Anyone know if chronic pancreatitis can lead to collapsed lungs??
474021
Chronic Pancreatitis\nIf injury to the pancreas continues, chronic pancreatitis may develop. Chronic pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes attack and destroy the pancreas and nearby tissues, causing scarring and pain. The usual cause of chronic pancreatitis is many years of alcohol abuse, but the chronic form may also be triggered by only one acute attack, especially if the pancreatic ducts are damaged. The damaged ducts cause the pancreas to become inflamed, tissue to be destroyed, and scar tissue to develop.\n\nWhile common, alcoholism is not the only cause of chronic pancreatitis. The main causes of chronic pancreatitis are\n\nalcoholism \nblocked or narrowed pancreatic duct because of trauma or pseudocysts have formed \nheredity \nunknown cause (idiopathic) \nDamage from alcohol abuse may not appear for many years, and then a person may have a sudden attack of pancreatitis. In up to 70 percent of adult patients, chronic pancreatitis appears to be caused by alcoholism. This form is more common in men than in women and often develops between the ages of 30 and 40.\n\nHereditary pancreatitis usually begins in childhood but may not be diagnosed for several years. A person with hereditary pancreatitis usually has the typical symptoms that come and go over time. Episodes last from 2 days to 2 weeks. A determining factor in the diagnosis of hereditary pancreatitis is two or more family members with pancreatitis in more than one generation. Treatment for individual attacks is usually the same as it is for acute pancreatitis. Any pain or nutrition problems are treated just as they are for acute pancreatitis. Surgery can often ease pain and help manage complications.\n\nOther causes of chronic pancreatitis are\n\ncongenital conditions such as pancreas divisum \ncystic fibrosis \nhigh levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) \nhigh levels of blood fats (hyperlipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia) \nsome drugs \ncertain autoimmune conditions \nSymptoms\nMost people with chronic pancreatitis have abdominal pain, although some people have no pain at all. The pain may get worse when eating or drinking, spread to the back, or become constant and disabling. In certain cases, abdominal pain goes away as the condition advances, probably because the pancreas is no longer making digestive enzymes. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and fatty stools.\n\nPeople with chronic disease often lose weight, even when their appetite and eating habits are normal. The weight loss occurs because the body does not secrete enough pancreatic enzymes to break down food, so nutrients are not absorbed normally. Poor digestion leads to excretion of fat, protein, and sugar into the stool. If the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (islet cells) have been damaged, diabetes may also develop at this stage.\nSpontaneous pneumothorax is a sudden collection of air or gas in the chest that causes the lung to collapse in the absence of a traumatic injury to the chest or lung.  Usually, a distinction is made between a spontaneous (primary) pneumothorax, and secondary (complicated) pneumothorax.\nSpontaneous pneumothorax occurs in individuals with no known lung disease.  It affects close to 9,000 persons in the United States each year- most often among tall, thin men between 20 and 40 years old.  The cause of this type of pneumothorax is the rupture of a bleb or cyst in the lung. \n\nSymptoms include:\n\nChest pain on affected side  \nDyspnea (shortness of breath) \nCough \nAbnormal breathing movement \nRapid respiratory rate \nSpontaneous pneumothorax is diagnosed by chest radiographs. \n\ni really dont see a conection between the 2..
705363
There are problems that can crop up.  The biggest would be food or drink going down the wrong way.  Usually pain full and distressing but only rarely serious as the bodies natural defences tend to stop it quickly.\n\nThe biggest risk is probably from inhaling saliva especially if it is contaminated with gastric juice.   This can cause inhalation pneumonia but it is highly unlikely and if it did happen is likely to be mild.  Recommend that you avoid alcohol, or spicy food in the evening. \n\nTwo important things.  Firsts is common sense - if in any doubt about contamination of the bronchial tubes or lungs seek advice.\n\nSecondly - keep swallowing.  Repeated use of the muscles will strengthen them and may well act to restore more feeling and mobility.\n\nGood luck.
921504
Wish I could help. But am not sure on how much longer she can live. Sounds pretty bad though. Pneaumonia with emphysema is very dangerous. Each ALONE is dangerous. I wish I could help you. Hope for her to get to doing better soon.
659858
No, you could have pancreatic cancer, but diabetes is more likely, not to mention treatable. See a doctor, would you?
162141
Chronic pancreatitis can present as episodes of acute inflammation in a previously injured pancreas, or as chronic damage with persistent pain or malabsorption. The causes of relapsing chronic pancreatitis are similar to those of acute pancreatitis, though gallstone-associated pancreatitis is predominantly acute or relapsing-acute in nature, and more cases of chronic pancreatitis are of undetermined or idiopathic origin.\n\nPatients with chronic pancreatitis can present with persistent abdominal pain or steatorrhea (diarhhea resulting from malabsorption of the fats in food, typically very bad-smelling and equally hard on the patient), as well as severe nausea. Patients with chronic pancreatitis often look very sick.\n\nAmong American adults, chronic pancreatitis most often occurs from the cumulative pancreatic destruction caused by repeated alcohol-induced episodes of acute pancreatitis. Cystic fibrosis is the most common cause of chronic pancreatitis in children. In up to one quarter of cases, no cause can be found. In other parts of the world, severe protein-calorie malnutrition is a common cause.\n\nThe abdominal pain can be very severe and require high doses of analgesics. Disability and mood problems are common, although early diagnosis and support can make these problems manageable.\n\nSerum amylase and lipase may well not be elevated in chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic calcification can often be seen on X-rays.\n\nTreatment is directed, when possible, to the underlying cause, and to relief of the pain and malabsorption. Replacement pancreatic enzymes have proven somewhat effective in treating the malabsorption and steatorrhea.
529470
THIS IS WORTH READING!   I was diagnosed with it in 2002, following severe and sudden breathing difficulty, mostly with exercise, then with even just walking on level ground!  After initial biopsy surgery, which followed three years of believing a doctor who was wrong, I was put on many different drugs, Isoniasid, Rifampin, Ethambutol, vitamin B6, as well as Prednisone which is supposed to alleviate the inflammation, but did not, or if yes, it only kept my condition from being worse than it was.  You're probably, or should be, having pulmonary function tests every three months.  That will tell your doc a lot about your condition.  But BEWARE, your diagnosis is not the word of the almighty - I went to Yale Univ Med and the Mayo Clinic, both said no to Sarcoidosis, probably Bronchiolitis, and that the biopsy slides were insufficient.  Now I'm off the Prednisone, and some better than before, but in my case, I also had a heart valve condition, now improved non-invasively.  But I do still have breathing problems that require supplemental oxygen at night and sometimes during the day.  Whatever you do, get a second, even a third opinion!  My Sarcoidosis was diagnosed at Mount Sinai in NYC, then I went to Yale, then the Mayo Clinic.  The best for lungs in the USA is supposed to be Denver Jewish Medical Center. You probably will need oxygen to fly.  Good luck to you!  canajo@yahoo.com
852462
Once your lung is healed to a certain point(where it is inflated) there are breathing exercises you can do to strengthen it. However, I would also need to know if the collapsed lung is injury or non-injury related. Ask your health care provider if you should be doing deep breathing exercises and how you should be doing them. Also, you may want to take a  cough suppressant to avoid coughing, if necessary. Depending on what stage you are at in the healing process you might want to avoid loud talking and laughing. You most definitely want to avoid smoking at all costs, and proping your head up with a pillow in bed will help. There are many different procedures to treat pneumothorax, or as it is commonly known a collapsed lung. However, there is unfortunately no drug that will strengthen or heal the lung. There are just medicines to treat different symptoms resulting from the collapsed lung. I hope you find this help full !\n\nand remember.....\n\nCall your physician if:\n\n    * You have symptoms of collapsed lung again.\n    * Your temperature rises to 101 degrees F (38.3 degrees C) or higher.\n    * Chest pain or shortness of breath increases.
1072102
Wow! I have never heard of such a thing. I would really really really recommend her seeing a doctor. It could be simply two different problems; Severe simus infection and gas/indigestion. I'm no doctor so I am sorry I cannot diagnose her for ya. Take her to a doctor, it could possibly be a serious condition. Good luck to you and tell your aunt I hope she finds out what this is and gets better!
959385
You've apparently been led astray.  Pancreatitis is usually an illness which comes as a result of long term overdrinking.  (It can also come from a gallstone, my father's cause).  However, whichever way you got it, and no matter how minor the attack, you may not EVER drink alcohol again. Your body now lacks the ability to regularly break down the alcohol.  Sure, it'll work this time and that, but one day soon it won't -- and you'll have a massive pancreatitis attack and die.\n\nNow, see, I don't believe in mincing words.  Instead, I prefer to let you know the truth.  You will die.  You are not to drink any alcohol, not ever when the peers are imbibing.  Instead, you sit there with your bottle of water and say "Mmmmm!"  Because tomorrow you will be alive.  And life should be something you regard as more improtant than feeling a little groovy or social every now and again.  If you need groovy, go for lighting up a joint.  That won't kill your pancreas ...
129958
Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas. The pancreas is a large gland behind the stomach and close to the duodenum. The duodenum is the upper part of the small intestine. The pancreas secretes digestive enzymes into the small intestine through a tube called the pancreatic duct. These enzymes help digest fats, proteins, and carbohydrates in food. The pancreas also releases the hormones insulin and glucagon into the bloodstream. These hormones help the body use the glucose it takes from food for energy.\n\nNormally, digestive enzymes do not become active until they reach the small intestine, where they begin digesting food. But if these enzymes become active inside the pancreas, they start "digesting" the pancreas itself.\n\n   \nAcute pancreatitis occurs suddenly and lasts for a short period of time and usually resolves. Chronic pancreatitis does not resolve itself and results in a slow destruction of the pancreas. Either form can cause serious complications. In severe cases, bleeding, tissue damage, and infection may occur. Pseudocysts, accumulations of fluid and tissue debris, may also develop. And enzymes and toxins may enter the bloodstream, injuring the heart, lungs, and kidneys, or other organs.\n\nIf injury to the pancreas continues, chronic pancreatitis may develop. Chronic pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes attack and destroy the pancreas and nearby tissues, causing scarring and pain. The usual cause of chronic pancreatitis is many years of alcohol abuse, but the chronic form may also be triggered by only one acute attack, especially if the pancreatic ducts are damaged. The damaged ducts cause the pancreas to become inflamed, tissue to be destroyed, and scar tissue to develop.\n\nWhile common, alcoholism is not the only cause of chronic pancreatitis. The main causes of chronic pancreatitis are\n\nalcoholism \nblocked or narrowed pancreatic duct because of trauma or pseudocysts have formed \nheredity \nunknown cause (idiopathic) \nDamage from alcohol abuse may not appear for many years, and then a person may have a sudden attack of pancreatitis. In up to 70 percent of adult patients, chronic pancreatitis appears to be caused by alcoholism. This form is more common in men than in women and often develops between the ages of 30 and 40.\n\n\nAlthough one of the primary risk factors for pancreatitis is long-term alcohol abuse, only a small percentage of people with alcoholism develop the disease. For that reason, researchers believe that more than one factor may be involved in pancreatitis, including:\n\nGallbladder disease. Gallstones that lodge in the lower portion of the bile duct can block the pancreatic duct, causing digestive juices to back into the pancreas, where they destroy healthy tissue. \nEthnicity. Black Americans are more likely to develop pancreatitis than white Americans are. \nYour sex. Pancreatitis occurs more frequently in men, possibly because men are more likely to abuse alcohol than women are. \nCigarettes and other toxins. Some researchers theorize that the stress of metabolizing drugs, tobacco and even pollution may damage your pancreas. \nGenetic mutations. Abnormalities in one or more genes may predispose some people to pancreatitis. \nOther medical conditions. Certain inherited diseases, particularly cystic fibrosis, increase your risk of pancreatitis.
674
May I direct you to http://www.lung.ca/diseases/emphysema.html . Tell him I hope he feels better.
401727
Collapsed lung(s) can leave scars in the tissue.  After time, these scars harden and cannot be fixed.  The alveoli sacs become damaged and can no longer transfer oxygen and carbon dioxide. Because of this, the rest of the lung has to breathe harder to get more air into the body which in turn creates stress on the heart and brain cells.  There is no cure.  My best wishes.  there is of course a chance something else is going on..please see a dr.
610057
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is not curable.\n\nMost patients with COPD have some degree of reversible airways obstruction. It is therefore likely that, at first, treatment will lead to some improvement or stability in lung function. But as COPD progresses, almost all signs and symptoms except cough and sputum production tend to show a gradual worsening. This trend can show fluctuations, but over the course of 4 or 5 years, a slow deterioration becomes evident.\n\nRepeated bouts of increased cough and sputum production disable most patients and recovery from coughing attacks may take a long time. Patients with severe lung damage sleep in a semi-sitting position because they are unable to breathe when they lie down. They often complain that they awaken during the night feeling "choked-up," and they need to sit up to cough.\n\nSurvival of patients with COPD is closely related to the level of their lung function when they are diagnosed and the rate at which they lose this function. Overall, the median survival is about 10 years for patients with COPD who have lost approximately two-thirds of their normally expected lung function at diagnosis.\n\nCOPD gets gradually worse over time. At first there may be only a mild shortness of breath and occasional coughing. Then a chronic cough develops with clear, colorless sputum. As the disease progresses, the cough becomes more frequent and more and more effort is needed to get air into and out of the lungs. In later stages of the disease, the heart may be affected. Eventually death occurs when the function of the lungs and heart is no longer adequate to deliver oxygen to the body's organs and tissues.
263834
YES, there is a condition that doctors like to call psuedoasthma and it is from acid reflux. I have had problems for years with reflux and this last time that i was pregnant i had to use an inhaler. My baby has it too, he has had numerous hospitalizations from reflux that caused asthma like problems. \nsee a doctor they need to do a scope of your stomach and put u on some stronger meds like prevacid...
604034
Consolidation is when an area of lung is full of infection and white blood cells go to that area to fight infection as in pneumonia or abscess. A collapsed lung--the lung tissue is surrounded by a sac--the sack has a leak-called pneumothorax--very serious,may need a chest tube inserted to re inflate lung--can happen from accident,disease, surgery, or "spontaneous from lung wall weakness
674756
I have never read anything that would indicate that diabetes causes respiratory problems; however, if you are experiencing such problems, you need to see a doctor.
133626
Wow, I had exactly the same thing several weeks ago: came down with pneumonia in the matter of hours. My doctor couldn't really explain how I got it, but mentioned weakened immune system. Which is caused by what?... Numerous factors, but in my case, I suspect, severe stress (personal matters) was a trigger. I guess, just think what changed in your life before you got it... Get well soon! ;)