Chronic pancreatitis | Mate repe huka kōpauku

Long-term alcohol misuse is responsible for around 7 out of 10 cases of chronic pancreatitis.

Less common causes:

• Smoking.
• Some rare genetic conditions, (eg, cystic fibrosis) or auto-immune conditions (eg, Sjögren's syndrome) and a liver disease called primary biliary cirrhosis, can also increase your chance of getting chronic pancreatitis.

The cause can't be identified in up to 3 out of 10 people. 

The most common symptom of chronic pancreatitis is repeated episodes of pain, just below your ribs, which may extend into your back. It may be mild at first but can become quite severe. Eating can make the pain worse. However, 1 in 5 people have no pain.

You may also feel nausea (sick), have problems with your digestion (because the pancreas isn’t producing enough enzymes) or develop diabetes (because your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin. Over time, you may have greasy, foul-smelling stools. 

Diagnosis

Because it can be difficult to diagnose chronic pancreatitis, your healthcare provider may ask you to have a few tests, including blood tests, a stool sample, X-ray, CT scan or MRI.

Treatment

The key treatment is to stop drinking alcohol for the rest of your life. You will probably also be prescribed painkillers and other medication if needed to help with your enzyme or insulin levels. You will also be advised to stop smoking and avoid fatty foods.

There's no treatment to repair the damage that has already happened to your pancreas. Surgery is sometimes needed to treat severe chronic pain that doesn't respond to painkillers.

Living with chronic pain can affect your mental health. Talk to your healthcare provider if you're finding it difficult to cope, and they can recommend a counsellor or therapist to help you. 

Medicines

Depending on the cause of your pancreatitis and your symptoms, you may be prescribed medicines to help you feel better.

• You may be prescribed medicines to relieve pain, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen for mild pain, and stronger painkillers such as morphine or tramadol for severe pain.
• To help improve your digestion, you may be given tablets containing the enzymes normally made by your pancreas.
• If your pancreatitis is caused by problems with your immune system, you may be prescribed corticosteroids to reduce inflammation of the pancreas.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to stop drinking. Tell your doctor if you need support to do this. You will also help yourself if you:

• quit smoking
• avoid fatty foods
• eat several small meals per day rather than 3 large meals
• take any medicine as prescribed
• get help if you're finding it difficult to cope.

Apps reviewed by Healthify

You may find it useful to look at some Nutrition, exercise and weight management apps and Pain management apps.

There are online support groups for people with chronic pancreatitis, eg, Facebook support group for chronic and acute pancreatitis(external link)

You can also find a counsellor(external link) to talk to about living with this condition.

The best way to prevent chronic pancreatitis is to either avoid alcohol, or if you do drink it, stick to the recommended daily and weekly limits for drinking alcohol. Quitting smoking and eating a healthy diet may also reduce your risk of getting chronic pancreatitis.