About this topic
The pancreas is an organ that makes and releases enzymes. These help you break down the food you eat. The pancreas gives off a hormone called insulin. This hormone controls the sugar levels in your blood. Pancreatitis is the swelling or irritation of the pancreas. This can be a very serious illness. This health problem has two forms: ‚
- Acute ¢ ˆ ’ sudden or short-term swelling of the pancreas
- Chronic ¢ ˆ ’ long-term swelling of the pancreas; this may lead to serious or lasting damage
Common causes are gallstones; drinking too much beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol); and infection. ‚
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What care is needed at home?
- Ask your doctor what you need to do when you go home. Make sure you ask questions if you do not understand what the doctor says. This way you will know what you need to do.
- Do not drink beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol).
- Eat smaller, low fat meals.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water each day.
What follow-up care is needed?
Your doctor may ask you to make visits to the office to check on your progress. Be sure to keep these visits. ‚
What drugs may be needed?
The doctor may order drugs to: ‚
- Help with pain and swelling
- Fight an infection
- Help your body digest food better
Will physical activity be limited?
You may have to limit your activity. You may need to rest for some time to let yourself heal. If you had surgery, it may take longer to heal. Talk to your doctor about the right amount of activity for you. ‚
What changes to diet are needed?
- You may need to work with a dietitian to learn what foods are good for you to eat.
- Limit caffeine.
- Eat a diet low in fat to help with loose stools, bloating, and cramping.
- Stay away from sugars and fats. Limit sweets and fatty foods such as desserts, fried foods, and chips. Use good fats found in fish, nuts, avocados, and oils, like olive oil and canola oil. Cut back on solid fats (butter, lard, margarine).
What problems could happen?
If you have acute pancreatitis, you may have: ‚
- An infection in the pancreas
- A collection of fluid in the belly called ascites
- Kidney failure
- Breathing problems
If you have chronic pancreatitis, you may have: ‚
- Extra fluid that collects in the belly
- Blockage of the small intestine or bile tubes
- Fluid build-up in the pancreas that can get infected
- Diabetes
- Vitamins or nutrients may not get absorbed in the body
- Pancreatic cancer (rare)
What can be done to prevent this health problem?
- Do not drink beer, wine, and mixed drinks (alcohol).
- If you have gallstones, follow your doctors orders for treatment.
- Avoid smoking.
When do I need to call the doctor?
- Signs of infection. These include a fever of 100.4 ‚ °F (38 ‚ °C) or higher, chills.
- Very bad belly pain
- Very bad upset stomach, throwing up, or loose stools
- Yellowing of the skin and white of the eyes
- You are not feeling better in 2 to 3 days or you are feeling worse
Teach Back: Helping You Understand
The Teach Back Method helps you understand the information we are giving you. The idea is simple. After talking with the staff, tell them in your own words what you were just told. This helps to make sure the staff has covered each thing clearly. It also helps to explain things that may have been a bit confusing. Before going home, make sure you are able to do these: ‚
- I can tell you about my condition.
- I can tell you what changes I need to make with my diet or drugs.
- I can tell you what I will do if I have very bad belly pain, upset stomach, throwing up, or loose stools.
Where can I learn more?
National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse ‚
http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/pancreatitis/ ‚
NHS Choices ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pancreatitis/pages/introduction.aspx ‚
http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/pancreatitis-chronic/pages/introduction.aspx ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚