Welcome to the National Pancreas Foundation
Welcome to the National Pancreas Foundation website. We are excited to launch this website as part of our strategy to better serve those whose lives are impacted by diseases of the pancreas.
As you can see this is a whole new look and a whole new way to communicate with you. We will continue to work to provide up to date and relevant information, but this new format will allow you to communicate more easily and effectively with us. And we want to hear from you!
You can share your story of courage and help inspire others who are dealing with the difficulties of pancreatic diseases. We hope to hear from patients, family members, caregivers and medical professionals.
You can sign up for our weekly e-newsletter, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and you can subscribe to the RSS feed and that way you will know about any updates in the world of pancreatology.
This is an exciting time in our organization’s history and we are so pleased to share this with you.
Our sincere thanks to the corporate sponsors who have made this possible and to the team at Power Marketing Partners who helped make this a reality.
Please enjoy your visit and we hope to see you back here again soon!
Hello, My Name is Sherrie. After several years of having severe GI related problems, I was finally diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis in March of 2009. Although all my test (untill that time), showed that everything was “normal”, when they did my first EUS in Mardh of last year, @ Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, FL., it showed very clearly that I had Chronic Pancreatitis. Since that time, my GI problems have become progressively worse. Since August of 2008, I have had numerous EGD’s, Colonoscopies, Pill Cams, MRIs, Ct scans, etc. Although we had heard, Mayo in Jacksonville was the best, we were both very dissapointed in the care that I recieved. Basically, once the \\\Chronic Pancreatitis was diagnosed, I was put on Pancrease (pancreatic enzymes), and was made to feel that I just had to accept this disease & deal with it for the rest of my life. By the way, I am 42 & my husband is 46. Finaly, in July of 2008, my local GI doctor (he’s the greatest) refered me to MUSC in Charleston. Although this is a 3 1/2 hour drive (as opposed to a 1 hour drive to Jax, FL.) it was well worth the trip. I have not been back to Mayo since March of 2009, but have been to MUSC 4 times since last July (2009).. I first saw Dr. Kathleen Morgan (a GI Surgeon), and she felt that my problems my be caused/aggrevated by Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. Therefore, rather than rush right into a MAJOR SURGERY, she refered me to one of her colleges, Dr. Hawes (he is wonderful!!!). Since August of 2009, Dr. Hawes has preformed 3 ERCP’s complete with Sphinterotomy’s & w/Stent placement in my pancrease, and “to SOME” degree (however briefly), I have had some minimal relief from those proceedures. The last ERCP was don apx. 3&1/2 weeks ago, and I am scheduled to have an Abd. X-ray in about 4 days (to make sure that the “temporary stent in my Pancrease has passed (the last time – Feb. 2010 it didn’t pass & Dr Whitehead – my local GI, had to go in and remove it. My main concern now, is that Dr. Hawes made it VERY CLEAR TO US (Mike & I) that with SOME people the Celiac Plexus block doesn’t really work at all, and AT THE MOST it may only last for several weeks to 4 or 5 months. Unfourtunatley, It has only been 21/2 weeks, and my abdominal pain is still just as bad. Accourding to Dr. Hawes (Charleston), the next step will be one of 2 things: permanent Stents in my Pancrease, or MORE LIKELY removal of my Pancrease (Pancreatectomy) which is, from what I’ve heard, is a VERY MAJOR SURGERY. Hospital stay alone would be 2 to 4 weeks, followed by home health nurses coming in for months to monitor my progress, nutrition, etc., AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT it will cause my wonderful husband even more stress thatn he’s already under. IF ANYONE THAT READS THIS, AND HAS BEEN THROUGH THIS PROCEEDURE, OR KNOWS OF SOMEONE THAT HAS, PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS. At the present time, I don’t know what to do, EXCEPT PRAY.
THANK YOU FOR LISTENING, Sherrie M.