HP Support

I distinctly remember a weekend while in high school that mom and dad were gone and I was home alone.  Craving something sweet I found the perfect solution, chocolate pudding. Yes, I ate the entire pot and yes it triggered a HP attack!

Why is a proper diet so important to reducing HP attacks? The primary function of the pancreas is to produce insulin which regulates your blood sugar.  The second function the pancreas preforms is it creates digestive juices that assist in breaking down nutrients that the stomach’s acids weren’t effective at metabolizing.  The digestive juices start out alkaline in the pancreas, but when they meet substances bathed in stomach acid in the duodenum, they become acidic. These enzymes include lipase, which digests fat and protein, and amylase which digest carbohydrates.

Lipase and Amylase, Oh My!  If lipase helps digest fat and protein and amylase helps digest carbs, what can we eat?  The goal of a good HP diet is to eat foods that will keep the pancreas from working too hard. For many of us, our pancreatic duct(s) (the minor duodenal papilla and major duodenal papilla) are blocked and the lipase and amylase build up in our pancreas and are unable to escape.  High levels of both lipase and amylase are detected in our blood during an attack. Eating certain types of food will trigger the pancreas to excrete the two enzymes and we need to avoid or greatly reduce these foods.

There are many “Pancreas Friendly” diets out there along with recipe books geared for the pancreas. So what does a pancreas diet look like, it’s simple, low fat.   First, let me make this perfectly clear, NEVER EVER drink alcohol if you have HP! Some other things we should avoid are spicy foods, pizza, eggs, cheese, fried food, bacon, sausage, butter, tea, sugar and coffee.  Some good foods are baked potatoes, brown rice, pasta, fruits, vegetables, soups, salads, whole grain breads and high fiber healthy cereals like oatmeal are excellent. Limit dairy to yogurt and low fat milk such as skim or 1%. Personally, I would avoid dairy as much as possible.

Having Hereditary Pancreatitis for 53 years has provided me with real experiences that many doctors can’t speak to.  I personally have attributed many attacks to stress and some were within minutes of becoming stressed.   The medical community does not directly associate stress with causing HP attacks.  Their explanation (scientifically speaking) is some of the affects stress has on the body can, one of which is dehydration.  When one is stressed, most often their focus is not on proper hydration but on the situation which caused the stress. This is not only true with proper hydration, but other things such as poor eating habits, lack of sleep, high blood pressure, and even self-destructive tendencies. In an article written by Kathianne Sellers R.D., she states; “Proper hydration is important in the health of all people, but especially for people with chronic pancreatitis. While many people with chronic pancreatitis are aware of the need for fat restriction, few are aware of the need for adequate hydration. Many of our patients at The Pancreas Center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, in Boston, MA have flares (increased pain) when they are dehydrated. While the exact reason is not known at this time, it is assumed that the lack of fluid assists in the accumulation of pancreatic sludge. This sludge can then lead to blockages which can irritate the pancreas.”

I get stressed when the doctors tell me I am a drug addict.  I get stressed when I am asked how much alcohol I consume.  I get stressed when doctors tell me my enzyme levels are normal and I should not be in pain.  I get stressed when I see my daughter and grandson suffer from HP. I get stressed when I know more than the physician treating me in the emergency room.  Am I crazy or arrogant, no but I am not stupid either.  Why is it that a doctor can scientifically dispel what we know is true?  We are going to have stress and stress will cause attacks, so what can be done to reduce the stress?

For me, I listen to my body and when I have reached the edge, I stop everything and do something I enjoy or that relaxes me. Each of us must find that “Something” we can do or “Place” we can go to separate us from the situation that is causing us stress.  For me, a camping trip, fishing, listening to music and yes a movie can do the trick. For others, just talking to a friend, talking to their minister and yes even a professional counselor can help. Stress is something that affects everyone and is unavoidable, how we deal with will keep us from getting sick.

Whether your stressed or not, don’t forget to drink lots of water!