from further damage.

It turns out that grapefruit juice contains polyphenol flavonoids that may be responsible for its healing capability. Anyway, I started drinking large amounts of grapefruit juice and my AP episodes simply stopped. Then I discovered another of my pancreatitis remedies.

4) Grape Seed Extract. I discovered grapeseed extract in 1994. In fact that is when I learned about OPC's (Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins). OPC's are found in many fruits and vegetables but are found in extremely rich quantities in grape seed extract. The seeds from red grapes are full of OPC's so wine is a great source but if you have Pancreatitis alcohol is not your friend so the next viable option is grape juice or in order to obtain the amounts needed to see the benefits I now experience grape seed extract is the source of choice. Grape seed extract is also non-toxic.

5) Curcumin. The next of my pancreatitis remedies I discovered was curcumin. Curcumin is the most prevelant curcuminoid found in the spice turmeric. Curcumin is also a very strong, natural anti-inflammatory with capabilities of relieving pain and inflammation running close to NSAIDs such as Ibuprofen. Curcumin like grape seed extract is non-toxic.

I also use pancreatic enzymes to help with digestion. I do NOT use prescription type enzymes because I hate prescription drugs. They have far more side effects, some lethal (depending upon the drug) and quite frankly I have found that natural, non-toxic supplements work better and are safer. In fact, approximately 100,000 people die each year from the toxic side effects of prescription drugs but in contrast very few people even suffer side effects from natural supplements let alone die from them. However ...

When first beginning to use grape seed extract and curcumin for pancreatitis you may experience flu like symptoms (headache, diarrhea, nausea and in bad cases vomiting) caused from "cleansing." If your body is extremely toxic due to your lifestyle (you eat junk food, smoke, drink, don't exercise, do not use antioxidants) the side effects you may experience are due to kidney and liver overload, the grape seed and curcumin cleansing those toxins from your body and ...

The more toxic your body is, the more unpleasant your experience may be. For this reason it may be beneficial to start out slowly with 50-100mgs of grape seed and 400 - 500mgs of curcumin per day and increase it weekly until you notice relief from pain and other symptoms.

Because Pancreatitis causes malabsorption (your intestines may not absorb the necessary nutrients your body requires) and due to the elimination of a lot of foods from a diet for pancreatitis it is also necessary to take a QUALITY vitamin-mineral supplement.

Well, there you go, you now have the 5 Pancreatitis remedies I use to stay pain free and be able to function almost as well as I did before I became real sick. If they help you please let me know. If you have questions feel free to ask and I'll do my best to help.

If you suffer from Pancreatitis, I hope today you have a pain free day.

Pancreatitis Supplements and Their Potential Cleansing Effect

My Pancreatitis Regimen contains supplements: Vitamin C, grape seed extract and curcumin. I may have dropped the ball in regards to alerting those who begin using them as to the potential "cleansing effect" one may experience and ...

It can be somewhat unpleasant for those who have a toxic body.

Since all 3 supplements are antioxidants they have a tendency to "cleanse" the body of toxins. When this cleansing happens to rapidly for the kidneys and liver to handle unpleasant symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, even vomiting can occur. Because of this fact ...

It may be prudent to begin with small doses and build up gradually to where you are taking enough to eliviate your symptoms of pancreatitis.

I was lucky. I started with large amounts of vitamin C and grape seed extract and to my knowledge did not suffer from the "cleansing effects" that some may experience but then I was still somewhat sick even though I hadn't had acute pancreatitis in quite sometime. So, since I still had bouts of minor pain (non AP), nausea, and sometimes diarrhea anyway I may have simply overlooked any side effects due to cleansing. But ...

You need to be aware of the potential side effects of starting off with large doses due to the cleansing capabilities of vitamin C, grape seed extract and curcumin.

I guess what I am saying is that if you start off with 800mgs of grape seed extract (200mgs 4x per day) and 3 - 4000mgs (1000mgs 4 x per day) of vitamin C like I did you may expeince some unpleasant flu-like symptoms and if they are to unpleasant you should stop the supplements until the symptoms resolve and then start in slowly with much smaller doses and gradually increase the amounts until you find relief from your symptoms of pancreatitis. You may still experience some "cleansing" side effects even at smaller doses if you are extremely toxic but they should resolve once your system is cleansed. Buy the way, this cleansing cycle could take a few weeks. And then ...

There may be those who just do not tolerate larger doses of antioxidants such as vitamin C, grape seed extract and curcumin which would be unfortunate because they have been extremely beneficial for me and some others as well now that I have shared my little secret.

I would have shared what I found that worked for me much sooner but quite frankly until several months ago I didn't even realize how many people suffered from pancreatitis. Like I have mentioned before, when I was extremely sick the majority of doctors I saw didn't even know what the hell to do or what I had so I pretty much thought I was some freak of nature. And ...

I found what to do mostly by pure luck some would say but I believe I had a Guardian Angel and a lot of Divine Intervention that kinda led me to learn and find what I needed to survive.

I am simply repaying a debt by sharing. IF you find this information helpful you can "pay it forward" by simply sharing with someone else who suffers - what you learn and proves to be beneficial to you.

If you are new to this pancreatitis blog you may want to invest some time reading various posts - some are redudndant - read them anyway. It sometimes takes a few "readings" for stuff to "sink in."

Here are some important previously posted thoughts of mine:

1) Acute pancreatitis Pain Regimen

2) Pancreatitis Diet

3) Pancreatitis Food Diary

4) The KEY to Overcoming Pancreatitis

5) Grape Seed Extract for Pancreatitis

6) Grapefruit Juice for Pancreatitis

7) Alcoholic Pancreatitis and WHY You Need to Quit Drinking

8) How to Avoid Acute Pancreatitis During the Holidays

If you have questions regarding Pancreatitis or something you'd like me to write a blog post about please let me know. I'll answer any question or request to the best of my ability.

Have a pancreatitis pain free day!

Chronic Pancreatitis Diet: A Food Diary IS Necessary

In order to discover the true food triggers for acute and/or chronic pancreatitis pain a food diary is an absolute must. Without taking the initiative and time to create a food diary and log every morsel of food and drink that passes your lips and travels into your digestive system you will never be able to distinguish between what is and what isn't actually causing you pancreas pain and discomfort.

Many people believe that this or that antagonizes their Pancreatitis symptoms such as pain and nausea and for some, certain foods other than simply fats and alcohol may be to blame and I say may be, tongue-in-cheek, because there is only ONE possibility that my limited 137 IQ can recognize as a reason WHY you may not tolerate foods I do or visa versa and quite honestly I have real reservations in this regard concerning most pancreatitis sufferers, but ...

That ONE reason is your amount of pancreatic damage, where that damage occurred and how it has affected the enzyme production of your pancreas.

In order to truly KNOW what foods DO and do NOT cause YOU problems you'll need to begin using a pancreatitis diet food diary otherwise you are simply guessing or relying on one blind person (doctor, nutritionist, your buddy down the street) leading another (you). Now ...

There is a right way and a wrong way to begin your quest.

Unfortunately what I am going to share with you in regards to preparation, just to begin your food diary journey, may not be possible if you have become diabetic due to acute or chronic pancreatitis. So in the case of diabetics, you folks will need to improvise and I'll cover that AFTER I share what non-diabetics might consider doing first.

Pancreatitis Food Diary Preparation For Those Who Are NOT Diabetic.

The ONLY way you are going to find out the truth about what foods and/or drinks should be allowed or disallowed in YOUR pancreatitis diet is to keep a food diary and ...

The first step is to BUY a diary or notebooks to log every morsel of food you put in your mouth each and every day for a very long time.

How long?

Long enough for you to know what foods work and which foods do not work for you.

The second step is to prepare your system. This is an extremely vital step. Without this step it will take WEEKS to clear out KNOWN triggers such as saturated fats from beef, pork and so on and IF you do NOT prepare your system in some way you may as well continue doing what you are doing because you'll never know the absolute truth. Without a completely clean intestinal tract you will always be guessing and this preparatory cleaning can only be done properly by FASTING for 3 - 5 days, no food, just water and then ...

The third step is to clean out your digestive system (small intestines and colon) via a water enema or five or 10 whatever it takes to become completely empty and clean (don't use laxatives or colonoscopy prep solutions) and then ...

Once your system is cleaned out you can begin re-introducing food to your pancreas.

I know that sound gross but here is WHY it is necessary.

You've been eating foods such as red meat and pork which take weeks in some cases to digest and eliminate. In order to truly know what foods cause you pain and/or nausea and discomfort you must first eliminate all offending food from your digestive system.

So lets say you become very determined and really want to know the truth about your condition and what foods cause Pancreatitis pain and more importantly lead to more pancreas damage.

You FAST (no food by mouth for 3-5 days).

You drink lots of water to stay hydrated.

Then ...

You enemize your system and get clean.

Now, I am betting that after 5 days of fasting (no food) that your pain may have resolved and you feel much better, maybe weak from no food, but I'll bet you have less and possibly no pain.

Introducing Food to Your Pancreas

Once you are clean you begin to introduce food to your system and you begin to develop your own pancreatitis diet. Now pay attention because this is important.

Start VEGAN. This means NO MEAT (NO beef, pork, lamb, duck, goose, chicken, turkey, fish or any mystery meat) and NO BROTH made with or even derived from MEAT.

NO FAT, NO OIL.

Introduce JUICE into your diet.

VEGETABLE juice.
(Buy a juicer and make your own or try low sodium V8)

Drink the same - exact juice for 48 hours then ...

Introduce another vegatable or fruit (ONE maybe two).

Eat it for at least 48 hours and drink the exact same vegetable juice.

Do NOT introduce more than two foods at one time. This goes for spices too. You have to be able to track how the new foods affect your pancreas and if you introduce to many at one time it will be difficult to figure out which is the offending food or spice. Even when introducing two at a time if you have problems you'll have to eliminate one at a time to figure out which is actually the offending culprit. It is best to introduce one new food or ingredient at a time.

Be careful when introducing processed foods. Just a slice of bread for example contains a myriad of ingredients rolled into one bite of bread and of course this is where it becomes increasingly difficult to determine the offending ingredient. Read labels, even on something that would seem to be as harmless as bread because bread makers sometimes use lard and lard is usually PORK FAT, sometimes it is made from beef fat. Neither are a good thing. Got it?

It is better to cover foods in a manner that you test ingredients first, one at a time before launching into processed foods.

Yes, this is and will be time consuming.

Yes, it is tedious.

But, the benefits are astounding. And ...

Yes you have to use common sense in a lot of situations in order to figure out why a processed food may be offensive.

Read labels very carefully.

100% fat free on the label means NOTHING.

Ingredients are EVERYTHING.

I don't care if the label says 200% fat free if the food contains bacon (bacon and bean soup) it will most likely cause you problems.

Labels lie.

People lie.

Ingredients don't lie, bacon contains fat, bad fat.

If a food is offensive it can almost always be traced to some form of fat or alcohol. Baked goods for example use vinilla extract and lard (we've covered lard earlier) in many recipes (breads, cookies, cakes, pies). Vinilla extract, used by most bakeries and bakers, contains alcohol. And ...

Alcohol is so toxic to the pancreas that just a little in that vinilla extract could set off your next acute pancreatitis episode or at least make you nauseous and with continued usage cause AP. The good news is that you can now buy gluten and alcohol free vinilla extract for your own baking, check amazon.com for alcohol free vinilla extract.

Once you have a balanced VEGAN diet and no symptoms you'll thank yourself for having the wherewithall to have followed through on your pancreatitis diet food diary but ...

You aren't done.

It is a continuing process.

Once you have a fairly large VEGAN food profile then you can begin adding ONE protein, like eggs for example, to see how they work. Egg whites are safe and a good source of prtein and vitamin B12 but egg yolk contains some fat so you need to test a whole egg to see how it works for you. In fact ...

TEST EVERYTHING to be safe. So ...

When you begin this portion of the diary go slow.

Remember it takes quite some time to digest animal type proteins so when you introduce one (milk, eggs, fish, cheese) do so slowly and give each at least a couple weeks worth of testing before thinking it is a safe choice for your pancreatitis diet.

I'm not even going to suggest testing red meat, pork, lamb or duck because all are so filled with fat that if you sneak by one time you'll be lucky, if you sneak by for 3 - 4 times, without any symptoms within one - two weeks you'd be a notable scientific discovery.

If you notice I say to give things anywhere from 48 hours (veggies, fruits, whole grains like rice) to two weeks (proteins such as meat) for symptoms to show up. There is a reason for that and it is because despite what people (you, your doctor, whoever) think most foods and drink are not immediate triggers.

Some seem like immediate triggers when they are NOT triggers at all while others seem like they are harmless when in fact they are insidious culprits. Then there are those that will immediately trigger a negative response (AP) a few hours after ingestion yet not do so the next time. This is why so many people think the offender is something (collard greens) when it isn't.

... And it is this enigma or complexity that makes it so important that you get serious about your food intake and do a pancreatitis diet food diary.

Once you get serious and do the preparation and pancreatitis food diary correctly the guessing will cease because you'll KNOW, without a shadow of doubt, whether foods such as grapes (usually safe), additives like nitrites (usually safe and a common component of fresh vegetables), green bananas (usually safe when peel has NO spots), garlic, cayenne pepper, or some other spice (usually safe especially those mentioned because of their highly anti-inflammatory properties) are infact the offender OR if it was really that piece of red meat slathered in gravy you ate two days ago that was the real culprit and cause of your pain.

Instead of blaming that bowl of sliced apples, oranges and grapes you had an hour ago you'll know that the real bad guy was the steak from last night or that pot roast when dining at Grandma's last Sunday just catching up and grabbing you by the midsection. And of course if you still drink alcohol you should simply put a pillow between your legs and kiss your ass goodbye because you are playing with a damn bomb that is gonna explode.

By the way ...

If any of you folks reading this post or any portion of this blog think I am full of shit and that what I do won't work for you I challenge you to do what you think won't work after you read this post: My Pancreatitis Regimen May NOT Wrok for You?

Pancreatitis Pain and the Enema bag

I have been holding off on this home remedy for pancreatitis pain simply because it is embarrassing, gross and not real fun for most people but an enema may help relieve your pancreatitis pain.

The reason cleansing your intestinal tract helps is simple; it gets rid of the offending food items or at least a lot of it. It isn't to expensive either. What's the cost of an enema bag and nozzel? You have water on hand and so simply flush out your intestinal tract and you may see the pain resolve. By the way ...

It is a good thing to cleanse your colon every now and then but you don't need to buy some hokey-pokey concotion or use those dangerous to the kidneys phosphate cleansers they have you take before a colonoscopy. Just an enema bag and some warm water works like a charm and ...

If you arch your back and let that water seep into your small intestines (yep it is hard to hold'er in for awhile to let that water drain deep inside) you'll flush out even more of the offending foods.

I bet you are wondering how I know this right? Well, if you recall it took some time for me to get diagnosed and I was in agony on to many occassions so I'd do almost anything to help relieve the pain, nausea and so forth and a man can get quite resourceful when times dictate improvisation. Anyway ...

I found that cleansing my system with water until she ran clear would eliviate my symptoms. You may or may not want to give it a try but I can tell you this a series of enemas is necessary to properly prepare for your next journey which is doing a pancreatitis food diary - so go buy an enema bag if you don't already have one and get prepared for some kinky bathroom time because if you don't do this step your food diary will not be as successful as it needs to be.

N.A.I.M.E. and Pancreatitis Pain

N.A.I.M.E. (nonvasculitic autoimmune encephalytis) is associated with Pancreatitis pain and results from long term narcotic usage (pain management).

From what I have been able to gleen from reading up on nonvasculitic autoimmune encephalytis it seems that what happens is that (or at least this is what some docs are telling their patients) the nerves within the abdominal walls become altered in some way in so far as they begin to carry the pain messages instead of the nerves to the abdominal walls doing the task.

This syndrome, nonvasculitic autoimmune encephalytis, actually results in perceieved pain that actually doesn't exist within or come from the pancreas. If this seems hard to swallow I understand because it doesn't yet make sense to me either but nerves and the autoimmune system do some crazy things, especially when they go astray.

Mayo Clinic

You can Google "nonvasculitic autoimmune encephalytis" and do more research yourself but I warn you, there isn't much to go on and a lot of what is there is either in abstract form or requires you to pay a membership fee to a medical profession subscription for access.

I am NOT an expert on this subject and so I am only going to suggest that IF you have CP (chronic pancreatitis) and have been addressing the pain issue with narcotics for an extended period of time and your pain is increasing or not being relieved you may want to chat with your doctor about N.A.I.M.E. and find out exactly what you can do to resolve the issue. Of course ...

If you are still drinking alcohol and/or eating foods that trigger pain (AP/CP) you may want to consider changing your lifestyle, what you put in your mouth matters.

Pancreatitis - Idiopathic, Hereditary or Autoimmune?

Have you been diagnosed with Pancreatitis? If so, and I would imagine you or someone you hold dear has been diagnosed with Pancreatitis or you wouldn't be reading this blog - Do you know what caused your Acute pancreatitis and/or Chronic Pancreatitis?

There are a lot of reasons you may have Pancreatitis.

You could be an alcoholic. Alcoholism is the number one cause of Acute and Chronic Pancreatitis. But ...

That doesn't mean you have to be an alchy to have panc. You could have suffered gallstone pancreatitis because gallstones are the number two cause. And you could have suffered a severe abdominal trauma, hade a side effect from a drug such as Byetta (used to treat diabetes) or a complication of some sugical proceedure such as ERCP, OR ...

You could be just one of the lucky folks who suffer from hereditary pancreatitis. The term "hereditary pancreatitis" is used when an actual genetic defect is identified, such as Cystic Fibrosis. Of course your doctor will need to recognize the symptoms of pancreatitis and also know that one of the complications of CF is pancreatitis. Now ...

How on earth doctors were actually able to identify a genetic defect that caused pancreatitis when 13 out of the 14 I personally saw for my illness couldn't even come up with a diagnosis is beyond me. I have found that 93% of the doctors I have been privilidged to work with couldn't find their ass in the dark using a map and a flashlight, so - I would guess it was actually a scientist who discovered the potential of genetic defect causing pancreatitis.

Their is also familial pancreatitis and that term is used when it seems to run in the family but there is no clear-cut genetic defect. A good example would be "Familial hypertriglyceridemia" in which extremely high triglycerides run in the family and cause Pancreatitis. Then of course we have ...

Idiopathic pancreatitis. Idiopathic is used when the idiots can't find a reason you have pancreatitis and I believe the reason they can't find a REASON is very similar to the WHY behind the WHY they can't diagnose pancreatitis unless your pancreas jumps up, slaps them in the face and blatantly screams "Pancreatitis you moron!"

Welcome to "assembly line medicine" where if you don't drink massive amounts of alcohol or have a huge boulder (gallstone) that they can easily see blocking your common bile duct or your pancreas has simply turned into a glob of nasty goo from devouring itself so they can easily diagnose pancreatitis - why you simply don't have anything wrong with you and you are probably just in the ER to scarf some narcotics because ...

Everybody lies!

Everyone loves to visit the ER in order to have someone to chat with! I know it's my first choice in regards to an avenue to find new friends and of course get some good pain meds to get high. In fact I used to love sitting in some doctor's office or waiting room just to shake their germ infested hand and pay them MONEY to chat with me.

You too?

Damn! here I thought I was unique.

If you have had experiences like me and feel that most doctors have difficulty even diagnosing pancreatitis then wait till you ask them WHY you have it because ...

Unless you ARE an alcoholic or have gallstones or have been in an abdominal trauma situation (your pancreas is laying on the floor at their feet) or you can verify that your whole family has pancreatitis due to high blood fat levels (they draw your blood and yours are so high they hit 6 figures) chances are they won't know and for them to connect the dots to your ...

Autoimmune Pancreatitis, due to an autoimmune disease such as Celiac Disease, Sjorgren's Syndrome, Psorisis, Lupus, RA or a myriad of others is a real stretch of the imagination and their mental faculties. But ...

Who knows maybe you'll get lucky and your doctor will be very well read when it comes to autoimmune disease and their complications. But here is a peice of free advice. If you have Pancreatitis and your doctors have no clue why - have them check you for various autoimmune diseases.

Most autoimmune diseases are very difficult to control but you may get lucky and have Celiac Disease whereby (if you haven't had it for over 50 years before diagnosis) a gluten free diet may do wonders in eliminating your suffering from Pancreatitis. It may not cure it cuz there is no cure for Pancreatitis once damage is done but it could be of great help.

The Diabetes-Pancreatitis Breakthrough Awareness Night

Well it is a gloomy fall day here, looks like winter is coming soon but for those of you who suffer greatly due to pancreatitis, calcification of the pancreas or some other complication that may make healing unrealistic or almost impossible and you wish to know more about surgical removal, etc ...

I have just received notification of a live webcast you may want to register for in order to learn more about your options ...

"One of the world's leading transplant surgeons, Dr. David Sutherland who performed the first living donor partial pancreas transplant in the world in 1979, will be the feature guest speaker at the Diabetes-Pancreatitis Breakthrough Awareness Night. It is an educational event for not only for adults & children who have pancreatitis, diabetes or low blood sugar but also for medical professionals, caregivers, friends and families who are interested in learning more about the treatment options for pancreatitis and diabetes. Dr. David Sutherland, transplant surgeon and Dr. Melena Bellin, pediatric endocrinologist, will be explaining the latest and most innovative technologies to improve quality of life for patients affected by pancreatitis and diabetes. They will explain the before and after process of an islet cell transplant via an online webinar and will answer questions "LIVE!"

Register today by going to www.kidswhocareclub.org. Event brought to you by the Kids Who Care Foundation (www.kidswhocareclub.org) and the National Pancreas Foundation (www.pancreasfoundation.org). Pancreatitis support is available for pediatric patients and families at www.kidswhocareclub.org

Dangerous Information About Pancreatitis and What Is Ok To Eat

In the article (shown to me by a fellow pancreatitis sufferer) 7 Best Foods For Pancreatitis Diet the author, in their infinite stupidity, suggests that a pancreatitis patient drink red wine because it is full of antioxidants.

This is extremely dangerous information.

Alcohol is the number 1 trigger for Acute Pancreatitis.

Here is the comment I left:

________________________________________
The Health Guy says:
Your comment is awaiting moderation.

October 29, 2011 at 12:33 am

You probably won’t publish this because your information is incorrect, even dangerous because …

#1 – Nobody with pancreatitis should consume red wine. Alcohol is the leading trigger for acute pancreatitis and in suggesting that panc patient drink alcohol is almost crimminal. You definitely need to “bone up” on your knowledge of pancreatitis and what causes it and what can create more damage.

#2 – Yougurt is full of probiotics. There is research that indicates probiotics are not good for panc patients especially those suffering from acute pancreatitis. It can cause necrotizing pancreatitis and mortailty from NP is as high as 30%.
Here’s the research on probiotics: http://www.insidermedicine.com/archives/Probiotics_May_Increase_Risk_of_Death_in_Those_With_Acute_Pancreatitis_2192.aspx

I have pancreatitis. I have had it for over 30 years. I was first diagnosed in 1979 and I am one of the few who have probably survived this long and it wasn’t by drinking alcohol. If you or anyone else wants to really learn how to overcome pancreatitis and avoid more AP or CP pain and suffering go here: overcomingpancreatitis.com
_________________________________

Ok, that won't get posted but at least they know there are people who watch what is written out there.

I have shared with you before that there are blogs, static sites and even sites that are authored by "white coats" doctors that have some seriously dangerous information because they say things like alcohol or steak are ok to eat or used in moderation or some other stupid hogwash that may put you in serious jeopardy.

BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL about who you follow online in regards to any information about Pancreatitis. Most don't know shit about what is good in regards to a pancreatitis diet, what you should or should not eat, what eliminates inflammation or how to treat the disease appropriately in non-emergency situations. I am not saying to avoid the hospital when you are having or suspect you are having AP. However ...

IF you pay attention to what I do in regards to anti-inflammatories for pain resolution, MY pancreatitis diet and the supplements I use daily you will most likely avoid another episode of AP. I have had ONE episode of AP in 29 years and it was a nasty one but ...

It was my own fault for not paying attention, for not reading a label more thoroughly and as a result ingesting a potent trigger, pork.

Consuming alcohol as the above article suggests is just simply idiotic. The article also suggests eating yogurt. Unfortunately that may also not be a good thing as there is research that says probiotics increase AP death rate.

Again, be extremely careful who you follow or pay attention to in regards to what you should consume (food or drink) when it comes to pancreatitis because there is a lot of extremely dangerous information out there.

Stopping Pancreatitis Pain Requires Elimination of Pancreas Inflammation

Stopping pancreatitis pain requires the elimination of pancreas inflammation. The root of all pancreatitis pain is inflammation and/or the destruction caused by inflammation of the pancreas and if you do not eliminate the inflammation you will continue to experience pain, maybe horrible pain.

Stopping Pancreatitis pain can be done in several ways but there is only ONE way that makes sense to me and works and that is comprised of:

Stopping Pancreas Inflammation - Step # 1

NSAID's. Anti-inflammatories such as aspirin or Ibuprofen eliminate the pancreas inflammation quickly using large enough doses. Doctors use opiates to relieve pain which makes no sense to me because they are addictive and do NOT eliminate the inflammation of the pancreas. In fact there is a connection between acute pancreatitis and the use of opiates.

Fasting. NSAID's in combination with fasting, nothing by mouth except water, for 72 - 96 hours will most likely get the job done. Nothing by mouth (no food) is extremely important in order to rest the pancreas.

Grape Seed Extract, Curcumin and Grapefruit Juice. If you have grape seed extract, curcumin and grapefruit juice (these are the ONLY things by mouth other than water) I would use while in pain. All 3 have research that specifically points to their ability to stop pancreas inflammation AND actually protect the pancreas from damage.

_________________________________

I haven't tried grapefruit juice
during an acute pancreatitis
episode. So I can NOT tell you
the results but Ibuprofen (800 mgs)
stopped my pain where demerol didn't
even phase it. Once I learned about
grape seed extract and curcumin I
added those to help eliminate the
pain and inflammation.
__________________________________

Grapefruit juice is a double edged sword if you are currently on certain medications such as cholesterol medication so check with your doctor (pharmacist is even better for this) and ask if grapefruit juice will cause any adverse side effects and/or interactions with ANY medication you are currently taking.

I first started drinking grapefruit juice in in large quantities I believe 1981 or 1982 and my acute pancreatitis episodes stopped. I didn't connect the juice to the elimination of my acute pancreatitis but since writing this blog and creating a squidoo page about my experience with pancreatitis I found research that points directly to grapefruit juice as being the reason my acute pancreatitis episodes stopped. In fact ...

Maybe that is the reason my symptoms would disappear from time to time on previous occassions during my periods of illness. I have always drank grapefruit juice or eaten grapefruit for breakfast ever since I was a kid.

But not in vast quantities as I did when I started to drink it in place of beer while shooting pool and so forth. That makes me sound like I may have been an alcoholic but that isn't the case. I liked grapefruit juice so when I started drinking it in place of the alcohol that I'd normally drink under social circumstances I began drinking it all the time actually preferring it to water and quite honestly I don't know why I drank so much of it but ...

It was almost like I was compelled to drink the stuff so you who are like me, believers in God and angels, can come to your own conclusion because once I started drinking vast amounts my acute pancreatitis episodes stopped and healing began. I could tell you four other stories that lead me to believe I was led to the juice, personal experiences where I could have been killed but somehow survived but maybe some other time :-).

Keeping Pancreas Inflammation Away - Step #2

A nice juicy steak or any other red meat or pork, lamb, duck or anything containing fat, grease or oil, is NOT your friend or a food you want to eat when diagnosed with pancreatitis. And of course alcohol in any form is OUT.

If you want your pancreas to heal you should become a vegan for at least 6 months but as long as it takes until the pain, all pain including any abdominal tenderness is gone. A true vegan eats only vegetables, fruits, legumes (beans, lentils) and grains. NO animal products of any kind (NO meat, No dairy and nothing that contains them). But vegans prepare food and cook with oil, you'll need to eliminate the oil in vegan recipes.

So you eat like a very strict vegan who'll die if they consume oil and you continue to swallow grape seed extract, vit c, curcumin and as long as your pharmacist and doctor say it's ok you drink copious amounts of grapefruit juice and ...

Once your pain and any symptoms have completely resolved and you've been a good, strict vegan and supplement junkie for at least 6 months you can begin to consider adding some protein to your diet such as skinless boiled or broiled chicken (turkey works too) and poached white meat fish (halibut, pollack, bass, perch, crappie). And ...

If you want to stay pain free you never touch alcohol, red meat, pork, lamb, duck, butter, margarine or any other high fat, oily, greasy food and you'll continue to swallow your supplements and so forth for the rest of your life because you aren't cured, you are simply healed for the time being and will hopefully stay that way as long as you do what it takes to stay well because ...

This is important ...

One slip (miss something on a label)
One weak moment (you drink alcohol, have a steak)
One tiny screw up (eat fried potatoes cooked by someone else that contain oil, bacon fat)

OR

You eat anything that you shouldn't it is very possible you will find yourself in an actute pancreatitis attack and then you'll need to start all over and it may be worse than before because you may have more damage or, you just may not make it through the next one.

My hope for you is a long pain free life filled with happiness.

My Pancreatitis Regimen May NOT Work For You?

My Pancreatitis Regimen can be found outlined: here But ...

It may NOT work for you. It works extremely well for me but since everyone is different it may not work for you, however ...

UNLESS you have extensive damage and have cysts, most of your pancreas removed due to surgery for necrotizing pancreatitis (even someone with this kind of damage has experienced benefit) or a blockage in your pancreatic duct or some other weird, unfortunate circumstance such as pancreas divisum I would guess that 70% who actually do EXACTLY what I do will realize benefit.

I've had people tell me ALL my life that things I DO won't work or work for them. Let me tell you an "off topic" story as an example:

Years ago, while I was general sales manager of a small town car dealership I was holding a sales/training meeting in the conference room and was teaching telephone prospecting. Now, since I had come to that dealership brand new to the area and yet my first month had people walking in ASKING for me and buying cars and trucks you might think the morons (many had watch me sell cars my first month) in my class would easily accept what I taught but did they?

Oh no!

I had several tell me that what I was teaching WOULD NOT WORK!

So, I told Doug to slide the phone book to me, along with the phone. Then I gave the phone book to the first one who said it wouldn't work and asked them to pick a page in the book and I'd call some names.

"Pick a page, any of the white pages" I said.

Once he had done that I grabbed the phone and started calling. The whole sales crew watched and listened.

I made 5 calls and then asked the next person to pick a page and again I made 5 calls. Then I went to the next person and had them pick a page and I made 5 more calls and then I moved to the next and so on ...

I made 30 calls and kept my sales people along with the dealer in that conference room while I made those 30 calls.

Out of those 30 calls ...

1) I made 7 hard appointments (23%)
2) I received 2 referrals (good prospects to call)
3) Verified 30 names and addresses (mailing list follow up)
4) Introduced myself to 30 new, potential prospects (now or future)

So, as they all, including the dealer, looked at me like I was an alien I continued to explain the reason it wouldn't work for them is because ...

1) They never did it before or
2) Wouldn't try it or
3) If they did do it before it was only a variation of what I did, said, etc and NOT what I did EXACTLY the WAY I did it.

It is true, we are all different, unique but ...

Pancreatitis is NOT unique.

Pancreatitis is Pancreatitis.

There may be many reasons you have pancreatitis that vary from why I have pancreatitis. You may have pancreatitis due to gallstone obstruction or alcoholism or high blood fats or a toxic drug or pancreas divisum. Your damage may be different than mine. You may be older, younger, have more hair, maybe a different color of skin and eyes but let me ask you ...

Are you human?

Do you have pancreatitis?

If so, there is a very good chance that what I do will work for you as well because the basic disease or condition, pancreatitis, is pancreatitis. Pancreatitis hasn't changed, it hasn't mutated, there isn't a super pancreatitis that has become immune to certain alternative treatment and ...

If the disease is the same, you are human and I am human and we both have the same condition, pancreatitis, is it a reasonable assumption that if YOU did EXACTLY what I do that you just might possibly find relief?

I have an idea as to the answer but you need to draw your own conclusions. I'm no doctor, hell, I didn't even go to college or University. I'm just a guy who was diagnosed with pancreatitis, told I may live maybe another 10 years and am alive and pain free 22 years later than the prognosis.

If any of you folks reading this blog have questions be sure to ask in the comment section. I'll answer to the best of my knowledge which is limited.

Also if any of you have a story about how you became pain free, please share it with us in the comment section of any post you like that is relevant to that comment.

Important Pancreatitis Blog Comment Question - My Answer

For some reason blogger is not allowing me to respond to comments. Maybe they think I am a "spammer" :-) Anyway ...

Since there seems to be a technical dificulty lately I'll answer questions by posting the answers here until the problem is resolved.

Here's a readers question:

"I was wondering how long did it take you when you first started with the pills and everything to feel good and be able to resume normal activities. I know everyone is different but just curious. Thanks!"

My response:

I wish I could give you the answer you want but the truth is that it's been so long (1981) when I started drinking grapefruit juice and ...

I wasn't expecting any miracles so I do not recall how long it was from the time I started drinking grapfruit juice until my acute pancreatitis episodes diminished and disappeared.

I simply don't know.

I just started feeling better and as I have said before I didn't even recognize the significance of drinking grapefruit juice until I started reviewing my life with Pancreatitis and found research that said the juice was most likely the beginning of my healing then ...

In 1994, when I started taking grape seed extract and in 1995 when I added curcumin (I had been taking vitamin C for quite sometime - don't recall when I started) those 3, together with my strict diet healed me further and eventually even the abdominal tenderness disappeared.

I can't recall any acute pancreatitis episodes, pain or major symptoms after they disappeared while drinking grapefruit juice and then once I started with grape seed extract and then added curcumin life just kept getting better. Except for ...

I've had a couple episodes due to "testing" to find out which, the diet or the "pills," were the significant factors and what I found out was that BOTH were extremely important.

The only other Acute Pancreatitis episode I have suffered occurred in either 2005 or 2006 (I didn't make note of the date) when I screwed up and ate pork. I didn't read the label on some "turkey sausage" and it turned out to be encased in "pork casings."

So, other than the "testing" and the "pork casings" incidents I have been pretty well and pain free for years. But ...

I am sorry to say I can NOT give you an exact time period from start date to "pain free" with either the grapefruit juice or the grape seed extract and curcumin. But here is what I do know for a fact ...

If, knowing what I now know, I had to start over and stop the acute attacks and begin healing I would do this:

1) Go completely modified vegan (which I did) and by modified vegan I mean a vegan (strict vegetarian - no animal meat or dairy) who does not cook with oil or fats.

2) Drink grapefruit juice daily until my teeth began to float.

3) Take vitamin C, grape seed extract and curcumin (at least 500mgs of each daily).

4) Ibuprofen or aspirin for bad pain when needed (this is like when an acute attack comes on and of course I do not eat when I have pain)

and ...

I would keep doing the above until I was well.

Once well (no pain, no nausea, no abdominal tenderness) I'd simply keep drinking grapefruit juice daily (not as much maybe once or twice a day) and religously take the vitamin C, grape seed extract and curcumin daily for life.

I'd then try some animal protein (fish, chicken, turkey, rabbit, squirrel, pheasant, grouse, quail, eggs, cheese, milk) to see how it was tolerated. I can eat all those things now in small or reasonable amounts.

I still do NOT tolerate oil real well so I need to watch the consumption of oil (salad dressings, bakery goodies etc). I can eat some, just a little at a time and not all the time.

So, I am not cured and neither will anyone else be cured, but, life is much better than it was during those horrible years before the acute pancreatitis attacks stopped.

I know this isn't exactly what you asked for in terms of an answer but I can't give you specific time periods because I simply don't remember - a lot of it I don't WANT to remember.

Food and Pancreatitis: Got Pancreatitis Pain? No Food!

I am finding I am different than most people who suffer from Pancreatitis pain, whether acute or chronic.

In previous posts I mentioned NOT eating when you have pancreatitis pain. In fact I said nothing by mouth except water until the pain resolves.

That didn't mean noodles, rice cakes, tomatoes, Ensure, or jello were good to eat when pain was present.

That meant I eat nothing, nada, zip, not one damn thing except vitamin C, grape seed extract, curcumin and water until the pain resolves and then ...

Once the pain has been gone for at least 72 hours (3 days) juice such as V8 low sodium could be consumed (it is loaded with nutrients) or if you have a juicer create your own veggie juice using tomatoes, spinach, watercress, beets, celery and garlic. Then ...

If you have no symptoms on juice for another 48 - 72 hours then try small amounts of food such as brown rice and veggies to see how things go.

I never once mentioned that drinking Ensure was a good thing. It contains milk and/or milk solids such as whey (FAT), canola and corn oil. Did I mention OIL is NOT good? If you want to continue having pain drink Ensure.

What CP victims need to understand is that food is NOT your friend and most foods that normal people eat will do nothing but piss-off your pancreas.

You will most likely NOT die from starvation in one week - it usually takes much longer to die from lack of food and ANYTHING with fat or dairy should be avoided - when you have pain. When you have pain ALL food should be avoided - period.

BIG NOTE: If it is NOT VEGETABLE or FRUIT or freshly cooked whole grain in origin it is not good to consume until your pancreas has healed.

That means nothing that is processed.

Processed foods (prepackaged) all contain ingredients and ...

I don't care what the label says regarding fat content, it could say fat free but the ingredients say OIL (palm, coconut, peanut etc) and that is NOT fat free.

OIL is fat.

Margarine is fat.

Milk is fat.

Milk solids contain fat.

ALL meat contains fat.

Broth, unless totally veggie in origin, contains fat.

Fat is the enemy.

Alcohol is the enemy. And ...

If you are currently experiencing pain FOOD is the enemy.

The pancreas needs to "rest" until the pain resolves and has been resolved for at least 72 hours (3 days).

That could mean a WEEK without food.

Whatever it takes.

Unless you are diabetic or have some underlying metabolic problem fasting should not be a problem in fact it is the ONLY good thing that doctors do in the hospital for Pancreatitis patients - they take away the food.

Got pain?

NO food!

I have went weeks on only veggie juice (when I was really sick) and I mean AFTER the pain resolved yet I still did not feel well.

People with CP (Chronic Pancreatitis) need to learn that food is NOT your friend, especially when you have pain. Pain should tell you that your pancreas is NOT happy. If you keep pushing food onto your pancreas, when you already have pain, you will eventually pay and the price could be high.

SHZX9D8MKU6K

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Living With Pancreatitis Pain?

Living with Pancreatitis pain is not something I wish to do nor did I want to live with pain years ago when I was very sick with Pancreatitis. It simply wasn't something I wanted so ...

In order to overcome the pain of Pancreatitis I looked at what Pancreatitis actually IS.

I know I have covered this before and I also realize that you probably know what Pancreatitis IS but what we are going to do is review because repetition is the mother of invention or in this case the teacher of truth and enlightenment.

Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas.

It doesn't matter what the cause is, it is the meat of the problem we are going to address and the meat is inflammation.

Eliminate the inflammation and two things happen.

1) The pain subsides.

2) Further damage is prevented.

The pain of Pancreatitis is caused by two factors:

1) Swelling of the pancreas due to inflammation

2) The pancreas devouring itself due to backed up enzymes (this is what causes the major damage)

The swelling can be relieved, diminished and resolved by eliminating the inflammation and the digestion and/or destruction of the pancreatic tissue by pancreatic enzymes can be resolved by also eliminating the inflammation in a majority of cases however ...

Some situations will not see total resolution simply by the elimination of inflammation because there may be underlying circumstances that need to be rectified first before the inflammation can be completely resolved. For example:

1) If a gallstone is stuck in the common bile or pancreatic duct the stone obviously must be removed before the inflammation can be totally eliminated.

2) If there is some other underlying cause which blocks the flow of enzymes such as an obstruction in the pancreatic duct due to scar tissue, fibrosis (as in cystic fibrosis), a tumor, a cyst or some anomaly.

3) An autoimmune disorder which may or may not be able to be controlled.

4) A hereditary disorder such as hyperlipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia (high blood fats) very difficult to control or cystic fibrosis which has no cure and becomes progressively worse.

5) Alcoholism is a common cause of pancreatitis that of course needs to be addressed and overcome before healing can take place.

And so, unfortunately, there are certain complications that could result in the inability to permanently resolve the inflammation without removal or repair of the the underlying cause which may or may not be possible to accomplish.

Obviously, in my case, I was extremely lucky and seem to have suffered no lasting complications or damage and I certainly can not commend the medical community for this stroke of luck due to 7 ER visits and 6 other doctors with no diagnosis and certainly no resolution.

I must have had an Angel riding on my shoulder because doctor #14 told me "You are lucky to be alive" when he was able to gather all the information and facts from various tests and observations to make a difinitive diagnosis.

Once the diagnosis was achieved the healing began but the healing was not achieved quickly. In fact, it was mostly due to a lot of luck (Divine protection) in the beginning, then, research, trial and error and more luck (Divine protection).

When I look back, I have no idea how I survived. Whether you believe or not my survival had to be due to God's love and the protection of Angels sent by Him to help me live through one horrible nightmare. And why He chose to help me survive I have no idea.

Maybe it was so I could share what happened and what helped me so that you too may be able to receive help and relief from pain.

I don't know.

You figure it out.

What I do know is that for some reson I started drinking grapefruit juice.

Lots of grapefruit juice.

I was told I could no longer drink alcohol (man I miss a cold beer on a hot summer day at times) and when I started drinking grapefruit juice the Acute Pancreatitis episodes disappeared. Of course I had cut the mjority of fat from my diet at that point as well but ...

Since I have recently found where grapefruit juice seems to stop acute attacks I must conclude that it was grapefruit juice that began my healing
and ...

I can NOT take credit for discovering grapefruit juice.

It was something I was led to drink.

No research.

Nobody said "hey this will help."

I just started replacing alcohol with grapefruit juice. I'd hit the bar (all timeshare resorts have bars) after work and drink grapefruit juice with my fellow associates or while shooting pool.

People would ask me what I was drinking and I'd say "grapefruit juice" and they'd make a sour face and weird noises and ask me "How can you drink that stuff?" and I'd just tell them I liked it.

I did.

It went down easy, didn't get me drunk and I drank a ton of it.

Why did I choose grapefruit juice in 1981 when there was absolutely no research on it as far as pancreatitis was concerned?

I have only one thought on that.

You figure out what it might be.

Now, 30 years later, I find that grapefruit juice stops acute pancreatitis. And ...

Back then it did stop mine.

It did NOT totally heal me but it did stop the acute attacks and that was one big benefit. I'm almost positive it was the GFJ along with low fat diet since there is now research that points to GFJ as a major Acute Pancreatitis arrestor.

So, if you want to prevent Acute Pancreatitis try Grape Fruit Juice or better yet ...

Grape seed extract, vitamin C and curcumin because those are the 3 supplements I started taking that eliminated all pain, abdominal tenderness and stopped the Acute Pancreatitis episodes from happening and have protected and healed my pancreas.

Leave a comment and let me know you're alive!

Living with Pancreatitis and Overcoming Pancreatitis

Living with Pancreatitis can definitely be a challenge for people who suffer with this condition. Those who have hereditary issues such as Familial hyperlipidemia or Familial hypertriglyceridemia (high blood fats) or an autoimmune disease which causes their pancreatitis or those who suffer with another genetic disorder called cystic fibrosis will most likely experience the most frustrating challenges simply because there is an underlying condition that needs resolution (which may or may not be possible) in order to completely resolve the condition called Pancreatitis.

The resolution of the underlying condition may not be possible as is the case in those born with cystic fibrosis and it seems that Pancreatitis caused by high blood fats is not easily controlled either. Those suffering with autoimmune pancreatitis may be able to find resolution if they are able to control the autoimmune disorder such as the case found in Celiac Disease whereby a gluten free diet may be of great significance in regards to overcoming pancreatitis. However ...

If the pancreas has suffered damage due to Acute Pancreatitis episodes there will most likely be the resulting chronic pancreatitis that must also be resolved in order to achieve relief from pain and other symptoms while also lowering the risk of continued pancreatic damage and cancer due to long term inflammation of the pancreas.

This is where a strict pancreatitis diet and helpful supplements such as grape seed extract, vitamin C and curcumin come into play.

Grapefruit juice and/or grapefruit seed extract may also be of benefit however it is important to note that consumption of grapefruit juice and/or grapefruit seed extract has been linked to a 36% increase in breast cancer among postmenopausal women yet another study indicates that the first study may be erroneous. However ...

Grape seed extract and curcumin do NOT have this link to cancer and in fact show just the opposite in regards to positive potential. Both grape seed extract and curcumin have shown definite ant-cancer potential including the ability to promote apoptosis (programmed cancer cell death). This fact ...

Would clearly indicate there is potential benefit to be realized, for those who suffer from any form of pancreatitis, by integrating grape seed extract and curcumin into their daily wellness regemin.

For those who suffer from the more common forms of pancreatitis such as gallstone pancreatitis, alcoholic pancreatitis or idiopathic pancreatitis or that which is suspected of being caused from abdominal trauma I am convinced that due to my own experience overcoming both Acute Pancreatitis and Chronic Pancreatitis can be achieved via a strict pancreatitis diet and the above mentioned supplements. Of course ...

Resolution of pain and symptoms will not be achieved over night. It may take weeks to months to see significant results, depending on the amount of damage already sustained but with complete discipline and due diligence I firmly believe most victims of chronic pancreatitis will see major benefit via diet and supplements. It is important again to note ...

There will not be the complete resolution of pain, symptoms and potential risk of disability and death as in the case of alcoholic pancreatitis unless the person suffering determines it is in their best interest to completely quit drinking. Alcohol is of course completely out of the question for anyone who suffers from any form of pancreatitis and should be completely eliminated from consumption in any form.

In the case of gallstone pancreatitis it clearly is indicated that removal of the stones is needed in order to remove the risk of necrotizing pancreatitis and any additional acute pancreatitis episodes due to an obstruction of the common or pancreatic duct by a stone. This of course can only be achieved completely via surgery and removal of the gallbladder. Once the offending stones, along with the potential of recurrence, are removed then healing via diet and supplements may give the victim a more positive experience. SHZX9D8MKU6K

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Pancreatitis: Popular Diabetes Drugs Pose Risk

Popular diabetes drugs have been attributed to the cause of Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer. You can read one story here in U.S. News.

Another classic example of the FDA approving toxic poisons yet they harrass the supplement industry and if they have their way will take your ability to choose whether you want to use non-toxic natural supplements, herbs, or vitamins to treat your condition.

This has been happening fro about 10 years now, eversince the FDA became the puppet of the drug lords (Big Pharma). Prescription Drug User Fee Act

Our protective (sarcastic) FDA calculates the fees based on the expected work (applications etc) and the amount it wants to raise from the fees. For 2008 the application fees were :

1) If the drug company submitted a full application, requiring clinical data (that is bought and paid for by the drug company) the fee was $1,178,000.00; There are also establishment fees and product fees.

2) $589,000 per application not requiring clinical data or per supplement requiring clinical data.

Here's more about the Act from Wikipedia.

Our own Congress allowed the drug lords to grease the palms of those who are there to protect us and since this act was passed more drugs than ever before, that harm and kill people, have been approved by the FDA.

Toxic FDA approved drugs together with incompetent medical staff account for hundreds of thousands of deaths per year with Toxic drugs killing approximately 100,000 Americans yearly.

1) Death by Medicine

2) AlterNet

3) Dr. Mercola

4) Natural News

5) Pfizer

6) 100,000 deaths yearly (documentation provided)

7) Worst Pills

If you live in the U.S.A. I urge you to write your senator, congressman and governor and let them know that if they allow the FDA to continue to harrass the alternative, natural care and supplement industry that you will vote for someone who will keep the FDA at bay and unable to take your ability to choose.

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Pancreatitis: Eating Bananas When You Have Chronic Pancreatitis

Bananas are an excellent source of potassium. Many Chronic Pancreatitis patients find themselves with low potassium levels which can be dangerous because low potassium levels can cause many symptoms, some lethal. However ...

Bananas need to be eaten BEFORE they begin to spot. Spotting signifys the sugar in bananas is turning into alcohol and alcohol, even small amounts, is toxic to the pancreas. Over ripe, spotted bananas can cause Acute pancreatitis in those who suffer from chronic pancreatitis.

I learned this lesson the hard way. You don't need to but if you don't believe me do your research or better yet grab a ripe banana (one full of spots) peel it and sniff! You can smell the alcohol.

This also means that any food prepared with over ripe bananas (those with spots) such as fruit salad that contains bananas, banana bread, banana cream pie, banana pudding etc ... could be your next invitation to acute pancreatitis, even if you have diligently adhered to my pancreattitis diet and supplement regimen and even have healed with no signs of abdominal pain.

The only safe banana for us who suffer with pancreatitis is one that does NOT have even ONE spot on the outside peel. So be advised ...

Eat bananas but eat them when the peel still shows some green or there are absolutely ZERO spots and do NOT eat anything prepared with bananas that you didn't prepare after first inspecting the bananas used in the food.

Leave a comment and let me know you're alive!

Opioids Associated with Pancreatitis

Opioids are one of the class of drugs most strongly associated with Acute Pancreatitis. If your doctor has you on any form or derivitive of opioids such as morphine you may never heal your pancreas.

Isn't that a mind-blowing discovery?!

And it is absolutely correct.

Drug Induced Pancreatitis

This gives me even more reason to trust only me when it comes to healing my pancreas and overcoming Pancreatitis.

Anti-Inflammatories such as aspirin and Ibuprofen stop pancreatitis inflammation and the associated pain while opioids such as morphine mask the pain and increase the chances of another Acute Pancreatitis episode.

Ibuprofen is relatively safe (no drug is safe), isn't as commonly associated with pancreatitis, eliminates the inflammation which is the the cornerstone of the condition, reduces and/or eliminates the pain, reduces the resulting damage and is non-addictive yet doctors prefer to give their patients something that is actually commonly associated with causing Acute pancreatitis.

Aspirin does the same as Ibuprofen, eliminates the problem (inflammation) and has no association with Pancreatitis and no addiction history.

Go figure.

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Why Does My Child Have Pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis in children is rare but when I see this as a search term used by some parent, who I know is hurting, maybe even thinking it is their fault that their child has Pancreatitis, it breaks my heart.

Pancreatitis in children is rare but shit happens and ...

There are only TWO reasons I could ever see as a possible reason for a parent to feel it may be their fault that their child has Pancreatitis and that would be because of

1) Abdominal trauma due to a deliberate beating of the child resulting in severe abdominal trauma.

2) You were drunk (driving drunk or drugged) and created an accident that damaged your child.

Otherwise ...

A parent should never blame themselves.

Shit happens.

So let me address the question "Why does my child have pancreatitis?"

1) Trauma to the pancreas is a known cause in children. I myself was injured playing football. My folks, especially my mom, blamed themselves for my pancreatitis and that just isn't right. They were no more to blame than God. In fact, IF there is anyone who deserves blame it is me because I made a bad mistake. I didn't keep my head and body as low as I should have, which resulted in that abdominal injury.

2) Hereditary pancreatitis caused by a genetic predisopsition to cystic fibrosis or an autoimmune disease, hyperlipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia (high blood fats) are known or potential causes of childhood pancreatitis but ...

Even though the suspected causes in #2 are mainly hereditary that does NOT mean either parent is to blame. They could no more predict their childs illness or the possibility of pancreatitis due to their upline gene pool that I can jump over the moon.

Hell, most doctors can't even diagnose pancreatitis or know what causes it (most think it's only alcoholics that get pancreatitis) so why on earth would a parent feel responsible?

3) Medications. Some medications such as antibiotics and medications used for diabetes cause pancreatitis. It is interesting to note that one class of drugs most associated with Pancreatitis are opioids (morphine, etc...) yet docotrs prescribe them for pancreatitis pain instead of using anti-inflammatories such as Ibuprofen to reduce and eliminate the inflammation which is the direct cause of the pancreatitis pain and resulting injury to the pancreas.

4) Infections such as Mumps. If your child get mumps they amy also get Pancreatitis.

5) Abnormalities of the pancreas or intestine can cause Pancreatitis.

6) Idiopathic pancreatitis. There are many cases with no known or suspected cause. 15% of Acute Pancreatitis and up to 40% of Chronic Pancreatitis cases have no definite cause.

If your child has Pancreatitis I know you hurt, every time you see your child in agony it is tearing at your guts. The only thing I can suggest is to find a way to help them.

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More Questions About Pancreatitis That Need Answers

Here are more questions that come in the form of search keywords whereby people have found my Squidoo lens or this blog. Obviously if they are using questions as search terms they are looking for answers so to the best of my ability I am going to answer some more questions about Pancreatitis.

1) Can pancreatitis kill you?
Unfortunately yes, pancreatitis can and does kill people. Either the Acute Pancreatitis episode is so bad that they die of shock, organ failure or develop necrotizing pancreatitis which results in the death of about 30% of those who get it. If the damage done is bad enough they can still die of further complication.

2) Can chronic pancreatitis kill you?
Yes chronic pancreatitis can kill you. It can develop into acute pancreatitis of cancer of the pancreas. Many people with chronic pancreatitis eventually realize so much damage they suffer complications with lethal consequences or need to have their pancreas removed.

3) Can you get pancreatitis more than once?
Usually once is all you need to make it a lifetime experience of pleasure (that was sarcastic). There are some instances from what I have read where a patient has one mild attack and recovers completely but I doubt that holds true for the majority of cases. So in either case, whether this person is looking for an answer as to how many Acute Pancreatitis episodes you can have or if you have had one mild episode and were lucky enough to completely recover with no residual experience for say several years, can it occur again? In either instance the answer is yes.

4) How many mgs of grape seed extract for pancreatitis?
Here is the right answer: As many milligrams as it takes to find releief. Grape seed extract is non-toxic but it is so powerful in regards to eliminating free radicals and cleansing that large amounts can make you feel sick at first due to the overload of toxins flushed out through the liver and kidneys. It is best to start slowly with 50 - 100mgs 2 x per day and build up to the amount you need to begin feeling results as far as pain and nausea relief, due to the elimination of inflammation. In other words do not start with 1000 mg doses, start with 50 - 100mgs twice a day, then go to 3 times per day before you increase the dose in milligrams.

5) Why is it so damn hard for a gastroenterologist to diagnose chronic pancreatitis?
God only knows but I do have several thoughts on the subject.

A) They don't know how to diagnose. in other words they shouldn't be doctors because they simply don't have the combination of brains and common sense necessary to come to a correct diagnosis unless the condition jumps up and slaps them in the face. I've met doctors who couldn't diagnose an infected pimple on their own nose without a CT scan.

B) They don't listen because they don't care and are more concerned with when they get off to play golf or if it's time to bang some nurse.

C) They think patient's are stupid liars who have nothing better to do than waste their time because the patient is lonely.

D) They think they know what the patient's symptoms are better than the patient does and so disregards what the patient tell them.

E) They see to many patients in a day, are tired and can't think because they want more money.

Go ahead and pick one that fits the best for your circumstance.

6) Is it necessary to miss school with pancreatitis?
This has to be a parent asking, hoping their kid can go to school? I doubt if anyone who has had an acute pancreatitis episode would ask that question, of course I am assuming the patient feels ill? If the patient is ill and doesn't feel up to going to school they should definitely stay home because feeling ill is a BIG warning sign of impending Acute Pancreatitis.

7) Multiple mild acute pancreatitis doesn't lead to chronic
They don't? News to me. If the pancreas is damaged due to mild acute pancreatitis episodes it is going to become a case of chronic pancreatitis.

8) Is coconut oil good if you have chronic pancreatitis?
No. No oil is good when you have pancreatitis. The only exception is fish oil. Fish oil is highly anti-inflammatory but when your pancreas is inflamed it is not going to be a good thing to subject it to any kind of oil.

9) Do enzymes take the load off your pancreas?
Yes, enzymes are helpful for digesting food when you suffer fom pancreatitis and so they do in some respect help to take the load of producing enzymes for food digestion off your pancreas as long as they are the right enzymes.

10) Why do avocadoes cause me pancreatic pain?
Avocados cause pancreatic pain for the same reason fish oil may. Avocados are full of oil. It may be GOOD oil full of omega 3's and anti-inflammatory but an inflamed pacreas can not handle oil of any kind without reprocussions.

Ok, I'll answer more questions on another occassion.

I hope you have a pain free day.

Hypertriglyceridemia Leads to Pancreatitis

I have to be totally truthful in regards to hypertriglyceridemia leading to Pancreatitis. Until recently I didn't even know a cause of AP (Acute Pancreatitis) is hypertriglyceridemia or high blood fats.

Since I am one of those curious kind of males I started looking into just how hypertriglyceridemia caused or lead to AP and what I found is it seems common sense would dictate that a complete change in diet may help resolve the issue or a complete diet overhaul in combination with Niacin may do the trick.

I say it appears to be common sense because:

1) High fat intake leads to hypertriglyceridemia and so a low fat diet of fruits and vegetabls (the vegan thing) would eliminate the high fat from food sources.

2) Niacin lowers blood fats, that is why doctors prescribe prescription strength niacin (Niaspan) to lower cholesterol and blood fats.

3) ZERO Alcohol since alcohol can raise blood fats and is toxic to the pancreas.

If you have AP due to high blood fats and your doctor has not recommended Niaspan or a Niacin supplement you might want to consider asking him or her about niacin and of course changing the way you eat to a vegan diet for a time until your blood fats and AP resolve. Then you'd want to continue in a low, low fat diet plan unless of course you enjoy pain.

If your hypertriglyceridemia is hereditary (FAMILIAL) with no secondary cause diet and niacin may help but probably won't permanently reverse the problem.

The good news, if what I read is correct, is that high blood fats do not normally cause chronic pancreatitis. Now, I am not sure how this actually plays out because it would seem to me that Acute Pancreatitis will cause some form of damage and when there is damage, chronic pancreatitis usually follows, but ...

Like I said, I am totally new to hypertriglyceridemia and the resulting AP so if this is true or untrue I couldn't tell you. If you currently suffer from hypertriglyceridemia pancreatitis you would know much better than me what is true and untrue.

I have compiled a few pieces of research that may interest you and will post them so you can read about your situation and maybe discover some information you may not have.

Why Does Hypertriglyceridemia Lead to Pancreatitis?

Definition of Chylomicron

Issues in Hyperlipidemic Pancreatitis

Acidosis: A Potential Complication of Pancreatitis?

Acidosis appears to be a potential complication of Pancreatitis and in all my research not ONCE have I seen any authoritative site (medical) mention this possibility, acidosis as a complication, so I am going to give credit where credit is due and tell you that a fellow Squidoo member and pancreatitis sufferer who goes by the Squidoo handle of jopalei is to be credited with this discovery.

It appears that those who have suffered large amounts of damage and have diabetes as a result, compromised kidneys, liver, and/or lungs (possibly due to pancreatic enzymes traveling through the blood stream during an acute pancreatitis episode and damaging organs) or those who suffer with hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) due to diabetes or pancreas damage without diabetes may be those who are at most risk.

Shock, which can occur during an acute pancreatitis episode is also a cause of acidosis and so is aspirin poisoning.

Since aspirin may cause acidosis it may be more prudent to use Ibuprofen for Panctreatitis Pain, especially if you already have complications such as diabetes, hypoglycemia or compromised organs. And because of this fact I am going to definitely re-think my position on using aspirin for stopping acute pancreatitis. In fact, I am going to say it again ...

It may be prudent, in light of the fact that aspirin can cause acidosis, to use Ibuprofen for stopping pancreattitis pain. And again ...

Thank you jopalei for bringing this potential risk to my attention.

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Grapeseed Extract Benefits

This is going to be a short post about grapeseed extract simply because I have created a Squidoo lens with tons of information and research pertaining to Grapeseed Extract Benefits.

At my Squidoo page you can spend quite a bit of time reading about grapeseed extract and come to some very definite conclusions as to why I use it for Pancreatitis pain suppression and protection of my pancreas along with the hope of reaping other benefits as well.

I hope you enjoy the read!

Grapeseed Extarct Benefits

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Overcoming Pancreatitis Pain in Children

Nothing is more difficult for a parent than to watch their child suffer in agony and so I'll tell you what I would do if it were my child in pain due to Pancreatitis.

This is only what I would do.

You have to do what you think is best.

If it were my child in pain I'd give the regimen I use to stop the pain a try with some revisions.

1) Since young children should not be given aspirin I'd check with my doc to find out how much Ibuprofen (motrin, advil) I could safely give my child based on age and weight.

I might also check with a pharmacist to verify.

If I were to check out the link to Ibuprofen and scroll down to over dose I'd see the amount necessary to cause problems in humans.

Problems can arise at 100mgs/kg so adjust accordingly.

1 kilogram = 2.20462262 pounds.

You can get liquid flavored Ibuprofen as Ibuprofen or Advil for kids at the drug store (Walgreens etc ...).

2) Grapeseed extract comes in capsules that most likely are difficult for young children to swallow so I'd want to break one open and add it to a clear juice, like maybe apple juice and have my child drink it fron a sippy cup. Now the dosage is another challenge and I would guess using the ONE milligram per pound of body weight guidline for optimum saturation a 10 pound child would only need 10 - 15 milligrams.

The problem lies in finding 10 or 15 milligram capsules.

I thought liquid grapeseed extract might work better so I may try to locate some liquid grapeseed extract, not oil, just liquid grape seed extract and make sure it isn't combined with or "tinctured" with alcohol or anything such as vinilla extract (contains alcohol) for flavor enhancement.

3) Curcumin. I'd also see if there were some 100mg curcumin capsules available. That way you could break one open and give it mixed in some juice with the grapeseed extract. The only liquid curcumin I found was mixed with alcohol and vinilla extract - BOTH - are big NO-NO's so that may not be a possible option. So I may have to use 500mg caps and wing it by breaking one open and splitting it into 5 somewhat equal shares (using a blade of some sort and a small mirror to create the eqaul shares).

I would imagine that the grapeseed and curcumin is going to taste pretty foul so chances are my child is gonna hate the stuff which may be the biggest challenge of all and that's why disguising it in some way (juice) may be a marginal solution.

If my child is old enough to swallow capsules easily that solves the problem of taste (looking over shoulder to see if my kid is old enough) but either way it is, in my opinion, essential to stop the pain and inflammation as quickly as possible to avoid pancreatic damage.

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