Pancreatitis is what doctors call an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is one of the most important glands in the body because it produces both the enzymes that our bodies need in order to digest the food that we eat, and the hormones that we need to process and metabolize glucose--the main form of fuel in our bodies. Pancreatitis can be serious because it can interfere with how you absorb your nutrients and calories. A bad case of pancreatitis can result in malnourishment and dehydration. This is why it is important for you to know what you should do to help relieve your symptoms.
Types of Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis can be chronic or acute. In acute pancreatitis, symptoms present themselves suddenly. Sufferers report such problems as severe upper abdominal pain, unbearable post-meal pain, nausea or vomiting, and symptoms can last a few days or even weeks. Chronic pancreatitis, which occurs over many years, presents symptoms including indigestion, involuntary weight loss, seborrhea and unusually oily or foul-smelling stools. Usually, acute pancreatitis will require hospitalization, but chronic pancreatitis can become severe as well.
Treatment for Constipation
Pancreatitis usually requires hospitalization until symptoms can be controlled and the inflammation has subsided. Your medical care team will focus on helping you rest your pancreas by putting you on a clear liquid diet, or by parenteral, or intravenous, nutrition until the inflammation subsides. If no food is coming into the intestines, the pancreas will have no need to produce the enzymes that might be causing the problem, and eventually the inflammation will subside. Doctors may also put you on pain medication and IV fluids to help keep you well-hydrated and to speed up healing of the pancreas.
Pancreatitis and the Diet
With pancreatitis, you will have to follow a very restrictive diet, one that focuses mainly on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. Most important, you will have to limit and avoid several high fat and high-processed sugar foods.
Food Restrictions
Because your pancreas' ability to produce the enzymes that aid in digestion is impaired, digesting fat is especially difficult for your body. You should, thus, restrict things like grain products that have added fat, such as biscuits or doughnuts; breaded or fried vegetables and meats; fatty fruits like avocados; fatty or marbled meats like salami or bologna; whole milk products, and finally, limit how much fat you use for cooking or as salad dressings. Also, if you drink, limit your alcohol consumption, as the process of metabolizing alcohol is incredibly taxing on the pancreas.
