Duration of chronic pancreatitis
In the case of chronic inflammation of the pancreas, the disease is permanent and cannot be completely cured. Nevertheless, many patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis have recurrent acute episodes accompanied by the symptoms described above. However, the symptoms are usually less intense and of shorter duration.
However, there are also patients who experience permanent problems such as mild pain, bloating and loss of appetite. Chronic pancreatitis is often associated with a deficiency in digestive enzymes. These are produced in sufficient quantities in healthy people.
If there is a deficiency, a tablet containing enzymes that aid digestion must be taken before meals. Overall, it is therefore difficult to quantify the duration of a chronic inflammation of the pancreas. In principle, it is permanent.
However, the symptoms vary greatly from patient to patient. In chronic pancreatitis there are several drugs that may have to be taken. Many patients suffer from a lack of digestive enzymes due to the reduction in pancreatic tissue.
These are formed in the pancreas in healthy people and are essential for digestion. A deficiency of these enzymes is called exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Those affected must take tablets permanently, usually daily with every main meal.
The tablets must be taken for life. There are also patients in whom the pancreas no longer produces enough insulin due to the permanent inflammation. Insulin is essential for the metabolism of glucose ingested with food. If not enough insulin is produced, this is known as diabetes mellitus, also known as diabetes in the vernacular. Patients suffering from such diabetes must inject insulin permanently.
Length of hospital stay
In case of acute pancreatitis, a doctor should always be consulted. As a rule, in-patient hospital treatment must be provided. In the first few days, a lot of fluid is supplied via the vein, the patient is not allowed to eat anything and treatment is carried out with sufficient painkillers, as the inflammation is often accompanied by severe pain. Depending on the condition of the patient and improvement of the symptoms under the therapy, a hospital stay lasts between three and seven days. If complications occur, however, it can also lead to significantly longer stays, often with treatment in an intensive care unit.
Duration of sick leave
As mentioned above, an acute inflammation usually requires a hospital stay. This lasts 3-7 days if there are no complications. How long the affected person has to be on sick leave afterwards depends largely on how severe the symptoms still are.
Often the pain therapy helps quite quickly and effectively and the patient is able to work again after 2-3 weeks. In the case of short and simple courses, one week may be sufficient. For others, it takes several months until a sick note is no longer necessary.
