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Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of ThePancreatitisPlace
SSDI Moderated Chatr with Attorney Duke Dorotheo
Thursday July 14, 2005
8:00 pm - 9:00 pm
This event does not repeat.
Event Location: TPP's AOL chatroom
Street: TPP Chatroom on AOL
Notes:
This is a moderated Q&A session with Mr Duke Dorotheo, SS attorney from Washington DC.

Diane,
Stupid doctors for stupid pancrei (plural pancreas?).
Oh, well. Sorry your'e felling soo bad! Misery loves company. And we are in
GREAT company here!!!
Speaking of misery, got to get back to work.
Hang in there!
Bob
7kidsmom@... wrote:
Julie,
I spent last night in the ER, going around in circles with a Dr that
wouldn't admit me because my labs all came back normal, and my regular Dr wasn't
on call, so he couldn't get permission from the on call Dr. I've been in a
major flair since Fri, and have put off going in, but I'm scared that the longer
I wait, the more scar tissue I'm building. My labs almost always come back
normal-which is why I think I've built up so much scar tissue up to this point!
Anyway, my blood pressure was through the roof last night! I was so freaked
out-I thought I was having a heart attack, because it hurt to take deep breaths!
They even hooked me up to the EKG to see if I was, indeed, having a heart
attack. I wasn't. But I was in SOOO much pain! He ended up giving me an
anti-inflammatory, (? WHAT?) and sent me home! I asked him as I was limping out
the door, "Can I take the vicodin that I have at home?" He said, "Sure, that
should make you feel better." Well if it made me feel!
better, I wouldn't be at the ER at 3 AM!! Stupid Doctors!! (Sorry to all the
good docs..) Anywho, I get my sandostatin shot tomorrow, so I'm hoping that
this flair will slowly dissipate, but I'm with Bob, this is just a bunch of
hooey! I'm sick of being sick! It's sooooooooooooooooooo much worse not having
insurance! My husband got laid off when I first got sick, and is receiving
unemployment, and on the plus side, they're going to pay his schooling to get an
electrician's degree, so maybe in 2 years or so, we'll have insurance. If I can
hold out that long.
BUT, your comment about your high blood pressure made me feel better, which
was the point of my giant tirade here. I hadn't ever had high BP before, but
the pain was just out of this world, then I saw my BP, and I started to freak,
and it was just a nightmare. Relief to know that high BP is normal w/high pain.
Would've been nice if Poduck Dr. would've known that too.
Hope everyone else is feeling MUCH better than me, and sorry for my
negativity-I promise my next post will be cheerier!!!
-Diane in KY

{{{{{{{Diane,}}}}}}}
Can you get MedicAid while he is taking training? I would think that
unemployment ins. would put you in the right income bracket.
I empathize with your utter screaming frustration last night. Way too
many of us have stood in your shoes,
Nancy F, SoCal

Diane,
I am so sorry to hear you are not feeling well! I am just amazed, disgusted but
amazed at the lack of initiative on some doctors part to actually take a moment
to listen and hear what a patient is saying. It sickens me that we are run
through the ER like cattle unless we come through the doors with something as
glamorous as what is shown on the t.v. series ER! I'll bet Dr. Mark Green or
Dr. John Carter would have us all figured out in no time and send us on our
merry way feeling much better ! LOL!!
It is tough being without insurance. I just started experiencing the panic of
that myself. My insurance coverage was suppoosed to be cancelled as of 7/10/05.
So far, they have not cancelled me nor have they sent any COBRA paperwork. I
picked up a prescription yesterday and it was still covered but I am holding my
breath here. If I could just get one more months coverage....lol
Please take good care of yourself, rest lots, drink fluids, and eat very
lightly! Maybe those modifications (if they are modifications indded), will
help in alleviating some of the pain.
many prayers going your way,
dawn

Julie,
I spent last night in the ER, going around in circles with a Dr that
wouldn't admit me because my labs all came back normal, and my regular Dr wasn't
on call, so he couldn't get permission from the on call Dr. I've been in a
major flair since Fri, and have put off going in, but I'm scared that the longer
I wait, the more scar tissue I'm building. My labs almost always come back
normal-which is why I think I've built up so much scar tissue up to this point!
Anyway, my blood pressure was through the roof last night! I was so freaked
out-I thought I was having a heart attack, because it hurt to take deep breaths!
They even hooked me up to the EKG to see if I was, indeed, having a heart
attack. I wasn't. But I was in SOOO much pain! He ended up giving me an
anti-inflammatory, (? WHAT?) and sent me home! I asked him as I was limping out
the door, "Can I take the vicodin that I have at home?" He said, "Sure, that
should make you feel better." Well if it made me feel!
better, I wouldn't be at the ER at 3 AM!! Stupid Doctors!! (Sorry to all the
good docs..) Anywho, I get my sandostatin shot tomorrow, so I'm hoping that
this flair will slowly dissipate, but I'm with Bob, this is just a bunch of
hooey! I'm sick of being sick! It's sooooooooooooooooooo much worse not having
insurance! My husband got laid off when I first got sick, and is receiving
unemployment, and on the plus side, they're going to pay his schooling to get an
electrician's degree, so maybe in 2 years or so, we'll have insurance. If I can
hold out that long.
BUT, your comment about your high blood pressure made me feel better, which
was the point of my giant tirade here. I hadn't ever had high BP before, but
the pain was just out of this world, then I saw my BP, and I started to freak,
and it was just a nightmare. Relief to know that high BP is normal w/high pain.
Would've been nice if Poduck Dr. would've known that too.
Hope everyone else is feeling MUCH better than me, and sorry for my
negativity-I promise my next post will be cheerier!!!
-Diane in KY

Hi, Anyse (what a neat name!) Re: your mssg about the Duragesic vs MYLAN
patches:
Guess it just goes to show that we are all so different that what works
for
one, is no good at all for another! I have an Online friend who SWEARS by
her morphine pump implant, and I wouldn't do this for anything on earth!
It's terribly invasive, there are 2 sites subject to infection, there is
a risk
you may run out of drs willing to refill it every month, given how
negative
they all are about narcotics these days. And the idea of this big thing
in
there makes me nauseous! What if it malfunctions and releases too much
morphine? Or stops working and they have to go in and take it out? But,
hey - she is up and about, able to do ten times more things than I. So
there
you have it - we each must decide what risks we are willing to take.
I think one of the main problems that I had with the Duragesic patch is
skin
reaction. I was up to 200 mcg doses, replacing them every two days,
because
I would break out in blisters, and the bioclusive bandage was even worse.
When I switched to the MYLAN patch, which hasn't caused any skin reaction
at
all, it was right after my Dr CUT my dosage by 70%, having decided I was
too addicted, and he even referred to problems with malpractice
insurance. The
worst problem we face in our area began right after the leading pain Mgmt
doc here was put in federal prison for overprescribing! I got the
argument
that all I wanted was more drugs. Choking down the rage I felt at the
utter
stupidity of that conclusion, I replied to that, who was thinking about
that
when they kept on increasing my dosage?? I NEVER took more than was
prescribed, but of course, after 6 months or so, the 25, then 50, then
75, on
up to 200, got less and less effective. With each increase, I would go
through
the same "Drug Fog" that you mentioned, but that would wear off, and I'd
actually feel so much better that I'd be able to do all the things I
enjoyed.
Then, gradually, the pain would get so much worse that I'd call & they'd
up
the dosage again. Early on, I asked about addiction, but they assured me
I would be "dependant", not "addicted". Great lotta good that does now.
I've said over and over that it would help a helluva lot if people would
stop
thinking of it as "drugs", as in Street Drugs, taken for the fun of the
high, or
whatever it is that makes people take drugs they don't need. We need to
have
both drs and pharmacists, start thinking in terms of medicine, as there's
nothing else left to treat the pain after you've tried everything else.
I am confused a little about why you've experienced such a swing in your
dosages. I'm wondering if this could be due, at least in part, to some
kind of
metabolic changes in your system, rather than just a problem with the
patch.
There's certainly no MD after my name, and I could be mistaken, but I do
have a lot of experience with this, and I do hope you've checked that
possibility
out thoroughly.
I do not yet have diabetes, but I do experience sharp decreases in blood
sugar
from time to time, with severe sweating, nausea, and shakiness, and the
leg
cramps you mentioned, for which I take Zanaflex. What you describe sounds
similar to that to me.
Also, have you ever taken your blood pressure when you have these painful
episodes? I discovered that sheer pain can make my BP shoot up off the
chart!
My doc has confirmed this. A sharp rise in BP can make you feel weak and
breathless. I also feel a pressure in my throat when this happens.
Sometimes
have a bit of a headache, too.
Thanks for your message. This kind of exchange is one of the things that
makes this site so valuable!
Blessings - Julie in Indy

Hello Everyone,
Have a question for everyone. For the last 3 days I been having a
pretty rough time withe the old panc in protest. It is kind of
weird..... Solid food, the the most part, will stay down. But
liquids is whole different thing.... Has anyone here ever
experienced this? If yes, any idea what causes liquids to be a
problem but not solids? Any suggestions would be most welcome!!
Normally the opposite is true. Can usually manage sipping on
something but can't keep solid foods down.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Dawn,
Thank you for your kind words and I will always take prayers.
Blessings,
Christine
Denton, TX.

ReeAnn,
Can I just come and listen (or read in this case, lol), even if I don't
have any questions?
Blessings,
Christine
Denton, TX.

Ree,
Hi! I am so bummed, I will miss this chat because I will be back at
Westchester. Could you save it for me so I could read it in its entirety? I
would
really appreciate it.
If there is time, would you mind asking the following question??
In general, is more weight given to the diagnosis of chronic depression that
almost always accompanies the diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis? If so, why?
Is there a chance in the future that as people become more familiar with the
debilitating effects of cp, that this diagnosis in itself will be enough?
Thanks Ree! Have a great day!

Reeann,
As always, you amaze me. Where you find the time to follow up on these
things that have the potential to help us just defies amazement.
Thank you so much for going the extra mile to keep us all informed and better
educated!
You are truly a special lady.
hugs,
dawn

Christine,
Thank you so much for sharing your blessing of the day! It gives new hope to
those of us waiting to hear or see some answers to our continued prayers!
I for one am glad that Chelle received the blessing of some relief. I would
rather she have that blessing, as young as she is and as strong as she has
been, than have it myself. She is truly remarkable to keep the faith as she has
and not give up. I don't know that I could have done the same at her age, in
fact, I know I couldnt have.
Have a great day and I will continue to pray for continued relief for her and
some peace of mind for you!!
hugs,
dawn

Hello Everyone,
Recently I posted an abstract that suggested Celebrex and other COX-2
inhibitor drugs might have an additional of being a preventative
chemo for pancreatic cancer. (See post #15524) As I mentioned in my
previous post, I wrote to one of the publishing doctors for more
information. Today I received a reply that I would like to share
members because this is such good news, even though the results are
still preliminary!! The full article is going to be published in the
next issue of the professional journal "Pancreatology" and once it is
published, we will receive a copy of it for TPP members. Meanwhile,
here is the reply I received:
"Dear Ms Betts-Morris,
Many thanks for your interest and supportive words, which I forwarded
to the co-authors on the paper, as I am sure that they too will
greatly encouraged in their work by your e-mail.
Unfortunately, the paper has not been published yet. It will appear
in the next issue of Pancreatology, and only then I will be able to
send you electronic copy. I hope that is alright.
Basically, what we found is that both in a large proportion of
pancreatic cancers and its precursor lesions (so-called PanINs =
pancreatic Intraductal Neoplasia) express COX-2, a protein which is
already known to play a pivotal role in (1) cancer development and
(2) inflammation.
Since quite a while several cox-2 inhibitors are available, which
have been shown to have a protective effect for large bowel cancer.
In particular, cox-2 inhibitors seem to delay or interrupt the
transition between a benign large bowel polyp and large bowel cancer.
Hence, it seems plausible that cox-2 inhibitors could have a similar
effect on the pancreas, as both the precursor lesions and pancreatic
cancer itself express cox-2. Because of their anti-inflammatory
effect, cox-2 inhbiitors could possible also influence the
inflammatory changes if the neoplasia arises in the context of
chronic pancreatitis.
Of course there is a long way between reserach on human tissue and
actually proving that these drugs do have a protective effect. The
only information we have so far is that of large studies, looking at
the incidence of pancreatic cancer in people who do and who don't
take cox-2 inhibitors. The results of these (few) studies are
controversial: in several there seems to be a protective effect (ie
lower occurrence of pancreatic cancer in people taking cox-2
inhbiitors as compared to those not taking them), whereas in one
large study there was no such effect.
At the moment, it is difficult to advise any patient on this.
However, since you are taking this medication anyway for another
indication, then it is probable that if anything, it could have some
protective effect. The strenght of that effect is not clear, however.
I hope that my explanation is of any help to you. In your situation I
would probably continue to take the Celebrex, and take it maybe with
the small additional motiviation that it may be doing some good to
your pancreas too. But again, we are at a too early stage to make any
definitive statement here.
I visited The Pancreatitis Place website, and would like to
congratulate you. It has a lot to offer, and therefore I was not
suprised that I was the 11,000++ visitor of the site!
Thank you again for kind e-mail. I wis good luck to you personally,
and your support group. I shall send the paper as soon as it is out.
Best wishes
Caroline S Verbeke"
This really is good news for us!! I know several members besides
myself are already on celebrex and it good to know that it might also
be preventing pancreatic cancer as well as helping the arthritis!!!
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Good evening all,
This will be brief, but I just wanted to share my joy and bring hope to
some that are in pain. Like many of you praying for yourself or as in
my case, my baby to get well, you wait for those prays to be answered.
Every morning, Chelle comes into my bedroom gives me a kiss and lets me
hold her like she was only two years old. Then I ask every
morning, "how is your tummy?". I almost passed out when she reply---
"pretty good, actually." Wow, words I have longed to hear in a very
long time. I even asked again (ye of little faith, lol) and got the
same answer. Don't ever think your prayers are not being heard. God's
time is always perfect!!!
Blessings,
Christine
Denton, TX.

Hello Everyone,
I wanted to take a few to go over the Q & A Chat session format with
Attorney Duke Dorotheo on Thursday evening, as it will be handled
differently from our normal, hosted chats. We will only have about
an hour or hour and a half of Mr. Dorotheo time, so chat will be
structured to allow for as many questions as possible. Here's some
information that should help make this a successful event, which will
encourage Mr. Dorotheo to do this again for us.
1. Please try to prepare your questions in advance of the chat.
Then do a simple copy and paste into chat when it is your turn. This
will save valuable time.
2. Remember to keep your questions general in nature, and not
related to a specific case. If you need help rewording your specific
question into a general one, please let Gary or myself know. We will
gladly help you pose your questions in such a way that Mr. Dorotheo
can answer them.
3. Please remember this chat is for Social Security Disability
information only and conversations about other topics should be held
until after Mr. Dorotheo finishes.
4. If you have a question you would like to ask, please type in
a question mark ("?"). This is very important. I will keep a
running list of who has submitted a "?" and questions will be
answered in the order in which the "?"s are submitted.
5. Please do not ask your question before you are call upon.
Mr. Dorotheo will only answer questions following this structured
format. This is necessary as there is only one of him answering the
questions from many of us.
We are very fortunate to offer this service to our members. Mr.
Dorotheo has helped several members win their Social Security cases
and as a result has a better understanding of the pancreatitis
related issues than the average attorney, who may never see a
pancreatitis case. Please join us on Thursday evening in the TPP
Chatroom at 8pm eastern time.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Pseudocysts are a frequent cause and/or side effect
of pancreatitis. They are pockets of fluid that
form on the pancreas. I do not know exactly what
causes them, but there are various schools of thought
on how to manage treatment. Often they are surgically
drained, other times they will resolve on their own -
given time. This abstract looks at endoscopic
management vs. surgery. The full article is available
on the website, but you must join Medscape to access it.
Sincerely
Gary - Virginia
With Warmest Regards and God Bless
Customer Service Manager
Garymorrisuva@...
Phone 434-490-7191
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

Just an reminder that the Q & A session with a
Social Security Attorney Chat is just around the
corner.
Just Two days to go..
If you feel you can not make it for what ever reason,
you may E-mail your questions to ReeAnn or me and we
will be more then happy to ask them on your behalf.
We do not want anyone to feel they will be left out
I will also be on line tonight starting at 8 eastern
stander time so if you need ReeAnn or my help getting
Aim loaded please fill free to contact us tonight.
ReeAnn has done a lot of hard work to setting this up
for our members and this is a good opportunity for those
seeking to go on disability or those whom maybe thinking
about it.
Hope to see you there.
Sincerely
Gary - Virginia
With Warmest Regards & God Bless
Gary Morris ~ Virginia
Customer Service Manager
garymorrisuva@...
garyattpp@...
Phone 434-490-7191
gary@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

This recipe seems to be diabetic and pancreatitis
friendly, but if you have Malabsorption problems it
can be hard on your body due to the high protein.
So do keep this point in mine on this one.
Halibut With Lime-Cilantro Yogurt Topping
This is a terrific, simple halibut recipe that works for
either the broiler or the grill. Cooking time is 10
minutes per inch, so allow a little longer if the fish
is thicker or a little less if the fillet is thinner.
Serve with green beans, roasted or grilled tomatoes,
and rice
INGREDIENTS
· 4 5-ounce center-cut halibut fillets
· 1 cup plain, non-fat yogurt, drained
· 1/4 cup fresh chopped cilantro
· 2 tbsp fresh squeezed lime juice
PREPARATION
Preheat broiler and coat broiler rack with nonstick
cooking spray. If you choose to grill the halibut,
spray the grill before preheating it to medium-high
Rinse halibut fillets and pat dry. Place halibut on
broiler rack or grill.
Combine yogurt, cilantro and lime juice.
Mix well.
Spread half the mixture on top of halibut fillets. Broil
or grill for 10 minutes per inch of thickness, turning
once half way through and spreading rest of yogurt on
top of second side.
Serve with green beans and rice or couscous.
Serves 4
Per Serving: Calories 184
Calories from Fat 30
Total Fat 3.3g (sat 0.5g)
Cholesterol 46mg
Sodium 125mg
Carbohydrate 5.5g
Fiber 0.1g
Protein 33.1g
Source About
http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/fishandseafood/r/broiledhalibut.htm
?nl=1
Always consult with your physician, before partaking
in any new recipe
With Warmest Regards & God Bless
Sincerely
Gary - Virginia
Customer Service Manager
garymorrisuva@...
Phone 434-490-7191
gary@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

Bob,
Sorry to hear you are feeling as you are! Seclusion sounds like a nice
option right now. I am so overwhelmed with everything going on in my life and
the
pain of it all that just sleeping through a day is sounding more and more
appealing.
So you got no where with pain management hungh? That really stinks. It
seems like we are all running out of options and its getting harder and harder
to
be positive in light of it all.
Try to take care and it was good to hear from you again!
hugs,
dawn
i agree, stupid, stupid pancreas!

Ree,
I don't know what to say about your doctors appointment or lack of it. It
has to be frustrating not to see the same doctor each time you go. Is there a
way you can change that? Some way you can have the same doctor each time so
you don't have to explain everything each time?
My endo agreed with the resident about the gfr test. It is not the sole
measure of kidney function. I read what you did on niddk but it seems that
those
we speak to are not in agreement with that assessment.
I am going to be brutally honest with you and tell you where I think your
doctors office is at this point. I am not saying I agree with their assessment
but I can see it from their point of view and in my estimation, they are never
sure what new diagnosis you are going to come in with for yourself. Remember
that a couple of months ago we talked about the parathyroid, then the MEN1,
now the kidney function. These are all unusual problems for someone who has the
basic disease of CP (as seen from the viewpoint of a pcp). I do not think
that they are giving your research and your theories the clinical weight that
you would like them too because they don't believe these are issues. Two kidney
tests several weeks a part does not alarm them. They are figuring the
vitamin d level is good because you took the supplement, not that you are cured
of
the absorption problem...follow me?
This is why I never, ever go to my pcp. I have not seen him in almost 18
months. I deal with my GI only. If I have questions about tests or results or
whatever, I go right to him. I rarely see him because of his location but we
do talk a lot on the phone. I always have my results sent to my pcp but as far
as I am concerned, where my healthcare is at stake, he is good for nothing
more than a common cold, a urinary tract infection, a sore throat, etc. He and
his staff are clueless about the disease process except the limited training
they are exposed to in school.
Now, my pcp is the one who initially diagnosed my chronic pancreatitis but
washed his hands from there. One prescription of vicodin and he was done with
me. He wanted me in pain management and yet couldnt recommend one, he said I
needed a GI and yet, didn't know who........as I said, clueless.
That's the only thing I can think of as to why you are constantly running and
jumping through hoops for these people. Can you deal with just Dr. Lehman
even if it is by fax and phone? See him once every three months or so and go
from there? Is that a possibility?
I hate that you go through this all the time and I hope that something I have
said will help you to obtain better care in the future.
hugs,
dawn

ReeAnn,
Just read your e-mail (and Dawn's response). SIGH!!! No wonder I went into
"seclusion" last month (and fighting it again).
It seems that it's just one thing after another. I know, there are people worse
off out there. But, ge wiz! A little break now and again (just to mix it up a
bit) wouldn't hurt. Speaking of hurting; I made the mistake of eating tonight.
I'll keep this short as I may to become indisposed...
It really is sad. For every "decent" doctor we find....
I've seen "pain management" mentioned in a few posts and actually was going to
mention it myself, but didn't until now. My consult was exactly as I expected.
They wanted me to come (during work hours) for occupational and physical
therapy. I told them that I work thru the pain. I'm active (walk/lift weights)
and generally live with and thru the pain. No offer of a pain block (suggestion
of PCP and specialist). Gave me a script in April (never even bothered to fill
it). Oh, well..
Anyway, try to hang in there! Where would we be without our fearless leader?
:-)
Good night, all.
Bob in Pgh
STUPID PANCREAS!!!
"ReeAnn M." <ReeAnn@...
Hello Everyone,
This morning I got a phone call, wish I had written down the name of
the nurse that called, saying the resident I was scheduled to see was
unavailable, but another resident had a cancellation at 4:30. Of
course I took the appointment. Had an appointment anyway at 2:30
with the respiratory therapist to talk about quitting smoking.
I got another call that went to voice mail on my cell phone from
Sara, my PCP's regular nurse, again about the cancellation. I
tried calling her back on my way there and was on hold for more than
½ hour. Got to the office before anyone answered the phone.
To make a long story short, I got yet another appointment, this time
for 3:45 with yet another resident. What a waste of time the whole
thing was!! First off, the doctor did not even know that Vitamin D
came in the mega 50,000 unit doses. Had to look it up. Thought it
only came in 400 units you get over the counter. And this was the
regular doc not the intern!! Yes I saw 2 doctors today.
Then as far as the kidneys go, they had no answers and yet the only
test they ran was a standard urine analysis! Did not even order a
recheck of the GFR or PTH! They did tell me that they have seen
lower numbers, and I replied "Yes I am sure with older people who
have had diabetes for a number of years." There was no reply to
that comment. Though they tried to blame the kidney problems on the
high blood pressure, which is pretty well controlled with the meds.
So where do I stand? At this point, no answers. Sara is suppose to
find out what day my PCP wants to be over booked so I can get in to
see him. If I don't hear from her by Monday, I am to call back.
That will make 3 weeks at least since my last GFR check. At present
rate of decline, I possibly will have lost another 6% of my kidney
function and down to 45%. GEEZ!! And will be no closer to answers
then.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Hello Everyone,
This morning I got a phone call, wish I had written down the name of
the nurse that called, saying the resident I was scheduled to see was
unavailable, but another resident had a cancellation at 4:30. Of
course I took the appointment. Had an appointment anyway at 2:30
with the respiratory therapist to talk about quitting smoking.
I got another call that went to voice mail on my cell phone from
Sara, my PCP's regular nurse, again about the cancellation. I
tried calling her back on my way there and was on hold for more than
½ hour. Got to the office before anyone answered the phone.
To make a long story short, I got yet another appointment, this time
for 3:45 with yet another resident. What a waste of time the whole
thing was!! First off, the doctor did not even know that Vitamin D
came in the mega 50,000 unit doses. Had to look it up. Thought it
only came in 400 units you get over the counter. And this was the
regular doc not the intern!! Yes I saw 2 doctors today.
Then as far as the kidneys go, they had no answers and yet the only
test they ran was a standard urine analysis! Did not even order a
recheck of the GFR or PTH! They did tell me that they have seen
lower numbers, and I replied "Yes I am sure with older people who
have had diabetes for a number of years." There was no reply to
that comment. Though they tried to blame the kidney problems on the
high blood pressure, which is pretty well controlled with the meds.
So where do I stand? At this point, no answers. Sara is suppose to
find out what day my PCP wants to be over booked so I can get in to
see him. If I don't hear from her by Monday, I am to call back.
That will make 3 weeks at least since my last GFR check. At present
rate of decline, I possibly will have lost another 6% of my kidney
function and down to 45%. GEEZ!! And will be no closer to answers
then.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

HI ReeAnn,
Just wanted to let you know I got an appointment with Dr. Lehman on
Aug 1 (pretty quick, I thought). Thanks for the advice hopefully have
some luck there. Been down with strep, again so haven't left the bed
til today-back to work. Anyways thanks. Natalie

Wow, thanks for the info ReeAnn! I think it's "Beger", not "Berger",
and it is similar to the Frey procedure. I had never heard of it
before my dr. recommended it; I will let everyone know how it works
out.
Thanks,
Karen C.
Amarillo, TX

Hello Everyone,
Everyday there are new drugs introduced and it is hard to keep up
with them. Many of the drugs used to treat cancer are also used for
other reasons, such as the Sandostatin. The National Cancer Institue
has new online medication dictionary. It contains definitions for
more than 500 drugs. With many moe links for drugs not included.
Please bookmark this link for future reference:
http://www.cancer.gov/drugdictionary/
Here is a sample listing for the Sandostatin:
"octreotide [ Sandostatin; Sandostatin Lar Depot; Sandostatin-LAR;
Sandostatina; Sandostatine ]The synthetic acetate salt of a long-
acting cyclic octapeptide with pharmacologic properties mimicking
those of the natural hormone somatostatin. Similar to somatostatin,
octreotide suppresses the luteinizing hormone response to
gonadotropin-releasing hormone, decreases splanchnic blood flow, and
inhibits the release of serotonin, gastrin, vasoactive intestinal
peptide (VIP), secretin, motilin, pancreatic polypeptide, and thyroid
stimulating hormone. (NCI Thesaurus)" The items in parathesis or
brackets are links for more information.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Hello Everyone,
Ellen sent me this website and it is very concise and to the point.
It lists the features of chronic pancreatitis in bulleted format.
http://www.surgical-tutor.org.uk/default-home.htm?
system/abdomen/chronic_pancreatitis.htm~right
Please copy both lines of the link and paste into yout web browswer.
This is a good site for printing and carrying to the ER or doc who
don't understand pancreatitis. Thanks Ellen!! As always, your
research helps us in so many ways.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Berger Procedure
Hello Everyone,
As I did not know much about the Berger procedure, I thought I would
see what I could find on the net about it. I think it might be the
same thing as the Frey procedure, named after the two doctors who
first did it. Please correct me if I am wrong. Here's what I
found:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?
cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=7726670&dopt=Abstract
Duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the pancreas in chronic
pancreatitis. A prospective, randomized trial.
By:
Izbicki JR, Bloechle C, Knoefel WT, Kuechler T, Binmoeller KF,
Broelsch CE.
Department of Surgery, University of Hamburg, Germany.
Published:
Ann Surg. 1995 Apr;221(4):350-8.
OBJECTIVE:
Two techniques of duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the
pancreas were compared in a prospective, randomized trial. The
technical feasibility and effects on quality of life were assessed.
SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA:
Drainage and resection are the principles of surgery in chronic
pancreatitis. The techniques of duodenum-preserving resection of the
head of the pancreas as described by Berger and Frey combine both to
different degrees. The efficacy of both procedures has not been
compared thus far.
METHODS:
Forty-two patients were allocated randomly to either Beger's (n = 20)
or Frey's (n = 22) group. In addition to routine pancreatic
diagnostic work-up, a multidimensional psychometric quality-of-life
questionnaire and and a pain score were used. Assessment of endocrine
and exocrine function included oral glucose tolerance test, serum
concentrations of insulin, C-peptide, and HbA1c, as well as fecal
chymotrypsin and pancreolauryl test. The interval between symptoms
and surgery ranged from 12 months to 12 years, with a mean of 5.7
years. The mean follow-up was 1.5 years.
RESULTS:
There was no mortality. Overall morbidity was 14% (20% Beger, 9%
Frey). Complications from adjacent organs were resolved definitively
in 94% (90% Beger, 100% Frey). A decrease of 95% and 94% of the pain
score after Beger's and Frey's procedure, respectively, and an
increase of 67% of the overall quality-of-life index in both groups
were observed. Endocrine and exocrine function did not differ between
both groups.
CONCLUSIONS:
Both techniques of duodenum-preserving resection of the head of the
pancreas are equally safe and effective with regard to pain relief,
improvement of quality of life, and definitive control of
complications affecting adjacent organs. Neither procedure leads to
further deterioration of endocrine and exocrine pancreatic function.
PMID: 7726670
~*~
http://www.ddc.musc.edu/ddc_pub/patientInfo/surgeries/pancreatic/page0
8.htm
This website has a good description of the procedure with
diagrams. "This operation is done by coring out the diseased portion
of the head of the pancreas to improve drainage of ducts in the head
of the pancreas that would not otherwise be drained doing the
traditional Puestow operation."
~*~
http://www.bhj.org/journal/2001_4301_jan/reviews_175.htm
This website talks about the various surgical procedures used to
treat pancreatitis. The diagrams did not load for me, but it has a
good description of the various surgical treatments.
~*~
http://www.pancreasweb.com/pancreas.asp?ak=Detail&zaehler=1770
"Commentary by Jakob R. Izbicki, MD, FACS, University of Hamburg,
Germany, on:
Complications after Frey´s procedure for chronic pancreatitis
A. Chaudhary et al.
Am J Surg 2004;188:277-281
PancreasWeb 01/11/04
The authors report on a retrospective study, including 41 patients
who underwent a Frey´s Procedure between 1990 and 2003 for chronic
pancreatitis. The postoperative complications after Frey´s operation
were evaluated. Quality of life, the endocrine and exocrine functions
as well as the nutritional status in the postoperative course were
not addressed in this paper. The study included 34 males and 7 female
patients with a mean age of 36,73 years. Alcoholism was the etiology
in 54% of the patients, in 46% the cause could not be determined.
Nine of these 41 patients had a history of jaundice, 1 had an episode
of hematemesis from bleeding gastric varices. Four patients underwent
previous pancreaticojejunostomy. A closure of a duodenal ulcer
perforation and a cystogastrostomy were performed in two other
patients. The authors observed 19 different complications in 39% of
the patients. The mortality was 2,4%. Regression analysis showed
preoperative stenting to be the main risk factor for septic
complications. The frequency of duodenum preserving operation for
chronic pancreatitis was 3/yr in this study. In terms of
postoperative morbidity, the complication rate of 39% therefore seems
rather high compared to the literature. In high volume centers
postoperative morbidity should range around 20%. It can at least be
speculated, that preoperative stenting has an impact on postoperative
course, however in our experience patients do not present with stents
in situ when opting for surgical intervention."
Hope this information helps!!
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Hello Everyone,
I receieved the following abstract in one of my email notifications.
I have written to one of the authors, Dr. Verbekec, for permission to
publish the full article here and also asking for him to put his
findings in layman's terms so we can better understand it. The
abstract appears to indicate that COX-2 medications (such as
Celebrex) can be used as a type of chemo treatment in the prevention
of pancreatic cancer in patients with Chronic Pancreatitis. Wouldn't
this be good news for all of us with chronic pancreatitis? That
there is such a simple way to help prevent pancreatic cancer.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Dear Janet,
No you do not have to have AOL to access the chatroom. AOL offers a
free messenger program called AIM that will give you access to the
chatroom. You can get it at www.aim.com. Once you have it
downloaded and setup (if you need help with this part send me a

Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of ThePancreatitisPlace
Hosted Chat - ReeAnn & Gary
Sunday July 10, 2005
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
This event repeats every week.
Event Location: AOL's TPP Chat room
Street: AOL's TPP Chatroom
Notes:
ReeAnn (Founder of TPP) and husband Gary will host a chat in AOLs TPP Chat room. You will need AOL or free AIM (www.aim.com) to access this Chat room. Please email us for the link.
GaryMorrisUVA@...
ReeAnn@...

Hello Everyone,
PanCan, officially known as the "Pancreatic Cancer Action Network",
is an organization dedicted to finding a cure for pancreatic cancer.
They are having a benefit Walk/Run on August 27th. For more
information about this event, please see this website:
http://www.movinandgroovinforpancan.com/
PanCan's website is here: http://www.pancan.org/
They sponsor research for a cure to pancreatic cancer. You can find
on their website a list of ongoing clinical trials, resources for
patients and healthcare professionals, and upcoming events. November
has been considered Pancreatic Cancer Awareness month for some time
now and they are working with Congress to have it officially
declared.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Ree,
I am so sorry to hear of your lab results. I really don't have the time at the
moment to do the necessary research on what I am thinking (still at the
hospital) so I am going to tell you my thoughts and maybe it will strike
something in your memory.
First off, I do know from my own doctor that the test you are talking about for
your kidneys is not exclusive in how your kidneys are functioning. Remember
when we were trying to figure out the GFR for Arties Mom that night on the
computer? Well, I asked her endo about it two days later and he told me that
the GFR test, while accurate is not the only measure of kidney function. There
are a series of things they look at in order to determine what stage of kidney
disease is present if any. He also said that it is completely possible for
someone to have an "episode" of reduced kidney function that returns to normal
once the underlying cause is treated.
So, please, don't let your mind start you on dialysis just yet. Wait to hear
from your medical team before you get too awful upset. In your case (unlike
mine I mean) I think that if they just did the parathyroid surgery (the 15 min
outpt one), you would feel a lot of relief from many of these symptoms. Check
on the possible problems that the parathyroid can create when hyper and you will
note that decreased kidney function is one of those. So, in my mind that would
be the underlying cause of your "kidney episode". Make sense?
I'll be praying for you and hoping you are able to rest this weekend and trust
in your medical team to know whats best.
Sure seems like someone at the pcp's office is not hearing what you are saying
about the methadone. That part I think, never ends...........
Talk to you soon.
Hugs,
Dawn
p.s. Judy had her left leg amputated on Thursday and the lady is doing
remarkably well. She is eating better, responding better, her mind is
definately "back", and she wants nothing more than to go home!!

Nancy,
From what I am being told, a Beger procedure is an operation in which
the head of the pancreas is removed, something similar to a Whipple.
A splanchichectomy (I don't know if I am spelling that right!) is a
procedure where the splanchic nerve is severed, for pain control.
After the splanchicectomy I was actually able to go w/o pain meds for
nearly four years before it started catching up to me again last fall.
Here is a link to some articles I found about this if you are
interested:
http://www.facs.org/education/gs2004/gs36howard
http://www.ddc.musc.edu/ddc_pub/patientInfo/surgeries/pancreatic/page1
0.htm
Karen Craven
Amarillo, TX

Hello Everyone,
Yesterday I was finally able to pickup my "new" prescription for
methadone. The "change" was going from 2 times a day to 3 times a
day with NO increase in strength. I know for a fact this is not
going to help at all. I have tried 3 times a day on some of my worse
pain days and that is not any better than twice a day. Anyway, I
have my PCP to contact Dr. Lehman for recommendations on pain meds.
Hopefully he will when he gets back from vacation the middle of the
month.
While I was at the hospital yesterday I picked up my lab results from
medical records. And I broke down in tears when I was telling Gary
about them 5 minutes later.
First the good news. My Vitamin D level is back to normal from the
supplemental Vitamin D I was on (50,000 units per week). Now the bad
news. Even though Vitamin D is now normal, my PTH was still elevated
at 59. So there is still a problem with the Parathyroid glands and
MEN1 is still a possibility. I am so very glad I am on the
Sandostatin shots. That is the chemo treatment most used for MEN1.
This morning I sent an email to the endocrinologist I saw 8 weeks ago
about this problem. If I don't have a reply by Monday morning I will
be calling.
But that was that was not the worse news
My first round of labs was done 8 weeks ago. This last round of
blood tests was 2 weeks ago. So that was a period of 6 weeks in
between. With the first set, 8 weeks ago, my GFR (measures kidney
function) was 63. Means my kidneys were functioning at 63% of normal
kidneys and I was in Stage 2 of chronic Kidney Disease. Which did
concern me, but I didn't question it too much at time with everything
else going on.
With the labs that were run 2 weeks ago, after just 6 weeks, my
kidney function, the GFR number was down to 51!! Meaning my kidneys
are operating at ½ capacity! A loss of 12% in 6 weeks!! I have no
idea what is going on with this Needless to say, it scares the
daylights out me.
I called the kidney department at UVA hospital. With making an
appointment my self, they would not be able to see me until after the
middle of August 1st available appointment. That would be another
6 more weeks and possibly another 14% of function lost. Which would
put me pretty close to Stage 4 Chronic Kidney Disease and time to
start thinking about dialysis.
So I called my PCP's office this morning and got an appointment with
the on-call doc for Monday. The kidney department told me they could
possibly get me in sooner if the appointment came from my PCP.
Please keep me in your prayers as I search for answers to this
problem. And if anyone has any ideas why this is happening, please
let me know.
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
434-409-7162
434-973-1703
2328 Peyton Drive #27
Charlottesville, VA 22901
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of ThePancreatitisPlace
Hosted Chat - Bruce
Wednesday July 6, 2005
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
This event repeats every week.
Event Location: TPP Chatroom on AOL
Street: TPP Chatroom on AOL
Notes:
Bruce will host a chat in AOLs TPP Chat room. You will need AOL or free AIM (www.aim.com) to access this Chat room. Please email us for the link.

Ree,
I know we spoke in the wee hours briefly and I am sorry I had to go but
before I leave for the hospital again I wanted to let you know I am praying for
you
and your situation. I understand it is many small episodes that are creating
this overwhelming feeling of dispair and hopelessness right now. Taken
individually, each thing probably does not seem as devastating or as
overwhelming
but combined, its a hell of a load to bear. Just know you are not alone, I
and I know others here are routing for you and praying that your life becomes
easier as the days pass. If you need to talk or vent, feel free to email
personally and I will answer you as soon as I am able. Sometimes, it just helps
to
get it all out there!
Found out just now that surgery is definately on for tomorrow and they are
going above the knee with the amputation. I am so upset. It seems that this
fem to fem bypass she had was not worth doing and it put a lot of stress on her
body. I will be leaving soon, as I said but will check back here from the
hospital as soon as I can.
Artie called to tell me Judy is raising a rucus and wants to know where the
h-ll I am at and why am I not there? She had the nurses laughing I guess and
commenting on the closeness we share but it upsets Artie that he can't do the
"girl" stuff when he is trying to do everything he can for her. I told him not
to sweat it, she probably wants her hair done like yesterday and the day
before!
I'm off! Blessings to all.
hugs,
dawn

Hello Everyone,
Things have been a bit crazy here lately. From tornados last night
to having do police reports to computer problems to allergies to more
malabsorption/malnutrition problems. I wouldn't mind so much, except
that things are never easy for me. Life always takes me the roughest
route from Point A to Point B and I have to put out 3 times the
effort of any one to get any done.
A prime example is the notebook computer. Has been in the shop a
month now. So I called Best Buy to have them check on it. Couldn't
do it in one call. Took 3 phone calls. First one lost signal on cell
phone. Second they told me to call back use a particular extension
(they didn't know how to transfer the call). Finally got an answer
on the 3rd call. When I took the notebook, for the 2nd time, I gave
them our new home phone number AND the cell phone number. Well when
I pulled the work order out, I noticed they had the old number on
it. So I will have to give them the new number for a 3rd time. For
most people they can get things done on the first attempt. Wish I
could have just one week of my life when things work out that way. I
don't think that is asking for too much. Anyway the notebook is
ready (has been for a while) and I will pick it up either today or
tomorrow. Finally will be able to get brochures mailed to everyone
who has requested them by the first of the week. All my TPP files
are on the notebook.
Okay first I think I will talk about the storm we had yesterday.
Gary was going to his folks straight from work and I was supposed to
meet him there. I loaded Crystal in her carrier and set out on the 2
bus ride to get his folks. We planned on going downtown afterwards
for dinner at one of the outdoor cafes, this way we can take Crystal
out to dinner with us. Just as I was getting on the 2nd bus it
started sprinkling. Was raining by time I got off the bus. And a
downpour when I got the folks house. Storm lasted only 45 minutes,
but it was a heck of a storm!! They think 3 tornados touched down in
the UVA (the teaching hospital where Gary works) area. About 15,000
people lost power. Trees were down every where. Lot of flooding.
We had no idea it was that bad until the bus ride downtown. Saw one
car in water ½ way up the door. You could see the path of the
tornado by the downed trees. It was a miracle no one was hurt in
the storm. The damage was extensive. Will be a couple of weeks
before clean-up is done. Hospital was without power for at least 6
hours.
Yesterday I also had to make a police report and speak to management
about a neighbor of ours. It is a really weird and scary situation.
In our entrance foyer, there are 4 apartments. One directly across
from our door by about 8 feet. A nice middle aged black lady lives
there. Lately we have been seeing a young black man come in and out
of there. Gary, Jeannette and I have all tried speaking typical
neighbor pleasantries to this man. You know the Hello how are you
routine. He has never responded with a single word. What he does is
stand right by his door with his arms cross and stare. Often times
their apartment door is cracked opened. Gary & I believe this so can
listen for when we come in or go out. Very intimidating in his
stance and behavior. It got the point where I was afraid to take
Crystal out for a walk. And sure ain't right that you feel afraid to
go in or out of your home. Now Gary and I are worried he might try
something in retaliation for reporting him. Just the kind of stress
the ole panc needs NOT
Then there is the saga about getting my pain meds. I went to the
pain clinic about a month ago. Really felt like I got a bandaid job,
just enough to get me out the door and out their hair. The resident
actually said I a very complicated case. Well DUH. Anyway, all they
did was told me they will get in touch with my PCP and recommend an
increase in dosage for the methadone. Never told me to what dosage
and I was so disappointed and feeling out of place, I didn't bother
to ask.
About 10 days ago I saw my PCP. It was an eventful visit because
while I was there, the police were also there taking away a patient
who they thought was selling his pain meds on the street. I felt
this was the wrong to act anxious or pushing about get mine. SO I
told the doc I would finish off what I have, and go to the higher
dosage with my next refill. On Friday I sent an email to both the
doc and his nurse who normally handles the prescription each month.
Got an out of office auto reply from the doc, that was copied to the
nurse. Said he forgot the dosage, but I know what it is. NOT
So I email the nurse explaining this to her. Asked if she could
access the info on the computer like the doc does. If not was she
going to call the pain clinic to get the information. At this point
she has now received 3 emails about this issue and I have not gotten
a reply from her. So yesterday afternoon at 3 pm I called and left
her a phone message. I just sent out a 4th email to her and the
doc. I will probably end up going to the ER because not only is the
pain up and out of meds as this morning, I am not even able to keep
liquids down today. With all the stress is it any wonder??
Anyway, I got to cut this short (if you can call this short) so I can
get ready and got get computer and do our scheduled Wed. grocery
shopping. With not driving we have to use para-transit service for
grocery shopping and have do it on a regular. If I miss today, will
have to either wait another week (not a good option) or pay cab fares
to get it done another day.
Just one last thing.AS I have mentioned, my allergies are really bad
this year. Never used to be allergic to anything. Now I can't watch
Crystal for 3 days after they mow the grass without a sneezing fit.
Our insurance will NOT cover any allergy med. So going to have to
work with doc (when he gets back in town) on the Needy Meds program
for it. Jeannete, trying to be nice, pickup some Dove facial cream.
I put it on last night and today my face is all broke out and
burning! Hoping I can find something to put on it at the grocery
store....... It is like I am allergic to everything I have never
used before and also some things I have have used all my life.
Hope everyone is doing a heck of a lot better than I am! May God
Bless You and Keep You Well!
Lots of Gentle Hugs
ReeAnn M. Betts-Morris
Founder, The Pancreatitis Place
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org

I just joined a few days ago and I have had to work thru the
holidays. I have acute pancreatitis for now and wish not to be with chronic.
With my intervals of attacks I am due another one in 2 months or so. I would
like to further my education of this disease. I am seeking anyone who has had
major surgery on their pancreas. I would like to know how long ago it was
preformed and how you are doing today and anything you would like to disclose
to me in personal email. My email address is angie197205@... Good night.
Sleep well it is almost 2 in the morning.
Angie

what is the Beger procedure? and a splanchicectomy?
thanks,
Nancy F, SoCal

I would consider my 4th a total wash out and the only reason I dont
is because of the reason behind July 4th. Glad I live in a country
where I can choose what I do on my country's birthday, instead of having
some dictator telling me what to do. I could have been like many of
our brothers, sisters, sons, daughters, mothers, fathers and been in
Iraq making sure there are more days like the 4th to come along. I
could have been laying in a hospital not feeling good and eating some
hospitals version of BBQ...(that would have been more torture I think)
So if your like me and think you had a lousy holiday, think again,
I did and being caught up in a hours worth of traffic to see about 10
minutes of fireworks then to be caught in another hour and a half
trying to get ouf of the traffic and get home. I considered my
options of what I could have been doing on the 4th and thought, yeah it
was a good 4th after all.......
Donna
NY

Hi everyone! My name is Karen Craven and I am a (sort of) new member.
I haven't posted in a looooong time. I have had pancreatitis for
nearly 25 years, since I was 16 years old; mine is due to hereditary
reasons. I have been chronic for about 7 years now. Both of my
children (ages 7 and 11) also suffer from HP, the 7 year old more than
the 11 year old.
I was wondering if anyone in this group has ever had a Beger procedure,
and if so were the results worthwhile? I am scheduled to have this
done on July 26 at St. Paul Hospital in Dallas and was just wondering
what to expect. Previously I had a thoracoscopic splanchicectomy at
the University of Cincinnati in 2001. Both times my doctor was Dr.
Charles Ulrich, who has been involved in a lot of research on HP.
Hope everyone is doing well; looking forward to getting to know
everyone!
Karen Craven
Amarillo, TX

Dear Group could you send me an e-mail reminding me of the date, time,
and how to get into your chatroom the day the attorney will be there.
Thank You,
Janet

Subject: Southerners
Gabriel came to the Lord and said "I have to talk to you. We have
some Southerners up here who are causing problems. They're swinging
on the pearly gates, my horn is missing, barbecue sauce is all over
their robes, their dogs are riding in the chariots, and they're
wearing baseball caps and cowboy hats instead of their Halos. They
refuse to keep the stairway to heaven clean. There are watermelon
seeds and pig feet bones all over the place. Some of them are
walking around with just one wing". The Lord said, "Southerners are
southerners, Gabriel. Heaven is Home to all my children. If you
want to know about real problems, call the devil."
The devil answered the phone "Hello? Hold on a minute." The devil
returned to the phone, "O.K. I'm back. What can I do for you?"
Gabriel replied, "I just want to know what kind of problems your
having down there." The devil said, "Hold on again, I need to check
on something." After about 5 minutes the Devil returned to the phone
and said, "I'm back. Now what was the question?" Gabriel
said, "What kind of problems are you having down there?" The devil
said, "Man I dont believe this...Hold on." This time the devil was
gone for 15 minutes. The devil returned and said "I'm sorry,
Gabriel, I cant talk right now. Those Southerners have put the fire
out and are trying to install air conditioning."

Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of ThePancreatitisPlace
Hosted Chat - ReeAnn & Gary
Sunday July 3, 2005
8:00 pm - 11:00 pm
This event repeats every week.
Event Location: AOL's TPP Chat room
Street: AOL's TPP Chatroom
Notes:
ReeAnn (Founder of TPP) and husband Gary will host a chat in AOLs TPP Chat room. You will need AOL or free AIM (www.aim.com) to access this Chat room. Please email us for the link.
GaryMorrisUVA@...
ReeAnn@...

You know I'm glad Brian Mulroney is recovering. I saw the man in
person once; he was big a healthy looking. During the late 80s, when
Mulrouney's popularity was at 17% there was a joke that also 17% of
Canadians believed Elvis was still alive. The joke was that they had
to be the same 17%! I really hope he recovers fully.
Didn't John Ascroft have pancreatitis? How is he doing?
JF
www.garbageprophecy.org

Hi Terry,
Was reading your post to Bob and I was not surprise
to hear how hard and dedicated you where at you job.
In many ways you and I have traversal the same path.
Even thou we live a half a county apart and our lives
are so different we are so much alike.
You have beaten Cancer and still got a lot of fight
in you. I leaned your store long before I met you
on the net. Terry my friend, you will always be the
man in my book. You have had such a positive influence
on so so many people you will never meet or even get
to know. Just so you know "You Will Always Be The Man".
Take care my friend and hope you have a good 4th and
remember Terry, Keep the Faith there always hope.
God Bless.
With warmest regards and God Bless!
Sincerely,
Gary - Virginia
Phone 434-490-7191
TPP Customer Service Manager
Garymorrisuva@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

Hi Donna,
Thanks a lot for the information. That was very kind of
you to take the time to look that up for me. I have got
so much to learn about this and thanks to everyone I'm off
to a great start. When I started testing my sugar I was
getting reading in the 165 to 188 and now after making
some changes I'm getting reading as low as 126 to 92.7.
I still got a long ways to go but with all the support
I have gotten here I just know I going to make it.
Thanks, bunches and have a great 4th
Donna, possibly you will gain some weight do to the
enzymes. When you taking enzymes you will be getting
more nutrients out of the food you eat. Hopefully this
will be go good thing and you will become more active
and not gain any weight. Take care and enjoy the 4th
With warmest regards and God Bless!
Sincerely,
Gary - Virginia
Phone 434-490-7191
TPP Customer Service Manager
Garymorrisuva@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

I will be putting some polls out today. Last
night while researching a post I am working on I
saw something very interesting. Seems their a
connection with people with fair skinned and
gallstones. I have notices there's a lot of our
members who are redheads here in our group, so
is their a connection between hair color and
pancreatitis?
This poll is just for people who suffer with
pancreatitis and their will be one for men and
women. Please list your natural hair color.
Here are your choices so go to the poll and
cast your vote
Black
Brunette
Red
Blond
These polls will be confidently and no one will
know who or how you voted. I hope you take the
time to vote.
With Warmest Regards & God Bless
Sincerely
Gary - Virginia
Customer Service Manager
garyattpp@...
Garymorrisuva@...
Phone 434-490-7191
gary@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

Mark your calendars for July 14th at 8pm.
Please join us in the AOL TPP Chatroom on Thursday, July 14 at 8pm
eastern time for a moderated Question and Answer chat session with
Mr. Duke Dorotheo. Mr. Dorotheo has assisted several members with
Pancreatitis and other ailments in their Social Security Disability
cases. He has gracefully agreed to be our Special Guest for this
Question & Answer session. Mr. Dorotheo practices out of Washington
DC and represents clients nationally in all 50 states. He has the
exclusive endorsement of TPP and comes highly recommended by members
of TPP who have benefited from his services.
Please note that Mr. Dorotheo will not be able to answer specific
questions about an individual case. But if you pose your question
hypothetical or general terms, he will gladly do his best to answer
your questions.
Given the nature of this chat session, it will be moderated and
questions will be answered in the order in which they are received.
And chat content will be limited to questions and answers. For more
information about this event contact ReeAnn or Gary.

Below is two posts sent to my Autoimmune Hepatitis online support group
I know only a few of our members with pancreatitis also have liver disease like
I do but I thought this information is very exciting and may mean that in the
near future our own stem cells can be used to repair lots of other damaged
organs in our bodies, maybe including the pancreas.
Karen W
Doctors Fight Liver Disease With Body's Own Stem Cells
By Martyn Halle
The Telegraph - UK
5-28-5
British doctors have made a "significant" breakthrough using
patients' own stem cells to regrow their livers, raising the
possibility of it replacing organ transplants in future.
Last year The Sunday Telegraph revealed that specialists had
perfected a technique that could cure people with liver disease.
Importantly it used the patients' own stem cells, rather than the
controversial practice of cells harvested from aborted embryos.
Six weeks ago stem cells were extracted from the blood of the first
five human volunteers, and injected into their livers. Early results
show that inside the patients' livers, the cells have already started
to grow.
Nagy Habib, the professor of liver services at Hammersmith Hospital,
who is overseeing the project, said: "The treatment is still
experimental, but we hope that we have made a significant
breakthrough."
The initial experiment was to prove the technique worked using just a
few stem cells, but already, there are signs of some liver function
being restored.
The new treatment involves injecting the cells into the hepatic
artery in the liver under local anaesthetic. Karl Hodgson, a 42-year-
old reformed alcoholic and drug taker from Bournemouth, was one of
the five patients treated by Prof Habib. He was given a place on the
trial after his mother saw this newspaper's original article on the
internet.
Stem cells retain the potential to turn into many different types of
tissue. They can be obtained from blood, bone marrow, or more
controversially from aborted embryos. But Prof Habib has proved that
stem cell treatments can work without having to resort to foetal stem
cells.
He is now planning a second phase of the trial this summer, which is
designed to test the treatment's ability actually to reverse the
disease.
Alison Rogers, the chief executive of the British Liver Trust,
said: "Like many new technologies they take time, but stem cell
technology represents a huge leap forward in treating many diseases."
© Copyright of Telegraph Group Limited 2005.
BBC NEWS | Health | Stem cell hope for liver disease
Last Updated: Monday, 23 May, 2005, 22:09 GMT 23:09 UK
E-mail this to a friend Printable version
Stem cell hope for liver disease
By Rachael Buchanan
BBC News
John Jones took part in the trial
Researchers have begun a pioneering trial using patients' own stem
cells to treat their chronic liver disease. A team at London's Hammersmith
Hospital is attempting to reverse cirrhosis of the liver by harnessing and
enhancing the body's own repair mechanism. They are using adult stem cells
extracted from patients' bone marrow to generate new tissue in damaged areas. A
Japanese group is also testing adult stem cells as a treatment for liver
fibrosis. Liver disease is dramatically on the increase in the UK - something
doctors mostly blame on burgeoning lifestyles of excess. Deaths from alcoholic
liver disease have doubled in the last 10 years, with figures for the condition
in young people increasing eight-fold due to binge drinking. Add to that a
growing obesity problem and a predicted trebling of the disorder from viral
hepatitis in the next 20 years and it is clear that this condition is becoming a
major challenge for the NHS.
Longsuffering organ
The liver is a forgiving organ and can tolerate, and recover from, a certain
amount of abuse so long as the damage is not too advanced. However, the liver
is also rather stoic and there are often no warning signals until it is too
late. There is no equivalent dialysis machine for liver disorders so patients
with chronic disease are eventually left with two stark outcomes, organ
transplantation or death. Putting aside the rigours of a transplant operation
and a life on immunosuppression regime, patients often do not even get offered
that choice. Only a few will be deemed suitable for transplant and although
there are about 600-700 liver transplants a year, for every donor organ there
are 10 patients on the waiting list. Which is why other options are urgently
needed. Five patients have now received this novel stem cell treatment at the
West London hospital. The last was John Jones, who owns a hairdressing salon in
Shropshire.
Rare condition
John's condition is rarer. It is not a product of his lifestyle but is due
to his body's immune system attacking his own organ. Professor Habib is excited
by the potential. It was picked up during a routine prostate examination six
years ago and since then his condition has deteriorated to the point of liver
failure. Although a little daunted at undergoing an experimental treatment, John
signed up for the trial because he could not face the alternative. "It was worth
the risk and I would go through it again," he told the BBC News website just two
hours after his operation.
"I didn't want to have a transplant and spend the rest of my life on
anti-rejection drugs, so I thought I would grasp at a straw." John and his four
fellow patients had their blood filtered and their stem cells separated out.
These were then injected into the hepatic artery in the liver under local
anaesthetic, while the red blood cells were returned to the body through the
arm.
Tests
The five patients are being regularly monitored for any signs of a reaction
to the treatment or signs of improvement. Laboratory tests have shown the
function of the liver can be improved by repopulating it with stem cells. You
are taking the patients' own cells, making them behave like a liver cell and
then giving them back to the patient, so they treat themselves.
Professor Nagy Habib
As this initial trial was just designed to check the safety of the
procedures, with only a small amount of stem cells being put into the liver, no
real recovery in function was expected. However, Professor Nagy Habib, head of
liver surgery at Hammersmith, who is leading the research, is encouraged by the
early results. He said: "The icing on the cake was that some of the blood
results were already improved." He is now looking forward to the second phase of
the trial this summer, which will see much larger preparations of stem cells
injected into the livers of a greater number of patients, and is designed to
test the treatment's ability to actually reverse disease. "I think it would be
very exciting if it works because you are taking the patients' own cells, making
them behave like a liver cell and then giving them back to the patient, so they
treat themselves."
Huge promise
Alison Rogers, chief executive of the British Liver Trust which campaigns
for patients with liver disease, is also hopeful of the promises this treatment
holds out. "Like many new technologies under development they take time and
you hear of exciting results that in the end don't come to fruition, but stem
cell technology represents a huge leap forward in treating many diseases. "In
liver disease in particular it has the potential for tremendous advances. "We
have seen that stem cell technology can do so much in general medicine so we can
be confident it will really help in liver disease - the question is just when
this starts to be seen in the clinic."

By Mayo Clinic staff
Grilling today goes way beyond just hamburgers, hot
dogs and steaks. Backyard chefs are firing up their
grills for vegetables, fruits, pizzas and even desserts.
Just about anything goes. Here are some tips for creating
tasty, healthy dishes on the grill.
Main entree alternative: Pizza anyone?
Make your next meal a grilled meatless pizza:
1. Cut up an assortment of favorite vegetables for
the topping. Coat the vegetables lightly with olive oil.
Roast the vegetables on the grill using a special grill
pan or a metal colander, or grill them directly on the
grates if they're large enough. Set the vegetables aside.
2. Use ready-made pizza crusts or make your own.
Because of the high direct heat of a grill, start with
a thin crust. Thick crusts tend to burn on the outside
before the inside is cooked through. If the crust is
pre-baked, this isn't a concern. Lightly brush one side
of the crust with olive oil. Then place the crust directly
on the grill oiled-side down. Oil keeps the dough from
sticking to the grate. If you prefer, place the oiled
crust on a perforated pizza pan before adding it to the
grill.
3. Over medium-hot coals, grill the pizza crust for
one to two minutes, watching it carefully so that it
doesn't burn. Lift the crust off the grill with tongs
and place it on a cookie sheet, grilled side up. Spread
1/4 cup to 1/2 cup pizza sauce or low-fat Alfredo sauce
on the crust
4. Place the vegetables on top of the sauce and move
it from the cookie sheet back onto the grill to allow the
other side to cook for two to three minutes. Sprinkle on
a small amount of part-skim mozzarella or low-fat cheese
and cook for another minute to allow the cheese to melt.
5. Keep checking the pizza to prevent burning.
Side dishes: Try fruits and vegetables
Eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, bell peppers, sweet
onions, small tomatoes, mushrooms, pears, pineapple and
peaches all cook well on the grill. Be sure to put fruits
and vegetables on a liberally oiled grate to avoid
sticking. Grill the fruits or vegetables until they're
lightly browned. You want them to be tender but not mushy
when gently pierced with a sharp knife. The key to grilling
fruits and vegetables is to use low heat. Coals are ready
when you can hold your hand safely about 5 inches above the
heat for about five seconds.
Fruits
Slice fruit in half and remove pits and cores, if any.
Grill with pulp side down to start, then turn over. Sprinkle
a small amount of brown sugar after grilling if you want a
little extra sweetness. Fruits generally take three to five
minutes to cook. Thinly sliced fruit may take less time.
Thicker pieces of fruit, such as halved peaches or pears,
may require a little more time. Keep in mind that fruit can
burn easily because of its sugar content, so watch it closely.
Here are some ideas for grilling fruits:
Cut fruit, such as apples, pears and peaches, into
chunks, brush lightly with canola oil, and place on skewers
or wrap in foil before grilling. A sprinkle of cinnamon
before grilling adds a flavorful touch.
Slice bananas with their peels lengthwise and
brush the cut side with canola oil. Place cut-side down
on the grill and cook until lightly browned, about two
minutes. Turn and grill until the bananas begin to pull
away from the peel, about two to four minutes more.
Sprinkle brown sugar onto 1/2-inch-thick pineapple
slices. Grill the slices, turning a few times, until browned,
about five minutes.
Brush pear wedges with lemon juice and grill, turning
a few times, until they begin to brown, about two to four
minutes. Add to a mixed green salad.
Vegetables
Cut vegetables into 1/2-inch slices or large chunks and
baste with a light salad dressing, or brush them with canola
or olive oil. Grill until tender, turning only once.
Fast-grilling vegetables take about five to seven minutes to
cook. These include asparagus, broccoli, baby carrots, eggplant,
okra, onion slices, pepper chunks, strips of summer squash
and tomato wedges. Root vegetables, such as beets, winter
squash, potatoes and sweet potatoes, take about 20 to 45
minutes to cook, depending on whether they're whole, halved
or cut in slices. Wrap these types of vegetables in foil with
a drizzle of oil and a sprinkling of spices and herbs.
Try these ideas for cooking vegetables on the grill:
Marinate a large portobello mushroom in French or
Italian dressing or make your own dressing with 1 1/2
tablespoons balsamic vinegar, 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil,
a clove of minced garlic, salt and pepper and grill it
like a burger. Serve on a bun or alone.
Soak ears of corn in water for 30 minutes then
grill in the husk for 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the silk
before grilling.
Cut vegetables such as squash, peppers, onions
and mushrooms into equal-sized pieces. Place on a skewer
with shrimp or chunks of turkey breast. Brush with fresh
fruit juice or broth and grill. These can also be wrapped
in aluminum foil before grilling.
Cut tomatoes in half crosswise, brush with canola
or olive oil, and add salt, pepper and your favorite spices.
Wrap in foil and grill sliced side up for six to eight
minutes.
Cut a head of radicchio into quarters and brush
with a mixture of orange juice, olive oil and orange
zest. Grill until tender, about eight to 10 minutes.
Finally: Don't forget dessert
Try grilled fruit instead of fat-laden ice cream or
cake. The dry heat of grilling intensifies and
caramelizes the natural sugars in fruit. Favorite desserts
include halves or slices of apricots, peaches, plums and
nectarines. For something different, try sliced apples,
figs and pears. A banana cooked slowly in its peel
results in a custard-like delicacy perfect for the end
of a meal.
Here are some other ideas for grilled desserts:
Grill slices of angel food cake for one to three
minutes or until golden brown on both sides. Top with
chilled strawberries, blueberries or raspberries.
Make cantaloupe kebabs. Brush with a mixture of
honey, butter and chopped mint. Cook three to four minutes,
turning the fruit to grill each side.
Fill peach halves with blueberries and sprinkle
with brown sugar and lemon juice. Wrap in aluminum foil
and grill for 15 to 20 minutes, turning once
Source About
http://www.mayoclinic.com/invoke.cfm?objectid=21BC67AE-BC13-4233-
B779028AB649B95F&si=2840
Always consult with your physician, before partaking in any activity
or trying any recipe mentioned in this article.
Sincerely
Gary - Virginia
With Warmest Regards & God Bless
Gary Morris ~ Virginia
Customer Service Manager
garymorrisuva@...
garyattpp@...
Phone 434-490-7191
gary@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

New England Journal of Medicine released stunning results
of Pancreas cell transplants. In this procedure doctors
injected an average of 350,000 islet cells directly into
liver, a procedure that does not require major surgery.
After this the liver started producing Insulin. This can
have a far reaching effect on the treatment of the diabetics
especially the Type I diabetes. Its too early for insulin
injecting diabetics to be happy. The real problem is to
find source for the islet cells of pancreas.
Eight patients with severe diabetes were able to throw
away their insulin for as long as 15 months - after a
new cell-transplant procedure. Before now, transplants
of insulin-producing pancreas cells, called islet cells,
have produced "dismal" results.
Islet cell transplants require whole pancreases, from
which the insulin-producing cells are extracted. Each
patient requires organs from at least two cadaver
donors, meaning, a very small number of patients can
benefit from this procedure. But researchers are
hopeful they can find other sources of the precious
cells, perhaps growing them from "stem" cells that
are capable of forming various tissues.
Because of the risks of side-effects posed by
anti-rejection drugs, the researchers at University
of Alberta in Edmonton did the procedure only in
patients with Type I diabetes, that was so severe that
patients' blood sugar couldn't be controlled even with
regular insulin shots. One woman, a junior high school
teacher, regularly fell into a diabetic coma.
That woman and seven others "quickly attained insulin
independence" after doctors injected an average of
350,000 islet cells directly into their livers, a
procedure that does not require major surgery. To
achieve good control of blood sugar, seven patients
so far have required a second transplant, while an
eighth has required a third.
The first seven patients in the New England Journal
report have all been free of insulin injections an
average of nearly 12 months, with one patient maintaining insulin-
free status for almost 15 months. An eighth patient,
transplanted March 13, is also off insulin shots with
excellent sugar control.
Once researchers solve the problem of where to get human
islet cells in large quantities, the real benefit of
this islets cells transplant can be given to the patients.
Source / Manbir Online
http://www.manbir-online.com/htm3/new.70.htm
Sincerely
Gary - Virginia
With Warmest Regards & God Bless
Gary Morris ~ Virginia
Customer Service Manager
garymorrisuva@...
garyattpp@...
Phone 434-490-7191
gary@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

Buffalo Meat is Full of Omega Fats and Nutrients
Grassfed bison, or buffalo, offers a lean protein source
full of omega 3 fatty acids, selenium and monounsaturated
fats while being low in calories. Just look at what
\benefits you can get from eating buffalo meat:
22gm of protein and only 140 calories per 100gm
or 3.5 ounce serving.
Only 2% fat per serving and 66mg of cholesterol,
making it the only low fat red meat allowed by labeling
regulations in the USA. Compare that to beef with 74 gm
of chlesterol, 177 calories, 17.3 gm of protein and 4.8 gm
of fat per 3.5 ounce serving.
46% of bison or buffalo meat's fat is
monounsaturated, composed of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty
acids which can lower your risk for Alzheimer's disease.
Bison meat is a major source of vitamin B12,
which is important in folate metabolism, which helps
to prevent heart disease and birth defects.
Buffalo meat is high in iron, which is
important in preventing anemia especially in women
with thyroid disease.
Bison meat is high in selenium, which can lower
selenium. It can even make your disposition better
according to a research study. I found my bison/buffalo
meat at a local farmer's market, where it was flash frozen,
but Whole Food Stores carry ground buffalo, which makes the
most delicious burgers. Even Trader Joe's has frozen buffalo
patties which are more than adequate, as long as you cook
them while still frozen to retain their moisture.
Buffalo meat is very lean, so it cooks faster than other
meats. Don't overcook this meat or it becomes tough, dry
and chewy.I prefer to sear roast steaks to a juicy rare.
Interested in trying some new recipes? Then check out my
Buffalo Tri Tip and order your buffalo from any of these
producers:
Source About
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbbasic1/a/buffalomeat.htm
Always consult with your physician, before partaking in any activity
or trying any recipe mentioned in this article.
Sincerely
Gary - Virginia
With Warmest Regards & God Bless
Gary Morris ~ Virginia
Customer Service Manager
garymorrisuva@...
garyattpp@...
Phone 434-490-7191
gary@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

July 4th and Beyond: Low Fat Summer
Cookouts Low Fat Grilling and Cookouts
Big juicy burgers, mounds of potato salad, piles of
potato chips, and big fudgy browniesall classic summer
cookout fare, and all incredibly fattening. Instead,
try some lower fat options, and watch those portion
sizes. It's so easy to pile food on to our plates and
return for seconds, simply because the food is right
there in front of us.
Here's how to enjoy a lower fat summer cookout:
Hot Dogs or Hamburgers?
Preferably neitherunless the hot dog is a lower fat,
lower sodium, nitrite-free turkey dog, or the burger
is made from lean ground beef or lean ground turkey.
Or try the vegetarian options. About's Guide to
Vegetarian Cuisine conducted a taste test with her
friends Top with reduced-fat cheeses or a little
strong-flavored cheese. Have plenty of dark, leafy
lettuce leaves, tomatoes, onions, avocado and salsa
toppings available. For condiments, have low fat or
fat free mayo on hand, as well as mustard, ketchup,
steak sauce, hot sauce, pickles and relish. Use whole
grain buns.
Choose Lean Meats
Marinated chicken breast, halibut, salmon, scallops or
shrimp are delicious grilling fare. If the chicken is
cooked with the skin on, be sure to remove it before
eating.
Or choose a lean cut of beef. Flank steak or filet
mignon, for instance. Lean cuts of pork and lamb are
fine, too. For lean, read "loin." Trim all visible fat
before cooking.
As important as it is not to undercook your food, be
careful not to char your meat either, as two cancer-causing
agents, Heterocyclic Amines (HCAs) and Polycyclic
Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PCAs), can form in the presence
of fat and extreme heat. Another way to reduce your risk
from these is to marinate your meat, as the marinade forms
a barrier between the meat and the heat.
Marinades and Rubs
The key to succulent, flavorful meat is the marinade or
rub. Use heart-healthy monounsaturated oils in your
marinades or for brushing food. Olive oil and canola
oil are excellent choices.
Make your own marinades where possible. This helps
control the fat and sodium content. It needn't be
complicateda basic blend of oil, lemon or lime juice
and herbs is all you need as a base. For an Asian accent,
use some reduced-sodium soy sauce, grated ginger and garlic.
For a Southwestern flavor, use cumin, chiles, and cilantro.
Honey with mustard is another simple yet flavorful option.
If you've got ketchup, vinegar, Worcestershire sauce and
molasses, make your own barbecue sauce, too. Give it some
heat with some hot sauce.
One caveat, however: be sure to remove excess marinade from
the meat, as too much can cause flare-ups on the grill and
burn the meat, which negates the protective benefit of the
marinade. Marinades with a high sugar contentyep, that
Barbecue sauce, for instance, should be used only in the
last 5-10 minutes of cooking.
Kebabs Not only are kebabs delicious, they are also a
great way to eat vegetables and balance your meat
consumption. You can eat your steak, but perhaps less
of it when it's competing for space with some delicious
chunks of vegetables. Thread presoaked wooden skewers
with your choice of meat or firm fish, alternating with
vegetables such as zucchini, cherry tomatoes, peppers,
red onion and mushrooms. Brush with a low fat marinade
of your choice and grill away. Grill vegetables by
themselves, either on skewers or in a basket. Brush
with a little balsamic vinegar to enhance the flavor.
See Next Page for Low Fat Salads, Sides and Desserts
Source About
http://lowfatcooking.about.com/od/holidayrecipes/a/cookouts.htm?nl=1
Always consult with your physician, before partaking in any activity
or trying any recipe mentioned in this article.
Sincerely
Gary - Virginia
With Warmest Regards & God Bless
Gary Morris ~ Virginia
Customer Service Manager
garymorrisuva@...
garyattpp@...
Phone 434-490-7191
gary@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

I want to wish everyone a Happy and safe Forth of
July, I will be posting some recipes later
today for the holiday.
Hope this note fines everyone having a good day and
thank about "ME" Monday. I got to work, but I will be
dress in red, white and blue for holliday and you can count
on me wearing my POW & MIA.cap Lets not forget our troops
who will not be home on this 4th and thank those who sever
us so well
Sincerely
Gary - Virginia
With Warmest Regards & God Bless
Gary Morris ~ Virginia
Customer Service Manager
garymorrisuva@...
garyattpp@...
Phone 434-490-7191
gary@...
http://www.thepancreatitisplace.org/

how do i get to the chatrooms? angie

Reminder Reminder from the Calendar of ThePancreatitisPlace
Hosted Chat - Bruce
Wednesday June 29, 2005
8:00 pm - 10:00 pm
This event repeats every week.
Event Location: TPP Chatroom on AOL
Street: TPP Chatroom on AOL
Notes:
Bruce will host a chat in AOLs TPP Chat room. You will need AOL or free AIM (www.aim.com) to access this Chat room. Please email us for the link.

Terry,
Thanks for the insight. I'm kind of caught between a rock and hard place. I
can't go on diability - labs show "normal." But, I have to struggle through
work at times when all I want to do is take a pain pill and go to sleep (I'm not
on a daily pain med - I "manage" the daily pain). Plus, they are piling on more
work! But, I do know the alternative. I was on disability for 4 months back
in 2002 (initial attack). It was not fun!
Well, gotta be back to work. Have a good day.
Bob
roguekc@... wrote:
Dear Bob,
Welcome home, glad to have you back - secondly, I wanted to let you know that
you are not alone with the "work" drama, or at least while I am not suffering
through your situation right now, I HAVE in fact been there, and really do
understand and sympathize.
As Gary said, I was used to being "The MAN". Nobody could keep up, and
nobody even tried any more. I was in early, left late, took work home, and in
one
hour could produce more than my counterparts produced in one day - and that is
not an exaggeration, I swear. I was known well throughout Kansas City and
Topeka as the "Go-To" guy. Naturally, I loved it. And sadly, I really miss it.
I last worked at my full-time job about four years ago. Letting go of it
was probably the single hardest thing I've had to go through in my life,
secondary to having CP and Diabetes. It was even more difficult than leaving a
primary relationship of several years, to be honest.
My ego, of course, was smashed, my dreams were dashed and my goals were
trashed.
And I was left sitting in a huge puddle, not too far away from where I am
today, but I have recovered SOME. I also really miss the income from that
lifestyle, I can assure you - but I've had to grow some spiritually, which has
helped that situation immeasurably. My faith is helping to fill in some of the
gaps that some of those voids left behind, thankfully. It's a struggle, but
trying to live in gratitude for all the things that I DO have rather than
sadness
for all the things I DON'T have, helps a lot too - when I'm able to get to
that place.
I went from trying to be superhuman to falling asleep at my desk also... I
was pretty humiliated for a while, and more importantly, it gave me a warning
that the end was probably coming soon. I'm glad that I accepted my fate to
enough of a degree that I was able to leave on good terms rather than waiting
for
things to get really ugly, which they would have if I'd stayed around much
longer. I just knew that I couldn't get through the day anymore without the dr
ugs, because the pain was just too great and had become too constant - and I
knew that I couldn't drive to and from work any more if I was taking as many
drugs as I needed to take to keep the pain at bay - so I was in a bad, sad
state,
and the "exit" that the fates had in store for me came quickly.
The "work - finances - money - ego - bread winner - career goals/aspirations"
subject is a complex, painful and messy one... Many of us could probably use
some counseling to get through it, and the depression that inevitably comes
along