3 Qualities of Pancreatitis Survivors: Optimism, Hope and Confidence

Pancreatitis survivors are special people. Many, the majority, deal with pain and nausea ever day. And ...

Pancreatitis pain is a pain the average person simply can not grasp. Unless you have had the misfortune of experiencing hard core pancreatitis pain you simply do not have any idea how bad things can get.

Think your arthritic knee hurts or your tennis elbow? Maybe you think that those herpes blisters of yours are simply unbearable. Well I got news for ya ...

That little bit of pain ain't shit compared to a full blown acute pancreatitis attack.

Gunshot victims experience pain relief from morphine but I know plenty of people who have had acute or chronic episodes of pain from pancreatitis that did not find relief from opiates. Hell, demerol didn't even take the edge off of mine. Demerol for me, was like a kid with a little toy bucket trying desperately to put out a forest fire. It didn't do squat.

This article will be especially advantageous for those who have just been diagnosed with pancreatitis because unless you're planning to just give up, like some whimp, you''l want to know how a survivor thinks. You'll want to adopt a pancreatitis survivor's mindset so that you too can rise above the challenge called pancreatitis. So ...

We are going to discuss each one of the 3 qualities that pancreatitis survvors have in common and  learn how they can be beneficial in your journey to overcome pancreatitis.

So here they are ...

3 Qualities of Pancreatitis Survivors

Optimism

I have the incredible fortune of belonging to a pancreatitis support group that is chalked full of optimistic people. Sure they have moments of pessimism but for the most part they are one optimistic bunch with a positive eye on the future. Because of that optimism they persevere in the face of pain, they glory in achievements (no matter how small) and lift up their fellow group members with a caring attitude, encouragement, and prayer. If you have been diagnosed with pancreatitis and you are not optimistic about your future you need to become so because "Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence." – Hellen Keller

From now on it isn't going to be "why me." Instead you'll learn to adopt the attitude of "if it is going to be, it is up to me." You'll get down on your knees ask God to forgive and bless you and then thank God for the opportubity to prove you are worthy to be the cream of His crop by showing Him you can rise to the top. Like cream seperates from milk and rises breaking free from the constraints of average milk molecules you too will do the same. You will become a power to be rekoned with

Hope

Hope is the emotional state of mind which nurtures belief in a positive outcome. Without hope one withers and dies. Once hope is destroyed life loses its appeal but you my friend will not lose hope.

For what is a man without hope?

He is lost, with no vision for the future and so you my friend will become a man or woman of hope. You will stay strong even when weak and you will listen to hope whisper in your ear for "When the world says, give up, hope whispers, try it one more time." - Author Unknown

And you will try.

You will adapt, improvise and overcome.

You will hope. And how exactly will you possess this hope?

Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me,
Lord, my faithful God.- Psalm 31:5

You will trust in the Lord and you will prosper! Read the Bible and believe in the Word of God for He does not lie. And He loves you so much He gave his Son for you! "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." - John 3:16

How much love does it take to give your only son so that others can live? If you doubt that God loves you simply ask yourself: "Would I give my son up to die so others could live?" And then ask again: "Would I really freely give my son?" It is hard to know what one would really do in such a situation but you probably kinda get the drift of how deep and unselfish a love for others would need to be in order to accomplish that task. So ...

Be in awe of God for He controls all things. "Be still, and know that I am God" - Psalm 46:10

Know that God has a plan for you! “For I know the plans I have for you,’ declared the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).

The Lord God will give you wisdom when you ask. “If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5).

Hope, be full of hope for the Lord Thy God is with you, always. God says: "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.” - Deuteronomy 31:6

Jesus said: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand." - John 10:28 and " ... and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." - 28:20

Confidence

You will be confident and know that God will care for you "For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well." - Psalm 139:13-14

In the above Word of God you take comfort and be confident that He will take care of what He has created; especially sine He created you in His image. "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them." - Genesis 1:27

You will be confident because He promises that you have the courage, power and tenacity to accomplish whatever you need to do. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13

With an optimistic outlook, hope and confidence in the God who loves you, wants the best for you and promises to protect and take care of you how could you ever lose?

You can't!

It is impossible!

"Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases" - Psalm 103:2-3

"Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise." - Jeremiah 17:14

This is Jesus, the Son of The Alighty God in action for those who have faith: "And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. 'Who touched me?' Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, 'Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.' But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.' Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.'" - Luke 8:43-48

Praise God!

Amen and Amen

How to STOP an Acute Pancreatitis Attack in 90 Minutes or Less ...

Pancreatitis pain can be simply horrible and an acute pancreatitis attack usually involves severe pancreatitis pain.

If you have been diagnosed with pancreatitis chances are you have had an acute pancreatitis attack, experienced the pancreatitis pain and realize that acute pancreatitis is no fun at all.

I stumbled upon the way to resolve the pain and eliminate the inflammation so that an acute pancreatitis attack resolves in 60 - 90 minutes.

I was given demerol at the ER once and the doctor who diagnosed me gave me demerol (an opiate) in tablet form for pain but ...

Demerol did NOTHING!

What STOPPED the pain?

Ibuprofen.

Ibuprofen is an anti-inflammatory.

What is pancreatitis?

It is an INFLAMMATION of the pancreas.

Using common sense how would one resolve that inflammation?

Anti-inflammatories!

Stop Acute Pancreatitis with Anti-Inflammatory Regimen

To STOP, not just relieve, but STOP your acute pancreatitis attack take anti-inflammatory type medication, NOT opiates. Opiates do nothing to resolve the cause of the pain which is inflammation and the fact that your pancreatic enzymes are devouring your own pancreas! The sooner you resolve the inflammation the better! Now ...

Chances are your doctor has no idea how to STOP and acute AP attack other wise he would have prescribed 800mgs of Ibuprofen and told you to do what I do myself to STOP an acute pancreatitis attack. However it wouldn't hurt to ask him for a prescription for 800mgs of Ibuprofen. If ...

He is like most dumbass doctors I have met he'll say no because he doesn't know shit about pancreatitis or this type of regimen protocol. When they do not know about something or there has not been a study that has been published in a med journal you can damn well guarantee his brain will not compute the common sense of using an anti-inflammatory to eliminate pancreas inflammation.

I KNOW!

It is rediculous! But ...

Doctors are frickin' STUPID!

They are stupid because:

• They don't know they are stupid
• They think they know everything but they are really stupid
• They think they are God which proves they are stupid
• They won't listen to a lay person (non-doctor) because there is no way that someone who has not gone to medical school could be more intelligent, which again proves they are stupid!

In order to combat this stupidity and save your ass you may have to pop over to the store and pick up some Advil or generic Ibuprofen. It usually comes in 200mg tabs which means you take FOUR (4) at once in order to achieve an 800mg dose.

• (4) Four Advil
• (4) Grape seed caps (100mg each)
• (2) Curcumin caps (500mg each)

That little cocktail should stop your acute pancreatitis attack in less than 90 minutes.

NOTE: IF the cocktail does NOT resolve the pain and AP in 90 minutes you need to call an ambulance or get your ass to the hospital in some way because you obviously have some complications that need to be addressed FAST!

I wish you good luck and less pain!

P.S. I never seem to get everything said at one time so this had ben added to my orginal post and it is important! IF ...

You are nauseated and/or puking you need to resolve that first otherwise the cocktail to stop acute pancreatits will most likely come right back up and never get the chance to work. You NEED to keep it down for at least 60 minutes! So ...

Take your nausea meds FIRST! One phenergan suppository and a compazine tab. More if needed! If you don't have nausea meds (compazine, phenergan, preferrably BOTH) get your doc to prescribe them. They are essential. Once your nausea resolves take the cocktail. Of course if you don't have nausea you can take the cocktail at the first sign of an acute pancreatitis attack and take the nausea meds too as an added safe guard. You do not want to puke after you take the cocktail!

Natural Pancreatitis Remedies Are Being Attacked By The FDA

You may soon find you have no natural pancreatitis remedies, such as grape seed extract, available for you to use because the FDA is on the march against natural health remedies, again!

It just irritates me to no end that the FDA has been bought and paid for by Big Pharma. If Big Pharma says to the FDA "Jump!" the FDA asks: "How high?" and ...

If Big Pharma is successful in achieving their goal you will not be able to buy vitamin C without  a prescription and fruit juice may be considered a drug if someone were to mention that a certain juice, such as grapefruit juice, could have healing health benefits. Yet ...

Please FDA, Kill Me with Toxic Prescription Drugs

It is perfectly fine for Big Pharma to create, manufacture and market (via doctors), with the blessing of the FDA and FTC, toxic drugs that kill and maime over 100,000 people every year in the United States alone!

Drugs like Lipitor, Mevacor, Zocor, Crestor and Pravachol, used to lower cholesterol, have been linked to serious conditions such as pancreatitis, myositis and rhabdomyolysis. All three conditions can become serious and life threatening. Yet they are passed out like candy because statin drugs are BIG business! Lipitor, before the patent expired, produced profits of over 10 BILLION per year. "The world's top-selling drug ever, Lipitor brought Pfizer $10.7 billion in 2010, most of that from the U.S." - USA Today. ONE drug, 10.7 BILLION in gross revenue!

Most everyone knows that the two big oil companies earn ridiculous revenues (400 BILLION?) while we shell out cash at the pump but ...

Other than the oil conglomerates how many companies do you actually know of that earn 10.7 BILLION in sales revenue yearly? I was shocked by how many there actually are! According to CNNMoney 247 companies earned revenues greater than 10 billion in 2011. Now consideriing the actual number of companies world wide that isn't a lot but still, more than I expected.

Drugs that CAUSE Pancreatitis

Diabetes drugs like Byetta, Januvia and Metformin have been proven to CAUSE pancreatitis. One of the newest and worst Januvia, sitagliptin phosphate, is a DPP-4 inhibitor. Since the DPP-4 enzyme is known to be involved in the supression of cancer using Januvia also increases the risk of developing cancer in addition to pancreatitis.

• HMG-COA Reductase Inhibitors (Statins Used to lower Cholesterol)
• Diuretics and ACE inhibitors (used for high blood pressure, congestive heart failure)
• Oral contraceptives/HRT (birth control and hormone replacement therapy)
• HAART Therapy (drug regimen for HIV)
• Valproic Acid (Depakote, Depakene, Epilim, Stavzor used for certain types of seizures and bipolar disorder)
• Opiates (used for pancreatitis pain management)

And this (the above) is merely the TIP of the iceburg!

Talk about hypocrisy! Here's where the FDA really shines (sarcastic).

On October 14, 2010 the FDA attacked manufacturers and marketers of EDTA. Disodium EDTA has been used for years with FDA approval for the elimination of diagnosed heavy metal toxicity produced by lead and other metals. In the late 1940's it was used to 'chelate' ship painters and some of those ship painters also suffered from heart disease. Turns out EDTA in some way improved blood flow, lessened symptoms such as agina (chest pain) and made those who suffered from heart disease happy. However ...

EDTA was beyond the time of patent registration and so Big Pharma and the medical community couldn't make huge revenues off of EDTA and so this knowledge was swept under the rug for almost 60 years. But ...

Behind the scenes some doctors decided to use EDTA for IV chelation of patients with heart disease. And Viola! Patients began to improve without surgery!

News naturally traveled fast and all of a sudden these 'chelation doctors' are labeled as quacks, ostracized, even prosecuted for using EDTA, against AMA protocol, to treat heart disease (clogged arteries). Soon these doctors formed their own little clique called ACAM.

Anyway since IV chealtion was flying under the radar yet producing some extraordinary results the idea of oral chelation with EDTA soon developed and people were able to get EDTA chelation for 1 - 20 bucks a month in pill form.  Pretty dang cheap for a solution to heart disease.

Well holy crap orthodox medicine had a conniption! They were already worried about the fact that people were opting for the far less expensive and invasive EDTA chelation therapy over normal  protocols such as angioplasty and bypass surgery and now EDTA chealtion was available in cheap pills? Ok ...

So what to do?

They notify the FDA and point to manufacturers and marketers of oral chelation products and say: Sick'em boys! The FDA inturn sites the manufacturers and marketers and accuses them of conning sick people with 'dangerous' unproven therapies. But ...

What is the truth?

The truth is yes EDTA can cause some harmful side effects when taken via IV drip especially if the drip is actually what is called an "IV push" which means that instead of the prescribed EDTA protocol being infused in a 31/2 to 4 hour time frame it is pushed in about an hour. This can cause kidney failure. Now ...

From what I can find there have been 3 deaths from EDTA Chelation in the last nine (9) years according to the CDC. That is ALL I can find in regards to EDTA and ...

NONE were attributed to ORAL chelation. In fact there are no adverse effects what-so-ever attributed to oral chealtion with EDTA. But ..

Promoters of ORAL chelation are attacked and threatened by the FDA!

So if I haven't bored you out of your skull by now with this trivia (actually it is important) you are probably wondering "what the hell has this to do with me and my pancreatitis?"

Here's the answer:

The FDA wants to try to ban grape seed extract because lots of people are discovering its benefits pertaining not only to pancreatitis but to high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer and overall health. This could be disastrous for you and me.

I'm talking catastrophic.

Grape seed, curcumin, vit C and my pancreatitis diet are the only reason I am living pain free. and I KNOW for an absolute fact this is the case because I have tried to go without both and it just doesn't work! If I am on diet only after a time I'm again sick. The supplements are a must! So anyway ...

Natures Pearl was attacked on 4/12/2012 by the FDA because they mentioned that their Muscadine grape seed extract may produce certain health benefits (cited referrences that actually made the benefit claims). Read the FDA warning!

What this means to you, and me, as people who suffer from pancreatitis, is that sometime in the not to distant future we may have NO choice but to be sick and in pain!

What do you think and how do you feel about that?

Speak up let's hear it people!

Pancreatitis Cure?

We all know there is no pancreatitis cure but ...

I do have a brand spankin' new facebook page that ya'll can visit and hang out at, ask questions or flip me the bird lol.

If you could be so kind as to stop by and give the page a "like" I'd appreciate it. Here it is: Pancreatitis Cure

So since there is no pancreatitis cure what should we discuss in this post other than my new facebook page?

The only thing I can think of that even comes close to a pancreatitis cure is my regimen which entails a strict low fat diet for pancreatitis and supplements. The supplements are grape seed extract, curcumin, vitamin C, pancreatic enzymes and a multi -vitamin/mineral formula. You can find all the info about my pancreatitis diet and the supplements for pancreatitis right here on this blog. So ...

Grab some coffee and look around.

Doctors and Pancreatitis (My personal thoughts)

There is something I want to mention in regards to pancreatitis and doctors and, this is strictly my own opinion about doctors and pancreatitis.

My own personal experience with doctors (the medical community as a whole) and pancreatitis has been less than satisfactory. However ...

My opinion is NOT intended to influence your thoughts about doctors and pancreatitis so take it for what it is worth because the last thing anyone should do is forego medical care when they are ill, especially with a life threatening condition such as acute pancreatitis yet ...

I personally stay away from doctors as much as possible, especially when it comes to pancreatitis. I might change my mind if I truly thought I was dying, most folks do anything to live but ...

Oh wait!

I have felt like I was dying, does that count?

The pain is so intense you feel like you are actually in a dream or on another planet in the cosmos - planet pain, yet I did not go but ...

The reason I didn't go is because I was told there was really nothing that could be done for me, I'd had a horrible experience with the ER's and it was 33 years ago when I was diagnosed yet when I had my last acute attack which was only about 5 - 6 years ago I still did not go in because, well, I am so used to getting through it myself it is just easier. I know what to do to stop the attacks and pain so unless I start bleeding from my orificies I am not sure there is a good reason to go in.

I must admit that some people think I'm an idiot but then, at times, I too think I'm an idiot. Anyway ...

I have NOT let doctors poke and prod me after I was diagnosed with pancreatitis because most everything they do in regards to pancreatitis either doesn't work, can actually cause another acute pancreatitis attack or even kill me and ...

They have NO idea how to cure it anyway.

The sad part is they don't even know how to treat it!

They guess, that is all they do.

I can do that myself.

I'm actually good at guessing. And ...

I think, I ain't sure you understand, that I am alive and fairly well today (30+ years after diagnosis) because I never went back except to keep my nausea med scripts current and available. I simply used my head, did research and got lucky.

Let me give some examples of why I feel this way.

1) Most doctors that I have met (except one) weren't even able to recognize the condition. I'd rush to the ER in massive pain and almost every ER doctor looked at me like a bull with a bastard calf and NO clue as to how he got it. I would guess that even in this age of technology and improved diagnostic tools that unless you blurt out you are an alcoholic (if you are one) the chances are still very good they couldn't diagnose pancreatitis to save their soul, especially if it were due to some factor other than alcoholism or gallstones because ...

Most still seem to think if you don't drink large amounts of alcohol or have gallstones that you simply couldn't have pancreatitis and so never do the appropriate testing. This thinking of course leads to mis-diagnosis or no diagnosis at all.

Even if they do the appropriate testing such as checking enzyme levels they may draw blood only ONE time (happened EVERY time in my case) when you are first admitted to the ER which most likely, in the case of an acute pancreatitis attack WILL NOT show increased enzyme levels on the first blood draw (unless you have been in the attack for sveral hours before seeking help). And ...

IF your enzyme levels do show a minor increase the fact will most likely be dismissed due to a lack of knowledge in regards to acute pancreatitis enzyme levels and while doctor Ima BirdBrain hands you a misdiagnosis of gastritis, spasdic colon or some other imbecillic diagnosis YOU ...

Are in danger because your pancreas is slowly devouring itself, causing more and more damage that may be irreparable. However, I must admit that there ARE good doctors out there, I know cuz in almost 58 years of life I have met two.

2) Even IF you get lucky and have an ER doc who is smart enough to read your prior med records (you've been diagnosed with pancreatitis already) he or she may be one of those who think they know more than the doc before and tell you that you have some other condition and let you suffer while he looks for some off-the-wall goof ball diagnosis like giardia and all this time you are in pain, puking and the damage to your pancreas is increasing.

3) Let's go so far as to say you get even luckier. You get an ER doc who is not only smart enough to read your prior med records but actually takes them seriously and he or she draws blood to check your enzymes. Your enzymes (Amylase and Lipase) are up, he or she orders a CT and stuffs a tube down your throat, injects morphine, demerol or some other opiate which irritates the pancreas even more and can even CAUSE acute pancreatitis! And ...

In my case demerol didn't do shit for the pain.

Instead of trying to "mask" the pain with an opiate they should be administering an anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen. Ibuprofen and other NSAIDS carry risks as well but at least they address the problem, the inflammation where opiates don't do a damn thing in that regard. Then ...

He or she may also decide they need to do an ERCP.

They do an ERCP and actually cause another acute pancreatitis attack or damage a duct or actually slice something on accident. Don't roll your eyes ERCP has an 11% complication track record which means 11 people out of 100 suffer complications from ERCP! How would you like to be one of the lucky 11? Yes, ok, in all fairness that also means that 89 out of 100 patients supposedly come through with no problems but ...

If I have other choices, I'll pass.

I personally do NOT want anyone poking around my pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts or pancreatic duct with some sharp instrument that can do me more harm when there are other choices such as, US, EUS, CT, MRI and so on that have a lessor chance of creating further damage. However ...

YOU need to make your own decisions in regards to your life, health and the care your receive.