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My Experience with Pancreatic Enzymes (PERT)
I read Liz’s blog and her journey with exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) resonated with my own experience. The one difference - since the diagnosis, seven years and counting - I continue to calibrate my enzyme dosage. Here is my experience with pancreatic enzymes. My first (diagnosed) acute pancreatitis attack happened in 1998 and I was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis in 2013 following severe weight loss and multiple years living with digestive issues (such as dispersed and oily stools). When I began taking pancreatic enzymes in 2013 (without a formal diagnosis of EPI), I had no understanding of lipase, amylase or protease…
March 24, 2021
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Pancreatic Enzymes and Pancreatitis: My Experience
Road towards a pancreatitis diagnosis #Creoninthewild Hawaii My journey with pancreatitis started when I was about 10 years old. Throughout my years in school (elementary, middle and high school), I was misdiagnosed with a “sensitive stomach.” My pain was not taken seriously by doctors. I was sent to several counselors while I was in college because, despite my symptoms, doctors believed that the pain was in my head. I received prescriptions for chocolate as a way to ‘just calm down’ and let go of some stress. This was probably well-intentioned but clearly did not address the source of my intense…
March 24, 2021Seeking Treatment for Chronic Pancreatitis: Laura’s Story
Laura while traveling in Wadi Rum, Jordan Stabbing Pain Leads to Acute Pancreatitis Diagnosis In December 2018, Laura Perry, a 24-year old previously-healthy law student, began experiencing abdominal pain after returning home from a trip to Mexico with her family. While in Mexico, Laura had contracted an infection. Believing that it was nothing serious, her doctor prescribed antibiotics. The antibiotics were unsuccessful in reducing the pain so Laura went to an urgent care in hopes of a more effective treatment. The urgent care doctor incorrectly diagnosed H. Pylori and prescribed more antibiotics. But, Laura’s pain intensified. She describes the pain…
October 2, 2020
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Kayla-Ann Keagy: Courage Award Recipient Tells Her Story
At the 2018 LA Party for a Cure fundraising event, Mission: Cure had the honor of awarding the Courage Award to four remarkable young individuals living with chronic pancreatitis. While the event as a whole was a verifiable success, raising over $150,000 to support the search for a cure, it was the stories of Matthew Musto (aka blackbear), Kayla-Ann Keagy, Diana Miranda, and Diego Miranda that made the biggest impact of the night. We are now sharing their stories of how chronic pancreatitis has affected their lives and the hopes they hold for the future, as well as updates from…
October 15, 2018
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Diana & Diego Miranda: Courage Award Recipients Tell Their Stories
At the 2018 LA Party for a Cure fundraising event, Mission: Cure had the honor of awarding the Courage Award to four remarkable young individuals living with chronic pancreatitis. While the event as a whole was a verifiable success, raising over $150,000 to support the search for a cure, it was the stories of Matthew Musto (aka blackbear), Kayla-Ann Keagy, Diana Miranda, and Diego Miranda that made the biggest impact of the night. Over the next few days, we will be sharing their stories of how chronic pancreatitis has affected their lives and the hopes they hold for the future,…
October 12, 2018
Living with Pancreatitis: The Importance of Hope
Interview with Chronic Pancreatitis Patient, Christine Cataldo In the summer of 2018, Mission: Cure’s intern, Gabriela Gil, sat down with Christine Cataldo, a patient volunteer with Mission: Cure, to learn more about Christine’s experiences living with chronic pancreatitis. Diagnosed with pancreatitis linked to the PRSS1 genetic mutation in 2002, Christine shared stories how her condition was identified, discussed her family’s relationship with the disease, and emphasized the importance of patient advocacy in pancreatitis research: (more…)
September 5, 2018