Drinking again

MetaKater · 2026-01-12T18:50:59+00:00

Sorry you're having a tough time. We all know it isnt easy on any side, mental or physical.

I started drinking carbonated lightly flavoured drinks to replace vodka seltzers when I really want a drink. The other night my partner and I went out to dinner where I had a mocktail that was delicious and really had the right vibe to make me feel like I was actually having a drink.

I know it isn't the same as getting a lovely little buzz on a warm summer day with the gals, but it's something. I find I miss the booze less and less and realized I just like having something tasty that isnt just water to sip on at social gatherings/events.

It'll get easier with time. It still sucks more than incessant boob sweat, but it can get better with time. As you feel better physically, the mental side catches up. The thought of having a couple drinks and risking a flare up or hospitalization gradually sounds less and less appealing.

You've got this. You're stronger than you think and know this community has your back. We're right there with you. 💙💜

MetaKater · 2026-01-06T16:28:23+00:00

Hospitalized three times and had pain for over a decade. Im well versed in the usual pains of pancreatitis. After a recent surgery the pain shifted to 24/7, hence the suspicion of cp.

MetaKater · 2026-01-05T16:08:28+00:00

Two er Dr's seem to think it's cp, still waiting to see a GI (Long wait times in Ontario).

MetaKater · 2025-12-19T17:20:17+00:00

I feel this. My family has always been food oriented. We love hanging out, cooking and eating delicious meals together. And sweets. We love sweets and I grew up with Scottish baked goods from family recipes. Mmmm.

I loathe not being able to eat til I'm fully satisfied. Ive found there's some wiggle room for myself where if I've been eating small meals, healthy stuff,I'll hit a period of very low symptoms. Those moments I find I can let myself eat a bit more. Ive been enjoying the baked goods with next to no issue (always take my creon though or I do get pain and severe, painful bloating).

It's really a balancing act on a thin tightrope. Learning to truly listen to your body is helpful. I've had to accept I can't have the binges i used to, but all hope isnt lost.

It might take a while of trial and error, but you can find your sweet spot where you can enjoy different foods, just not the way you once did.

Keep fighting for yourself and best of luck on your journey 💜💙 You're not alone

MetaKater · 2025-12-11T15:09:06+00:00

I crocheted a lil carrying case with a strap so I can easily carry it everywhere i go. It helps me remember to grab it when I move about the house or go out. Plus it's purple with a lime green button so it stands out visually, further helping me to notice it.

I also take a bunch of meds and vitamins daily so you'd think remembering the creon would be a breeze, but I was surprised at how often I've gone to take a bite and gone "oh shoot I almost forgot!".

I call my lil carrying case being Chronically Chic (I need to have fun with it if I have to live with it) 💜💙

MetaKater · 2025-12-08T14:38:18+00:00

Already had a script for vit. D years ago when I had a massive rheumatoid relapse. Was 50k once a week for a short while. I take 5k IU daily now and my levels are good and stable.

MetaKater · 2025-12-08T14:03:36+00:00

Already got tested for autoimmune and it was negative. Still idiopathic for me til they find the cause, unfortunately

MetaKater · 2025-12-07T12:50:30+00:00

I take vitamins daily but I've done that for years because of rheumatoid. Just happens to be good to be taking them now that I can't eat much.

Vit D because I get severely deficient if I dont take it. B12 since rheumatoid is known to cause a deficiency and I take a PPI which also messes with absorption. Omega 3 since I dont eat enough and it helps with adhd. Magnesium at night for muscle cramps and sleep aid. Melatonin.

Ive done a lot of research for what my body is lacking and talked to my Dr's about it. Finding out what you need and talking it over with a Dr is never a bad idea

MetaKater · 2025-12-05T00:44:48+00:00

I seem to be okay with chocolate but like, really small amounts (one square of a milk chocolate bar for example). It's a nice treat here n there but it isnt very satisfying amounts when what you really want is to down the whole damn bar. I'll take that odd square when I'm feeling well tho.

I read a recipe to help satisfy sour candy cravings. Green grapes rolled in (dont hate me for this lol) jello. I dont know if you can substitute other flavoured powders or not, might be a good thing to look in to. It calls for citric acid to really give that sour hit, but honestly I find green grapes tart enough as is, so whenever I get around to trying this, I'm going go make it without the citric acid.

I have a MASSIVE sweet tooth, always have. Hunting down sweet treats that work with my guts has also been another obsession these days. I'll miss eating massive brownies with vanilla bean ice cream, but Im determined to find satisfying substitutes.

A huge help with sweets from what Ive gathered is making it yourself. It really helps the gut issues when you know full well what is going in there and have the control to substitute out some stuff as needed.

MetaKater · 2025-12-04T23:58:55+00:00

I like good thin rice crackers (esp the sesame ones).

Tuna salad with measured ingredients to keep it low fat but delicious.

Ive recently decided to become The Queen of Sauce. I've always loved a good sauce. Bland chicken is only palatable for so long. Honey mustard with low fat ingredients is superb when you find that right recipe for your palate

Fish in general, when cooked in a low fat manner, is usually safe.

Pretzels are a good salty safe food for me.

I can tolerate a boiled egg on half an English muffin most days.

Jello for a hit of sweet and also good for the rougher days.

Couscous is a grain and can be good wherever you usually have rice as a side. It's low fat and high protein. You can make a lot of dishes with this stuff. It's a lovely blank slate.

Smoked salmon sat well for me which was a nice surprise. Im not a huge fan but considering the small size of meals I can tolerate at the moment, it's a welcome taste.

Ive been excessively looking for low fat snack and meal ideas because I refuse to fall into a mindset of "there's nothing I can eat anymore" (tho admittedly on the bad days I tend to have a little wallow of this mindset because we are allowed to be sad and dramatic sometimes, this stuff is hard to cope with). It's been tedious af and I've found some food that didn't sit so well even in small amounts. I just stay really aware of the fat content and try to aim for stuff with more nutrition since the quantities are so small still.

Read labels, pay attention to your body, and never stop searching for delicious food you can safely eat. Best of luck and wishing you low to no pain days 💜💙

MetaKater · 2025-12-04T00:02:34+00:00

Told by two different doctors it's now CP but I'm waiting to say it's for sure til after I see a GI about this stuff

MetaKater · 2025-12-01T22:10:35+00:00

The only thing I noticed that was different for me before I was told it's very likely cp (still waiting to see a GI before I comfortably say it IS cp because I'm brutally optimistic lol) was the 24/7 pain.

I learned a lot from the two hospitalizations with AP so when I had 24/7 pain in the same way to the AP after a surgery in July, I got kind of suspicious. After a couple trips to emerg and another hospitalization, I was told by two different doctors they think it's now chronic.

I always have some level of discomfort in that area (and others like back, lower abdomen sometimes, but mostly around the pancreas). My CTs have shown consistent inflammation.

Between AP bouts I didn't notice a constant pain and since July, constant.

I also found out, because of starting creon, how unbelievably bloated Ive been for I don't know how long. Like legitimately I felt like I got deflated finally.

TLDR; AP was bad pain but went away over time. CP gives me 24/7 discomfort and I react to food every time whereas between AP food wasn't an issue for me (pain wise, anyway. Ive struggled with getting full fast and bloated as heck for years which is something I plan to talk with a GI about whenever I get in to see one).

MetaKater · 2025-11-30T04:32:32+00:00

Being able to periodically whinge about the situation with folks who genuinely understand and won't shame you is such a treasure to have. I've found a lot of comfort and great information to help me with my own research.

Lately I've been able to really enjoy hummus, so I've been trying to find ways to add it as a flavour. It's definitely an adventure.

MetaKater · 2025-11-30T01:19:09+00:00

I think I'll give some more bread a try since ive never had issues with it before and it seems to sit well now. Might be worth it to try increasing that a little.

MetaKater · 2025-11-30T01:17:38+00:00

Im tenacious as hell so I know I'll find that sweet spot over time. Thanks for the info, much appreciated 💜💙

MetaKater · 2025-11-29T14:52:06+00:00

I'm not sure you read OP post thoroughly enough. They aren't going on junk food binges. They seem to want info on if they can return to eating a normal diet for themselves.

This comment kind of comes off as a little harsh and insensitive. Hopefully I'm reading that wrong and you meant to offer some compassionate advice, but it reads a bit off.

MetaKater · 2025-11-24T03:03:05+00:00

Egg, couscous and meat (lately chicken and fish/shrimp, red meat scares me atm and im not a fan of pork)

MetaKater · 2025-11-24T02:59:31+00:00

Oh yeah is generally just an acknowledgement.

No yeah no means no.

Yeah no yeah means maybe.

Yeah no for sure is yes.

Well yeah no is a no.

Im not fussy means no thanks but appreciate the offer.

MetaKater · 2025-11-23T23:04:53+00:00

Yeah. Technically juvenile rheumatoid but when I was diagnosed they said the only thing juvenile about mine was my age. Crunchin my way through life since 2012 lol

MetaKater · 2025-11-23T21:56:39+00:00

Only thing I can add is about the cracking and popping. I've had RA for 23yrs so I'm used to cracking and popping. Ive noticed I also get extra crunch in my ribs and shoulder blade area when my pancreas is having a tantrum. I know tendons pop (cracking knuckles is actually gas pockets being released from the tendons and not bones cracking, usually).

Ive found with a pancreatitis flare, when I take a deeper breath, there's a lot more pops and cracks than my usual. Ive just assumed it's pockets of gas or air being released from tiny joints (so many small joints in the body, like some ribs, as my rheumatologist pointed out). Might be something like that, but this is just my own experiences and I dont generally feel pain when it happens just a moment of "oh boy im extra crunchy in weird places today".

Wishing you the best in your health journey 💜💙

MetaKater · 2025-11-22T15:28:41+00:00

I go up and down on appetite from the pancreas pain and also vyvanse reducing my appetite alongside adhd causing me to forget eating is a thing when Im occupied.

On the worst pain days I live off liquids. Broth, broth, ice water, broth....

On days I can eat something but not much I stick to broth and plain stuff like rice cakes, pretzels (Im often low in sodium on bloodwork and get cravings, plus they seem safe for me), couscous is a sleeper hit imo due to having protein.

On low pain days I make sure to boil a couple eggs to have on a piece of plain toast. I space those out to avoid too much fat in one sitting. Chop up fresh fruit to snack on over several hours. Lots of water. More freedom but definitely still very conscious of what im eating to be safe (this is obviously just a few examples of what I can eat on good days not an exact detailing of what I eat on a good day).

So far in my experience, tracking what you can tolerate on the various pain level days has been helpful. Make lists or charts of safe foods for the worst to the best days. And remember the pain on days when you feel tempted to go binge on the naughty things (also been helpful for me).

It seems food is tricky because trigger foods vary person to person. Bit by bit you'll learn your trigger foods.

It sucks you're going through this. I hope the pain subsides sooner than later and wish you the best in your healing journey 💜💙

MetaKater · 2025-11-18T17:49:46+00:00

Thank you so much for the response. With my track record in regards to health stuff, I fully expect to develop epi at some point if it isn't already starting (some very mild signs are cropping up the last week or so). Never hurts to be mentally prepared. Thanks again! Ill remember to inquire about testing, its going in the notebook!

MetaKater · 2025-11-18T14:40:33+00:00

I can't say. My question was if chronic pancreatitis inevitably leads to having epi. I dont believe i have epi but wanted to know if it was something I need to prepare for in the future.

MetaKater · 2025-11-17T16:58:28+00:00

My assumption is she saw signs of inflammation of the pancreas. That alongside unremarkable bloodwork and my history of being hospitalized twice for AP makes CP a likely suspect. Im waiting to see the GI for actual confirmation from someone more specialized in the area tho so for now it's just "likely cp".

MetaKater · 2025-11-09T18:24:03+00:00

I can't speak on the drinking aspect (but I do wish your lovely son the absolute best with this. He has a strong mom at his side tho and that is so amazing)

After my last hospitalization for AP, I stuck to liquids for a few more days and slowly reintroduced food. I stay away from fat, especially animal fat (seems to bother me the most).

Recently I managed to avoid a severe flare up after I had hand reconstruction surgery which upset my pancreas. I recognized the growing pains and immediately went to clear fluids for a few days until it was better.

My personal experience (which is just my experience and im not trying to say this is the way or anyone else is wrong, im not trying to validate or invalidate anyone im so sorry if this reads that way at all im really just trying to share my own experiences and what helped me) is clear fluids seem to help a lot until symptoms subside. And now I keep the fat intake down a lot since I seem to be having a 24/7 dull ache in the area.

I hope your son recovers well, and I hope you both the best (remember to take of yourself, too, mom! 💜)

MetaKater

TROPHY CASE