Self-care
Chronic pancreatitis may leave you with lifelong signs and symptoms, such
as pain and malabsorption of certain nutrients. However, most people with
acute pancreatitis recover completely. But even if you experience no
lingering symptoms, it's important to take steps to keep your: pancreas as
healthy as possible:
- Avoid alcohol. If you cantβ voluntarily stop drinking alcohol, get treatment for alcoholism. Abstaining from alcohol may or may not reduce your pain, but it will reduce your risk of dying of your disease.
- Eat smaller meals. The more you eat during a meal, the greater the
amount of digestive juices your pancreas must product. Instead of
large meals, eat smaller, more frequent meals.
- Limit fat in your diet. Limiting fat will help reduce loose and oily
stools that result from a lack of pancreatic enzymes. Discuss with
your doctor or a dietitian how much faJro eat each day; because some
fat is essential.
- Follow a diet high in carbohydrates. Carbohydrates give you
energy to help fight fatigue. They're present in foods made from
starches (complex carbohydrates) or sugars (simple carbohydrates).
Try to get most of your daily calories from complex carbohydrates
found in grains, vegetables and legumes. If you have diabetes,
dietitian can help you plan an appropriate diet.
- Drink plenty of liquids. If you have chronic pancreatitis, be sure to
drink enough liquids so that you don't become dehydrated.
Dehydration may aggravate your pain by further irritating your
pancreas.
- Find safe ways to control pain. Talk with your doctor about options
for controlling your pain, including the benefits and risks of
prescription and over-the-counter pain relievers and the use of
digestive enzymes.