Acute Pancreatitis

[pbdr]

Howdy, it has been a long time since I last "lurked" here (I guess I needed some time "away"). Things are going pretty well in terms of the cancer; its been a while since the chemo and so far the scans are good. I am pleased to say that I am feeling very good at this point 6 months after the RPLND and Chemo.

But I have been having a possibly related problem and wanted to se if this has happened to anyone else. I have been having some problems with acute pancreatitis. Over the lst 4 months I have had 3 minor attacks (they may be minor, but still hurt like heck). The doctors can't decide what is causingthem. They don't think it is alcohol (I drink but not really enough for this to happen), but aren't completely sure. I may have a couple gall stones, but they aren't sure there either.

So I am just wondering if anyone else has had pancreatitis after chemotherapy or RPLND and, if so, what was done about it.

Thanks,
pbdr

[prb]

Howdy, it has been a long time since I last "lurked" here (I guess I needed some time "away"). Things are going pretty well in terms of the cancer; its been a while since the chemo and so far the scans are good. I am pleased to say that I am feeling very good at this point 6 months after the RPLND and Chemo.

But I have been having a possibly related problem and wanted to se if this has happened to anyone else. I have been having some problems with acute pancreatitis. Over the lst 4 months I have had 3 minor attacks (they may be minor, but still hurt like heck). The doctors can't decide what is causingthem. They don't think it is alcohol (I drink but not really enough for this to happen), but aren't completely sure. I may have a couple gall stones, but they aren't sure there either.

So I am just wondering if anyone else has had pancreatitis after chemotherapy or RPLND and, if so, what was done about it.

Thanks,
pbdr

Well...I stumbled upon your post by doing a search in Google for rplnd pancreatitis.

You might say why and hell would you be searching for that combination? The answer is... last year at this time I was hospitalized with severe acute necrotic pancreatitis. And just like you, no one seems to know the cause of the pancreatitis. I always wonder why? What was the cause? Will it happen again?

So I have been asking what gives. Other than getting buzzed a few times in my life back in college, I rarely drink, usually limited to 1 or 2 beverages. Didn't have gall stones. And still don't know the cause for the pancreatitis. Below is a brief history.

It is a miracle that i have survived both of these "bumps in the road" in my life. I am thankful to be alive. I am currently on **No Medications**.

I had and have huge support from family and friends through both ordeals.

I hope you are doing well. If I can be of any help let me know,
prb

History
========
Healthy Athlete

7/95 - 24 yr old diagnosed nonseminoma/germ cell TC, right, lung spots Stage III

7/95 - 2 rounds of BEP, 2 rounds EP

12/6/95 - Scheduled surgery (RPLND, right orchiectomy, remove abdominal mass), unplanned right neuphrectomy and Inferior vena Cava ligation

12/29/95 - Discharged

2/96 - 3 rounds of Carboplatin, vinblastine & ifosfomide

5/96 - Treatment complete and in remission

11/14/03 - Hospitalized Severe acute necrotic pancreatitis

** to many things to list here **

4/23/04 - Discharged (i survived almost 6 months in the hospital)

11/04 - Surgery for Ileostomy reversal, colonoscopy & transverse colon fistula repair. Discharged 9 days later.

5/05 - Tentative surgery to repaire massive surgical hernia