My Illness

 

Part 1: How It All Started

 

The events which changed my life started on December 30th, 2001.Our family doctor was off duty when it happened. The emergency physician was unable to come to our house, and we had to call an ambulance. When the ambulance arrived the emergency doctor decided, that I had to be hospitalized right away. But it all started when I suddenly and unexpectedly experienced excruciating pain in my stomach radiating all the way to my back. The pain was so overwhelming, that within two minutes, my clothes were drenched in sweat. I was nauseated, while my heart was pounding, and I started to be very frightened.
At the hospital an EKG was ordered, and blood work was ordered. The results showed that my glucose level had increased to above 600mg/dl, and my lipase level was at 3000 U/l, and beyond that. I can't remember any of the other counts. I was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and immediately transferred to the intensive care unit.  At the ICU I immediately received a central venous catheter as well as an injection with a potent painkiller. However, the pain did not subside, and I was given additional sleep inducing medication. All I remember is that another catheter was placed in my back, and before I passed out I overheard them asking me a question like: “Do you experience a cold sensation?” My back felt cold and I assumed I answered, yes.  For almost two weeks I was unable to remember anything else.
When I finally woke up my doctor told me that I had been in very critical condition. The catheter in my back provided antibiotics for the pancreas. Due to the raging inflammation the pancreas enlarged to double its normal size.  At that time, I received all my nutrition via intravenous infusions. Even today, I remember the IVs, and I stillfeel scared. There were a total of nine intravenous bags. Each of them had a device to apportion the amount of medication. I received a number of sensors on  my body, which continuously controlled the flow of the IVs. I felt as if I entered a horror movie unintentionally.

Yet, my body recovered and I began to feel better. One by one, the IVs weretaken off and finally, I was transferred to the Internal Medicine Ward. Three days later, the last IV was removed and miraculously, I was offered solid food. To be exact, I received one slice of white bread with diet marmalade for breakfast, mashed potatoes and soft-boiled carrots for lunch; at night I was given a slice of white bread with diet marmalade again. This diet continued for a week. I have to admit, that the first meal I ate tasted deliciously. Slowly I was given a solid diet. In addition to the bread I ate margarine, and at lunch time gravy. Luckily, I tolerated it well and my blood work stayed within the acceptable range.   Cheese, sausage, and cooked meat were added to my meals. Finally I was back to a normal diabetic diet.

By mid-February 2002 I was discharged. My pancreas normalized in size and I had lost five kilos. At home I continued my diabetic diet. My weight stabilized around one hundred kilos. My glucose levels were satisfactory, and I felt that I recovered finally.

However, by May of 2002 I frequently suffered from stomach problems.
They never disappeared quickly when I took proton pump inhibitors. By July my problems increased; yet, an endoscopy of the stomach revealed nothing unusual. On September 3rd, the excruciating pain I have been suffering before my hospitalization returned with a vengeance. Only later I learned, that pain caused by the pancreas feels as if it is stomach pain.
 
To learn more about pancreatitis, please click on the link on "Pancreatitis". There is also a link to the “Pankreaszentrum Heidelberg”, "Pankreakzentrum Bochum" and other useful links.

 
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