1. A Relatively Ignored Gland Playing a Big Role
Hidden behind the stomach but playing a crucial role in the digestive process as well as hormonal production is a large gland called the pancreas. Besides secreting digestive enzymes into the small intestine that aid in the digestion of fats, carbohydrates and proteins, the pancreas also produces the hormones insulin and glucagon, which help the body break down glucose to use as energy. Chronic pancreatitis is long-term inflammation of the pancreas that damages both the gland and how it operates.
2. When Things Go From Bad to Worse
Pancreatitis can be classified as either acute or chronic. Some people can have acute pancreatitis and recover fully after each attack, but for some, repeated bouts often leads to chronic pancreatitis. In the chronic stage, the attack of the digestive enzymes on the gland itself causes scarring. The most common cause of chronic pancreatitis is alcoholism. Other causes are cysts forming in the pancreatic duct leading from the pancreas to the small intestine or a family history of the disease. In some cases, the cause is idiopathic (unknown).
3. It's More Than Just Abdominal Pain
If you suffer from chronic pancreatitis, it's often not simply a case of saying, "I have abdominal pain." Symptoms of this condition can be tricky. For instance, you might have abdominal pain that only worsens after eating or drinking or pain that is constant and spreads to the lower back. You may not have any pain at all in the later stages of chronic pancreatitis, simply because the pancreas is no longer producing digestive enzymes. Foul-smelling fatty stools may result when food is no longer broken down properly. Weight loss too may result because food is not being absorbed in the small intestine the way it should be.
4. Revealing the Real Culprit
If you've been displaying any signs of chronic pancreatitis, it's important to get to a doctor immediately. An abdominal CT scan or ultrasound will reveal any physical abnormalities in the pancreas. A magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP) will better show the pancreas and pancreatic duct than a regular MRI can. Blood tests are often inconclusive when testing for chronic pancreatitis. A physician will ask about family medical history and also about possible alcohol abuse that can lead to chronic pancreatitis.
5. Taking Chronic Pancreatitis Head-On
Luckily, there are steps you can take to fight chronic pancreatitis. Eating four or five low-fat meals a day can help reduce attacks. If your pancreatitis is the result of drinking alcohol, abstain from doing so. Enzyme supplements may be taken to replace those enzymes produced by the pancreas, thus resting the gland. Prescription analgesics and even nerve blocks can be used to alleviate pain. Surgically removing limited parts of the pancreas is reserved for those who do not respond to any other type of treatment.
