Here is a great article on Secretion OF the Pancreas, Gall Bladder and Liver. Check it out. Click here

Mark:

I enjoyed the chat session the other day. It is so nice being able to talk to others whom know what it is like to live with pancreatitis. The support that we give each other helps each and everyone of us to get through every day.

I was part of the chat session Wednesday night. I brought up the idea about getting together as a group and sending our stories to different talk show hosts. We are often so mistreated and misjudged by the medical community especially after articles like the one about Matthew Perry appear in international magazines like People Magazine and/or other magazines. In this magazine article it is mentioned that pancreatitis is caused by alcohol and drugs. No other causes are listed. Several people contacted People Magazine to no avail. Many received only a standard form letter back from People Magazine.

We need to get the public's attention and bring up our thoughts about the Matthew Perry article. We need to let the talk show hosts know that not all pancreatitis attacks are caused by alcohol or drugs. There are other causes. We need to let them know what type of symptoms we live with everyday and how we are often misjudged and/or mistreated by the ER Doctors, residents, and others of the medical community. I think that the talk show hosts may be interested in ordinary people's stories.

I did get the e-mail addresses of several talk show hosts. Can you post them on your website for others to see. I think that we should contact these talk show hosts possibly at the same time and on the same date. I was thinking maybe contacting the talk show hosts as a group and sharing our stories with the talk show hosts. Here are websites of the talkshow hosts:

The Oprah Winfrey Show - www.oprah.com (After getting into the website, click e-mail, then e-mail oprah)

The Montel Williams Show - www.montelshow.com (After getting into the website, click "interact", then e-mail Montel)

The Jenny Jones Show - www.jennyjones.warnerbros.com (After getting into the website, click "contact us" then "show ideas".

The Sally Jesse Raphael Show - www.sallyjr.com (After getting into the website, click "show ideas" then "list idea or request")

If tomorrow is not a good time to contact the talk show hosts for everybody in the group. Then let's decide on another date or time to contact the talk show hosts.

Maria

Here is an idea I think is worth looking into. Would anyone be interested in being a Project Manager? I am unsure if I have the time to do the project Manager gig. We could use your ideas. Thanks.......Mark

Mark, Talking w/my husband, Richard, he brought up a great point regarding emails going to tv...Oprah, etc. Especially, Oprah...most of her stories or help goes toward those stories/people which have a moral to it...uplifting ending....I think he is on to something. I can't remember a story on Oprah without a "happy" ending...overcoming adversity, etc. We need to put our heads together and find "Success Stories"...or maybe one Doctor or team of Doctors that have really raised the bar on eleviating pain in pancreatic patients. Then, of course, interviewing those patients...I hope I am making sense with this. Some sort of Breakthrough w/our disease...I just don't believe she's going to do a show reflecting the pain, we all have known without a headliner success of some type. We just don't fit her "Cookie Cutter Commercialism...at first glance. But, something like that will not stop me, nor anyone w/this disease, as we are Survivors!!! I think putting this together as a "project", with a Project Manager, and a great team...we can organize, plot, plan, and find we can get our message on Oprah...or any show...Mark, you are "A Take Charge Person", could you consider being the Project Manager? I'd love to be on the team! What do you think? Have I had toooooo many meds today? Am I off the wall???? We could begin by asking everyone in the chat room to submit their story, maybe talk to our Doctors and gleen success stories there...yes, they have confidentiality rules, but they know the procedures which have worked and patients have recovered...what did it take? Enough on that...sorry I'll miss the chat tonight...My husband is taking me out of the house for a treat...I suffer from cabin fever and don't realize it...but He knows! LOL LOL Envisioning Success, I am hoping that I am not off the wall!!!:):):)...

Becky --- Richard Harcombe ---

richpthd@earthlink.net

Hello All. Kaye is putting together a book about this Disease that we all share and she needs stories for her book. Would you all be so kind to send her stories. Happy, Sad, Humorous stories would be appreciated. Her letters are as follows

Dear Mark:

As I have mentioned before, I am putting together a book about pancreatitis. I intend this book to be humorous, inspirational as well as being able to put together stories from other people suffereing from this disease.

My I have your permission to post my story on your board along with a post asking for information, stroies, etcs from other pancreas patients? This information would be included in this book of course keeping close attention to confidentiality issues.

Basically right now Mark I am looking for people to tell me their stories. Also I would like to know how their experiences with pancreatitis affect their marriages, relationships, friends, finances, spiritual affects, mental health, emotionally anything they can think of.

Also, if there are any humorous stories any one wants to share I would love to get that too. As I receive more info/stories, then I will direct specific questions. The more info I get, I am sure the more questions I will have.

Your chat board has been a godsend for me. Thank you so much.

Wishing you a "good pancreas day."

Kaye Fortenberry

Thanks for your help.

Kaye Can be reached at kfortenb@bellsouth.net or you can write me and I will forward on your story to her. I can be reached at casca1012@top5plus5.com