What is this condition? ?

Question

my gf was admitted to the hospital with severe stomach pain

the doctors told her it was because of her pancreas and the enzymes in her stomach are to strong

they told her that the enzymes will eventually eat away her stomach wall and she will die

Answer 1

This condition looks like Acute Pancreatitis. Main causes are Alcohol and Gall bladder stones. Also certain drugs, medications. It could be mild, moderate or severe. The severity and outcome of Pancreatitis is judged by certain lab tests done in the hospital.

Answer 2

Sorry, that your gf was admitted in the hosp for severe abdominal  pains.  And for the callousness of the doctor's statement.  She must have been  diagnosed with ACute Pancreatitis. And the doctor suspects that the main cause is drinking.  So he tend to scare the patient so she'll come to her senses and stop drinking if she values her life. !!!!  The truth hurts but sometimes, you have to be frank to open the patients' eyes to the stark reality.  

Your pancreas is a large gland behind your stomach and close to your duodenum. The pancreas secretes powerful digestive enzymes that enter the small intestine through a duct. These enzymes help you digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates. The pancreas also releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones play an important part in metabolizing sugar.

There are 2 types of Pancreatitis:

1) Acute

2) Chronic

What Causes Pancreatitis?

* The most common cause in the United States is

gallstones that block the passages around the pancreas

and gallbladder.

* The second most common cause is alcohol use. It

usually takes many years of heavy alcohol use before

pancreatitis develops although not every heavy drinker

gets pancreatitis.

* Other causes-genetics; sometimes certain drugs, infections,

surgery, and injury to the abdomen can cause pancreatitis.

In other cases, the cause can not be found.  In this case, it's called idiopathic.  

Pain control -- narcotics are usually given frequently

through your intravenous line or through a special pump

that you help control. Narcotics are needed until the pain

subsides -- for a few days or up a few weeks

* Intravenous fluid -- you will need extra fluids to help

replace what you have lost. Your nurse will count your

intake (IV fluids) and output (urine, diarrhea, or vomit)

every 8 hours. Some patients may need a tube (placed

through their nose into their stomach) to control nausea or

vomiting.

* Diet -- you will usually not be allowed to eat or drink

anything until your inflammation subsides. Sometimes,

total parental nutrition is ordered through a special

intravenous line. This special formula will supply all of the

needed nutrients, vitamins and minerals until you can eat.

Most patients will need to follow a low-fat,

high-carbohydrate, low-protein diet when they fully

recover.

Acute pancreatitis refers to inflammation of the pancreas, causing a sudden onset of severe abdominal pain. It usually develops as a result of gallstones passing through the common bile duct or as a result of moderate to heavy alcohol consumption over a period of years. Other causes include medications, genetic diseases, infectious agents, postoperative states, endoscopic procedures involving the pancreatic and bile ducts, gallstones  and other types of injury to the pancreas

Other causes — In rare cases, acute pancreatitis is caused by infections, such as mumps or viral hepatitis, or by abdominal injury.

Most attacks of acute pancreatitis do not lead to complications, and most people recover uneventfully with appropriate medical care. However, in a small proportion of people, acute pancreatitis takes a more serious course that requires intensive medical care. In all cases, it is essential to determine the underlying cause of acute pancreatitis and, if possible, to treat this condition to prevent a recurrence. Because the severity and course of acute pancreatitis can vary widely from person to person, the treatment is individualized.

How Is Acute Pancreatitis Diagnosed?  

During acute attacks, high levels of amylase and lipase  (digestive enzymes formed in the pancreas) are found in the blood. Changes may also occur in blood levels of calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, and bicarbonate. Patients may have high amounts of sugar and lipids (fats) in their blood too. These changes help the doctor diagnose pancreatitis. After the pancreas recovers, blood levels of these substances usually return to normal.

What Is the Treatment for Acute Pancreatitis?  

The treatment a patient receives depends on how bad the attack is. Unless complications occur, acute pancreatitis usually gets better on its own, so treatment is supportive in most cases. Usually the patient goes into the hospital. The doctor prescribes fluids by vein to restore blood volume. The kidneys and lungs may be treated to prevent failure of those organs. Other problems, such as cysts in the pancreas, may need treatment too.

How is Chronic Pancreatitis diagnosed?  

Chronic pancreatitis usually follows many years of alcohol abuse

In the early stages, the doctor cannot always tell whether the patient has acute or chronic disease. The symptoms may be the same. Damage to the pancreas from drinking alcohol may cause no symptoms for many years, and then the patient suddenly has an attack of pancreatitis. In more than 90 percent of adult patients, chronic pancreatitis appears to be caused by alcoholism

Patients with chronic pancreatitis tend to have three kinds of problems: pain, malabsorption of food leading to weight loss, or diabetes.

How Is Chronic Pancreatitis Treated?  

The doctor treats chronic pancreatitis by relieving pain and managing the nutritional and metabolic problems. The patient can reduce the amount of fat and protein lost in stools by cutting back on dietary fat and taking pills containing pancreatic enzymes. This will result in better nutrition and weight gain. Sometimes insulin or other drugs must be given to control the patient's blood sugar.

In some cases, surgery is needed to relieve pain by draining an enlarged pancreatic duct. Sometimes, part or most of the pancreas is removed in an attempt to relieve chronic pain. Gallstones can be removed by surgery.

In 90% of the cases it appears that alcohol consumption  of many, many years  is the cause of chronic pancreatitis in adult patients. AS your gf is only 15, I doubt that alcoholic consumption is the cause.  Most likely I suspect it's  gallstones, or idiopathic. The best approach for her is to adhere to a prescribed diet which is low in fat; high carbohydrates and low protein  and  take the proper medications in order to have fewer and milder attacks. Fatty diets tend to bring on the acute attacks.  

No, she won't die anytime soon.