TONY'S STORY.
In 1971 while working as a registered nurse in Bedfordshire England with my wife and two children I had recently moved house and all seemed well,then one night I awoke with the worst pain I had ever felt in my abdomenI have tried many times then and since to describe it ,it was as if I had been stabbed with a spear.This lasted for several hours and the next day I had a dull heavy ache which lasted for days after.My doctor was mystified gave me painkillers and referred me to the local hospital
Several weeks later I saw the hospital consultant who was also no help,he told my GP it was nerves.Several months later during which time I was well,the pain returned again during the night.I returned to my GP by which time my eyes were turning yellow he took some blood,the results indicated jaundice.Hepatitis was thought to be the cause,but after several weeks of increasing jaundice and rapid weight loss it was decided to send me back to Hospital.After many investigations it was decided I had obstructive jaundice and it was necessary to operate,by this time I was very weak as scans were unheard of in 1971 an operation was performed to see what was wrong.
After hours of surgery they discovered that my pancreas was so swollen it had obstructed my bile duct,my gallbladder was removed and the duct joined to another part of my intestine,also a biopsy to check for cancer.
I dont remember much of the next few weeks but I looked bad,when I looked in the mirror for the first time after the surgery I got quite a shock,.I slowly recovered over the following year and returned to work.After further episodes of pain I said to my doctor this is no good something more must be done.He wrote to the surgeon who had operated and he said I think we can assume its not cancer as he is still with us...alot of comfort that was.
I persisted and found through nursing contacts a hospital in Manchester with a specialist unit for Pancreatic Disease.By this time I was addicted to painkilling drugs.
This was around 1975 after many tests and scans I was told I had Chronic Relapsing Pancreatitis but knowing this helped me to deal with my problems,the difficulties of dealing with doctors who knew very little,and always seem to think you drank (I didnt drink then,before or since)The biggest problems were with employers who did not want to help either..
I am more than willing to share with anyone else and my experience may help, you only have to ask and I will try.
email crispin@crispina.freeserve.co.uk