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.
I'm frustrated. Following your recommendations and feel like my pancreas is flared up. Not pain but like a burning, gnawing feeling that worsens with pressure applied. Praying everyday when I wake up it will be better. I think my bout of the flu last week is what set it off. I've increased my grapefruit seed extra... any other recommendations?
ReplyDeleteIf you have quit eating, taken 400mgs to 800 mgs of grape seed extract (spread over 3 - 4 doses) and 500 - 1500mgs of curcumin (500 x 3 = 1500) along with an anti-inflammatory until the BAD pain is gone - I can only suggest you keep consuming the grape seed extract, curcumin, add grapefruit juice (but find out if it will cause an interaction with any meds you are taking first) and drink copious amounts for like 30 days. I can NOT remember how long it took for me to feel well but it was NOT an over night thing. If you are NOT adhereing to a very strict vegan diet (no meat or animals products including broths and dairy) and excluding oil from cooking that will certainly not help.
ReplyDeleteIf you have gone completely vegan and are consuming the grape seed extract and curcumin in enough quantities it may STILL take months to recover completely. It may take less time or you may even be one who does not respond to what works for me. I must confess I have no idea why what I do wouldn't work for most people but it may not. Or they may simply give up (most people expect miracles in minutes) and for most miracles take place over time.
The ONLY thing that worked quickly for me was the high doses of anti-inflammatories for acute pain. But the healing took quite awhile. So, I guess you can either stick with it or quit. There is enough research (from qualified individuals) out there to easily suggest that continuing will bring benefit. I know for a fact that if you go back to eating what others tell you is ok and you stop taking the grape seed and curcumin it won't be long before you are back in the ER. I can almost guarantee that.
Thank you for the reply and I most certainly am not quitting and refuse to eat anymore than my v8 juice at the moment. I may need to increase my intake of grapefruit juice. I realize it may take a while. I guess I'm frustrated because before my bout of flu last week I was hardly having any pain at all and now feel I went backwards but I am definitely going to stick with it and beat it.
ReplyDeleteTomorrow I meet with my GI doc for the first time. He wants to do an ERCP but there is no way on this earth that I am letting him do that. I'd much rather let me body heal on its own as best as it can I do believe it will with time.
Thanks for your site. It truly has been my foundation for treatment.
I appreciate the thanks but it isn't necessary. I just hope you get better and that anyone who suffers with this crap (AP and CP) who reads this blog gets better too. You may want to increase the amount of grape seed extract and curcumin. One of the people in the support group, Simon Conabeer, has extensive damage and a a cyst. From what I understand he is doing better than he was. He takes a TON of grape seed and curcumin. He's mentioned he takes 1000mgs at a time of each. You may want to check with him about it to see if he will tell you how much he is taking and what his results are.
ReplyDeleteFrom what I can find grape seed extract and curcumin are both non-toxic and so is vitamin C and large amounts of grapefruit juice shouldn't pose a problem unless you are on some medication that it doesn't do well with such as Lipitor. I've taken 800mgs in a day of grape seed but I have never done 1000mgs at one time - so check with Simon to see if he noticed any side effects.
One other thing - drop the chcken broth. Even if the can says 100% fat free it isn't good for a pancreas that is inflamed. Instead make your own vegetable broth using potatoes, beets, carrots, onions, garlic, spinach.
Peel the potatoes and carrots and use the peels to make the broth. Just cut up the beets and leave the skins on. Beet greens are good to thrown in the pot too if there are any. The peels contain most of the nutrients. Cut up the rest of the veggies and put the pot on low simmer. DO NOT BOIL it. You just want the water fairly hot so that the minerals and vitamins leach into the water creating a vitamin-mineral broth. Add salt and pepper to taste. You can even add turmeric, cayenne pepper and ginger (anti-inflammatory spices). You'll have a nice spicy broth full of good nutrients that will help the healing of your pancreas.
Don't worry about losing weight. Your first objective should be to heal your pancreas. Once that is accomplished you can begin to add additional protein (skinless chicken, turkey and fish) to your diet which will help you gain back the weight.
And by the way, the V8 juice is a good thing, low sodium V8. It has more potassium than regular V8 which we CP victims can become deficient in and that isn't good either because low potassium can make you quite ill. The broth I just mentioned how to make will also contain a nice amount of potassium (potato and carrot skins, beets and spinach)
ReplyDeleteHello,
ReplyDeleteI've just found your blog and glad to read it. A link was posted in one of facebook's pancreatitis groups.
Just a comment, grapefruit juice can be a dangerous mix with several prescription medications. I know you've stated that this is what works for you, you're not a Dr., etc.. but you may want to note people should make sure grapefruit juice doesn't interfere with their meds before drinking it.
I'm one who can't take it (with the fentanyl patch and my anxiety med) but would certainly like to try your other suggestions. I've had chronic pancreatitis for 8 years now, have extensive damage, re-occurring pseudocysts, blockages and most of my pancreas is calcified. I'm willing to try anything to improve my life, especially when its non-surgical and non-pharmaceutical.
thanks so much for sharing your information!
Hi Lara - You are absolutely right. That is the downside of grapefruit juice and in another post I am sure I mentioned for folks to check with their doc and preferrably their pharmacist as to whether or not it would cause an unwanted reaction or side effect with any prescription they were currently taking. It is unfortunate that graefruit juice interacts with some prescription meds such as cholesterol drugs in a very unfavorable way and ...
ReplyDeleteI want to thank you for bringing that up as a precaution because it is absolutely true.
I'm sorry you suffer with chronic pancreatitis and so many complications. And I would suggest you also call your pharmacist to ask if anything I use will cause problems with your current meds before you use anything.
Thank you for visiting and for the kind words. I appreciate you.