Patient Stories

Aniela’s Pancreatitis Story: Navigating Her Role as a Scientist and Patient in Pancreatitis Research

Despite how isolating and painful having pancreatitis is, I pursued a career as a scientist, traveling across Europe to work. In my work, I saw many different approaches to treating pancreatitis. I wanted to do something for people like me. Since I had become an expert in stem cells, I worked on turning them into …

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Angie’s Pancreatitis Story: Finding Strength and Hope through Advocacy

My story with pancreatitis began when I was diagnosed at 17 years old. For me, it’s hereditary. My mom, son, and multiple family members have it too. After many years of severe pain, my pancreas had undergone so much damage that I no longer suffered from the intense pain. I still have soreness daily and …

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Using Your Voice: One Patient’s Advice on Establishing the Best Care for You

Unsure of the treatment she was receiving, Elizabeth Stutzmann devised a system to establish the best care to treat her pancreatitis In 2020, Elizabeth Stutzmann found herself in a Long Island hospital after experiencing severe abdominal pain. She was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis – a rare condition she had never heard of before – which …

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Rhiannon’s Pancreatitis Story: Diagnosing Hereditary Pancreatitis

Rhiannon Bending, 31, Shares Her Story with Hereditary Pancreatitis Although Rhiannon’s father had chronic pancreatitis, doctors were unaware that hereditary pancreatitis can be passed down through genetics and kept reassuring that her that she will not suffer from the disease. Genetic testing gave her the answers she so badly needed– she has hereditary chronic pancreatitis. …

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Ashlynn’s Pancreatitis Story: Chronic Pediatric Pancreatitis and Chronic Pain

Ashlynn Nieve, 18, Shares Her Story with Pediatric Pancreatitis Chronic pediatric pancreatitis patient Ashlynn Nieve (18) talks about how long she had to wait for her diagnosis, how her chronic pain often kept her from attending school and how she coped with prejudice and discrimination without losing hope. Ashylnn has been suffering from chronic pediatric …

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Rohit’s Pancreatitis Story: Avoiding Pancreatitis Complications and Seeking Proactive Care

My First Pancreatitis Complications My first (diagnosed) pancreatitis complications occurred in 1998 after I had eaten lunch. It was a shooting pain that rendered me immobile. I was in excruciating pain and later learned I had been in a coma for a few hours. Doctors told me that I had suffered an episode of acute …

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Eric’s Pancreatitis Story: My Experience with Meditation for Pain Management

The Challenge: Intense Chronic Pain from Pancreatitis Dealing with chronic pancreatitis has been perhaps the biggest challenge in my life. I am luckier than most with the disease – I can work full-time and do most of the activities that are meaningful to me, rarely have to be hospitalized, and feel blessed to have a …

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Rohit’s Pancreatitis Story: My Experience with Pancreatic Enzymes (PERT)

I read Liz’s blog and her journey with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) resonated with my own experience. The one difference – since the diagnosis, seven years and counting – I continue to calibrate my enzyme dosage. Here is my experience with pancreatic enzymes. My first (diagnosed) acute pancreatitis attack happened in 1998 and I was …

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Elizabeth’s Pancreatitis Story: My Experience with Pancreatic Enzymes and Pancreatitis

My journey with pancreatitis started when I was about 10 years old. Throughout my years in school (elementary, middle and high school), I was misdiagnosed with a “sensitive stomach.” My pain was not taken seriously by doctors. I was sent to several counselors while I was in college because, despite my symptoms, doctors believed that …

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Laura’s Pancreatitis Story: Seeking Treatment for Chronic Pancreatitis

Stabbing Pain Leads to Acute Pancreatitis Diagnosis In December 2018, Laura Perry, a 24-year old previously-healthy law student, began experiencing abdominal pain after returning home from a trip to Mexico with her family. While in Mexico, Laura had contracted an infection. Believing that it was nothing serious, her doctor prescribed antibiotics. The antibiotics were unsuccessful …

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