pancreitis diet

Your father must not drink alcohol (alcohol could be the cause for chronic pancreitis) and he should stop smoking (if he smokes).
He should limit fat, especially saturated fats, like butter. Eating high-fat diet contributes to blood-fat levels and increases your of gallstones, and high blood-fat levels and gallstones are risk factors for pancreitis. So, he should eat fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains and lean protein. In short, he should eat smaller meals, that are low in fat and high in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates give energy to help fight fatigue. They're present in foods made from starches (complex carbohydrates) or sugars (simple carbohydrates). Best would be to get daily calories from complex carbohydrates found in grains, vegetables and legumes. Remember, it is really important for him to stay away from fat food.
He should also drink plenty of fluid, best would be water. It is important not to become dehydrated, which is very common with pancreatitis. Dehydration may aggravate your pain by further irritating your pancreas.
I hope this will do!

My husband just came home from work after only 2 hours. He works as a furniture salesman so the work isn't really hard, but his pancreas has nearly been the death of him. He was 6'2" 236 lbs. this time last year now is 155 lbs. or less. He went in hospital for a whipple surgery, but was in too bad condition for doctor to proceed without endangering his life too strongly. They sewed him up and sent him home a week later with enzymes supplements. He has to take them before eating anything and now they have become ineffective. He is vomiting and hurting this morning too much to work. He hasn't drank alcohol to amount to anything in years, but he still smokes. He had a small dish of rice with sugar and milk on it this morning and that set him off. Last night he had Chinese Pork Lo Mein and it nearly killed him. He is my caregiver (I have Multiple Myeloma) I have been very ill for nearly nine years. Our kids clean the house once a week, and we manage the rest of it ourselves. I am on my disability (very small check) But he is barely 60 and it takes so long to get approved for disability, he almost has to continue to work to keep insurance in effect. Any advice on diet or other lifestyles would be greatly appreciated. Our doctor is like "You will just have to live with it". He had the same problem and had the whipple surgery, was in the hospital nearly a year but finally he made it and is getting chubby and healthy looking. He tries to keep him medicated for the pain etc. but it is going to have to be increased. What's next??? Thanks for any help you can give. I wish I could help you. Love, Ellen

My son 12, has reccurring pancreitits, has been on a nothing diet. pain still there, does anybody here think milk is bad? he has drank some non fat milk.
just wondering

I would love to go over each of these situations, because everyone is an individual. The main recommendations are low fat, high carb, high protein diet. Of course the goal is to control the pain as well. If gallstones have not been ruled out, that is important to do. It is important that the diet has a good source of digestive enzymes as well. I am free to chat with any of you regarding this condition, it's hard to find good food out there this day and age, so much has been done to our food, it is more deadly than good. I can share what I have learned through my own personal research on the state of our foods and point you to healthier choices. Also, explore each individual's diet and what may need to be taken out and what is good to leave in. I am a Health and Nutrition Coach and an RN.


**edited by moderator**

To eacoffey,

I[m not real good with the net, but how can I chat with you about diet for my son? I could really use the help. He has been hospitalized 6 times in the last 7 months. Docs keep sending him home, with no diet plan, I have to figure it out on my own, one gasternoralogist, told him to go ahead and eat pizza, or whatever you want! ONe time in the hospital (pancreititis) when they gave him his first meal, It was a hamburger! I was ignorant at the time, but WOW how can they be so dumb! Can we e-mail each other
mine is _[removed]_
Thanks

I have been reading everyone stories and it hurts. This is April 2, and I am happy because I have been able to sleep in my own bed, stay at my house, take shower, little things pain free sometimes for nine days in a row (thank u god) I say this because this year I have been in a hospital six times and this last stay was 19 days. This is the worse illness I have ever dealt with and I would not wish it on any one, but in saying that everyone keep faith stress does not help our condition. This is new to my body but my father had and has it. I say had because he controls it very well but it took him 2 years, but I was a kid than maybe teenager I am 45 now. I had my first surgery 2001 removed one third of pancrea never was told I had pancreatitis after that surgery (my pancreas was damaged in car accident while in military in 1986 did not have any problems until 2001 and the real deal started jan 17, 2009 and it's been hell every since)I am glad I found this site I am not into computer and it will be by luck if I find it again. But I would like to talk to anyone who wants to or needs to
I am learning to deal with this now I know what it is with my fathers help

I was diagnost with acute pancreitus. It puzzles me because I drink alcohol at most once a week. When I do I get clowned because I can't finish half a beer. (10 oz?). I've never been a big drinker even when I first started. I'm only 32. I'm an athlete that has played semi pro football since "98". I stay highly active during my off seasons with work outs and flag football. I'm an occational smoker no more than two "black n mild" cigars a week during the off season.(5 mos off) I haven't eaten a lot of fatty foods since jr high school. I cut pork out of my diet in elem. school. I love fruits and vegies!! I love high protien meats and boiled eggs! I pretty much use a season salt or soy sause with a lil black/ red crushed peppers with meals; nothing drastic. I drink 2 20oz glasses of whey protein shakes, one after breakfast and one after dinner. I've always been an anti pain meds person since I can remeber and developed a high pain tolerance. So I don't take drugs. I take a dump 2/3 times a day. I don't throw up. I'm a highschool building tech and I'll drink water pretty much everytime I pass a water fountain in the halls. Other than that I got my 5 hr energy diluted into my smart water when I play my football games. I'm very picky about what I eat and it just puzzles me to have pancreitus when I'm not in the habit of someone that developes this type of thing! What should I do? Or is there any other thing I could be doing that I need to watch out for that's causing this? At leaste I know that I can breathe and drink water!!

My sister is still struggling with her digestion after Whipple Surgery which also left her a diabetic. I would love to speak to "eacoffey" who seemed to have some very practical and knowledgeable advice on diet for this sort of case