Antidepressants Linked to Pancreatitis and Brain Bleeds

Antideppressants are often given to chronic pancreatitis patients because they can lower the amount of needed narcotic pain killers but it seems that they too may not be all that safe.

Do Antidepressants Cause Acute Pancreatitis?

In a study conducted in Denmark researchers found that many people without chronic pancreatitis developed acute pancreatitis after ingesting antidepressants. This study was published in June of 2007:  Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and risk of acute pancreatitis: a population-based case-control study

 

Antidepressants linked to brain bleeds

Antidepressants have also been linked to a 50% increase in brain bleeds. Antidepressants linked to risk of brain bleeds

I just happened to stumble onto the above information concerning antidepressants and so I thought I'd pass it along.

Pancreatitis: Why Doesn't My Pancreas Damage Show on EUS or CT?

Many people have asked me why they have had recurrent attacks of acute pancreatitis or have had one doctor diagnose them with chronic pancreatitis only to have another say they don't have chronic pancreatitis or any pancreatitis at all.

For those of you who have had this kind of experience with your pancreatitis journey let me assure you that not all doctors know what they are taking about when it comes to acute or chronic pancreatitis. Even those who have some knowledge don't know everything even if they think they do. In fact ...

They have "cookie cutter" diagnostic criteria and for those who even know ANYTHING about the disease and can even recognize it in a clinical setting miss it or rule it out when you don't fit that "cookie cutter" mold.

Diagnostic criteria and scoring for acute pancreatitis
Diagnostic criteria for chronic pancreatitis

IF someone doesn't fit the "cookie cutter" mold the disease is most often ruled out. But ...

Dr. Sutherland says different in regards to chronic pancreatitis and he has a list of certfications and is kudosed as being one of the top authorities. He is:

• Director of the Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation
• Head of the Transplant Division in the Department of Surgery
• Holder of the Golf Classic "fore" Diabetes Research Chair
• Professor of Surgery at the University of Minnesota

I found this on Dr. Sutherland's blog/forum: "There are articles on minimal change CP that I will send you the references. We also have an abstract showing that the traditional view that an EUS has to show 5 of 9 criteria for CP to be diagnosed is not correct, even one criteria has been associated with documented CP under the microscope." Read the article here

Now keep in mind he makes a boatload of money from pancreas surgery and is regarded as one of the best when it comes to TP/AIT so there is always the possibilty he is pushing for more surgeries but my gut feeling and common sense tells me that he is correct about minimal change chronic pancreatitis.

This means that whether or not your damage presents on radiological testing in blazing colors you still most likely have chronic pancreatitis, it isn't all in your head, your symptoms are real and you need to get a handle on your condition and control it or you may be faced with becoming one of the "gutted" survivors.

Minimal Change Chronic Pancreatitis (scholar type articles):

1: article one
2: Pdf article two
3: article three
4: Pdf article four

Pancreatic Cancer: What Can You Do to Lessen the Risk?

This series on pancreatic cancer or cancer of the pancreas is not intended for the world at large. It is meant mainly for those who have been diagnosed with and still suffer from chronic pancreatitis because ...

As I mentioned in my previous post chronic pancreatitis increases the risk of pancreatic cancer. I have found through research that the culprit is the inflammation associated with chronic pancreatitis, I shared that also in the previous post and it is something you need to be aware of yet this is in no way intended to create fear; only awareness because ...

Cancer of the pancreas is insidious and hard to diagnose quickly because many of the symptoms are those you may already have with chronic pancreatitis. But that is NOT the only bad news concerning cancer of the pancreas. The worst is yet to come.

Pancreatic cancer is aggressive, persistent and does NOT respond to current medical protocols such as chemotherapy or radiation. The ONLY chance of survival seems to be with complete elimination of the cancer via surgery and surgery isn't a guarantee. If the cancer has metastasized (spread to lymph nodes or other organs) life expectancy is usually quite short with inoperable pancreatic cancer life expectancy measured in months.

Watch the follow videos and learn.

Part 2

Visit this site for indepth information on cancer of the pancreas.

Since inflammation of the pancreas is one of the risk factors of pancreatic cancer it seems obvious that whatever one can do to eliminate the inflammation should be done not only to lessen the risk of cancer but to also lessen the pain associated with chronic pancreatitis. So ...

Learn HOW to eliminate the inflammation!

The TWO most beneficial ways to fight inflammation in your pancreas, possibly heal your pancreas and/or lessen your chronic pancreatitis symptoms is to eat a highly anti-inflammatory diet and consume supplements that fight inflammation.

The interesting thing to note is that the supplements I use to fight inflammation in my pancreas also create apoptosis, programmed cancer cell death in some cancers but I could find no proof via studies that suggest they create pancreatic cancer cell death. Pancreatic cancer doesn't seem to die and so the best offense in this case seems to be a strong defense by honing in on the elimination of risk factors such as smoking (stop if you do), refined sugar consumption (sugar feeds cancer cells) and eliminate as much of your pancreas inflammation as possible.

Pancreatitis Diet

Foods That Fight Pancreas Inflammation

Pancreatitis Supplements

Aspirin May Lower Risk of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer: Chronic Pancreatitis Increases Risk

Unfortunately those who suffer from long-term chronic pancreatitis also have increased risk of dying
due to pancreatic cancer. So ...

What can YOU do to lessen the risk of pancreatic cancer since you have been diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis?

In order to completely understand what YOU can do to lessen your risk of pancreatic cancer you must first understand what may be the #1 initiator.

What is that initiator?

Chronic inflammation.

Chronic inflammation is linked to cancer, strongly linked.

In fact here is new evidence that backs up what I just said: Inflammation enhances pancreatic cancer cell progression and if this article isn't enough evidence for you here's another: Link Between Inflammation and Pancreatic Cancer Discovered

When someone is diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis what does that mean?

It means that person suffers from chronic pancreas inflammation doesn't it? Of course it does because pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. That is why long-term chronic pancreatitis is an increased risk factor for pancreatic cancer. But ...

Don't take my word for it here is more evidence that chronic pancreatitis is in fact a precursor for pancreatic cancer: Inflammation and Cancer V. Chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer

Now that you probably understand your increased risk for pancreatic cancer you may be even more inclined to do what it takes to prevent your chronic pancreatitis from escalating into pancreatic cancer but how, exactly, do you do that?

You need to stop or at least control the inflammation.

That is easier said than done for most people because ...

In order to stop the inflammation you are going to need to do things that you either don't want to do or find extremely difficult such as adhering to a completely pancreas friendly diet (a true pancreatitis diet), stop drinking and/or ingesting alcohol in any form and ...

Unfortunately there are those people who suffer from chronic pancreatitis due to underlying health conditions that are beyond their control such a cystic fibrosis, hyperlipidemia, autoimmune disease, and genetic conditions (hereditary pancreatitis). These conditions make it far more difficult to eliminate the inflammation, in the case of CF it's impossible due to the necessary CF diet. In cases of chronic pancreatitis challenged by an underlying disease or condition the most you may be able to do is to control the inflammation as much as possible.

I don't have all the answers.

There are many people who suffer with underlying conditions such as cystic fibrosis that simply won't respond to a hard core pancreatitis diet, in fact, in the case of cystic fibrosis what I do personally would probably kill a cystic fibrosis patient because the diet they have to eat in order to ward off some of the symptoms and challenges of CF is definitely NOT friendly to a damaged pancreas, but, they have no choice.

CF patients are screwed.

The rest of us have a chance, hope and a light at the end of the tunnel.

In my next post I'll address what YOU can do to lessen your risk of pancreatic cancer and of course heal your pancreas as mush as possible. Until then ...

Have a pain free day!