Kendall’s Pancreatitis Story
My first attack happened during an episode of DKA (diabetic ketoacidosis) when I was 12 years old. I thought it was stomach pain from DKA, but the attending GI confirmed pancreatitis based on the lab results and my presentation symptoms. Before this first attack, I just had what I would describe as normal stomach pain that I attributed to my existing medical condition, type 1 diabetes.
Living with Pancreatitis as a Teenager
I was 16, going in and out of pancreatitis attacks, and endured frequent hospital stays. The attacks would put me out for 3-7 days, sometimes even longer, depending on the severity of the episode.
Living with pancreatitis is tough on me, but I have learned some coping strategies and made some changes. For my nutrition, I tried low fat diets to help but I would still be going into attacks almost every month, resulting in chronic pancreatitis. One of the things I noticed that caused flare ups was red meat, so I now do my best to avoid it. This time of my life was very challenging as it went on for four straight years while I was also battling diabetes.
Having a supportive network of friends and family is a blessing when you have pancreatitis. My close friends understand my condition and that sometimes I have to cancel plans due to being in the hospital or sick at home. My school was also aware I have pancreatitis and always allowed extra time to complete assignments and tests.
TPIAT Surgery and Recovery
After living for years with chronic pancreatitis, my doctors at Rainbows Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio decided it was time to remove my pancreas on June 28, 2021. Along with it, I had my spleen and gallbladder and about 5% of my stomach was also removed. I was scared before going into surgery as there were a lot of risks with having open surgery, especially already being a diabetic. Having my pancreas removed was my first surgical procedure. Because I was going into DKA every single month due to the attacks that were so very harsh on my body, the TPIAT surgical procedure became necessary to save my life.
Recovery was miserable and took a lot out of me. I still remember waking up in the hospital bed after the surgery, and I couldn’t even lift my head. There were a lot of sleepless nights and sleeping all day kind of days. Eating and drinking felt like a struggle, and I lacked the energy to even get out of bed most days. If it weren’t for my support system consisting of friends, family, and the medical staff, I am not sure I would have fared as well as I did in the 6-9 months it required for me to fully recover. Since the surgery, I was diagnosed with gastroparesis, and experience bleeding ulcers on occasion as a result of the pancreas being gone.
When I am going through my pain episodes, I like to take a hot bath to take the edge off. However, I have noticed that since having surgery, when I get stomach pain, holding something against my stomach helps. So, I try to hug a Squishmallow (a specialty pillow) to help with the discomfort.
Another way of coping for me is by learning and playing music. Music helps me in ways that I can’t articulate, but playing music provides me with much joy. I started playing guitar, ukulele, and piano because of my challenges and have found it’s the best therapy! For the win, I am self-taught!
Present Day
Despite my medical hurdles, I worked hard to complete the requirements to the best of my capabilities and graduated high school in 2023! I’m now 19 years old, and I live in Ohio. My best advice to others living with pancreatitis is to not allow the stringent diets and bouts with pancreatitis control your life. Take each episode as it comes. Once you begin feeling better, go out and live life to the fullest.
Feel free to check out my Instagram @type1.cp_warriorrrr
