Pancreatitis and pipes

[seakayak]

I was just discharged from a week in the hospital with my second go-round of acute pancreatitis (no fun at all). Everything I read recommends a low fat diet rich in vegetables and minimal alcohol use. This makes sense in terms of what the pancreas does. Many sources also insist that the patient should quit smoking. Here, I don't see any connection. Is this insistence:

1. Limited to cigarettes (which I don't smoke)

2. Based on any objective pancreatic research

3. Another example of general anti-smoking bias.

I enjoy my pipes, as do we all, am fairly intelligent and can honestly think of no valid connection between the human pancreas and non-inhaled pipe smoke. Does anyone know of any valid research on the subject?

 

[collindow]

Nope. Sounds to me like general anti-smoking crap. But I'll see about asking my father, he's a pulmonologist. (Quite the convenient source, too!)

 

[krgulick]

It is amazing to me how many things the medical field tries to tie to smoking or drinking. I agree that it sounds like the usual anti smoking propaganda.

 

[wolfscout]

I think the medical field is the cause of a lot of medical problems when they prescribe their kick-back funded prescriptions. IMO.

 

[jship079]

I have had sever Pancreatitis several times the last round had me in the hospital for three weeks the reason for the quite smoking with diabeates and pancreatitis is the way tobacco byproducts are motabilized. The two biggest causes for pancreatitis is drinking and gale bladder disease I quite drinking about ten years ago had no problems since I got my gale bladder out six years ago these are the two things you need to worry about trust me smoking has a SMALL effect on the disease.

 

[krgulick]

Those prescriptions the docs are getting kick backs for have more side effects than you can shake a stick at. Some are more fatal than the actual disease/illness you are taking the script for.

 

[seakayak]

I, like jship, had my gall bladder removed about 6 years ago. Thanks for the inside info, Colin. I will be speaking to my GI guy on the subject Any objective data is much appreciated and will prove useful to us all.

 

[iowamike]

I hope your feeling better! Let us know what the GI doc says about the pipe.

 

[onizuka]

Honestly, I want the health of every person in the world to be optimal - I'm not a doc, but I know many in my family.
The short version is: smoking isn't natural for the body and in the process of smoking, even if you don't inhale, are digested by way of mouth from your own saliva and from the smoke entering your mouth. Even if you "don't" in hale through your mouth, you'll likely inhale what you've expelled on your next breath in or some remnants from the air. It's generally considered that alcohol and any type of tobacco product, whether sold legally or illegally, are considered toxins to the body - which I agree with. I think if you're trying to heal up your body, especially an organ that you only have one of, it's best to take a break from something as enjoyable as pipe tobacco.
While many people may believe that some medicine is hogwash, it really isn't. There's a lot to know to become a doctor and they have huge liabilities, as do nurses. Their telling you not to smoke is probably for two reasons: they are bound by law to tell you what's good for you to do and because not smoking generally results in less unpredictable outcomes of your recovery. If you go against medical advice, there's nothing they can really do about it until you come in the next time.
As for medications, the general idea is that they help to "normalize" whatever is going on and some medications have to be taken forever, while others may be stopped. The side effects are there, no drug out there has zero side effects - even a placebo, such as a sugar pill probably has side effects. The general idea is that the medication that someone is taking is probably better for them to have, such as - if they have a thyroid condition, then they must continually undergo thyroid replacement therapy and have the side effects - because the other option is probably isn't a good one.
I'm not trying to be confrontational or open a can of worms or anything - I'm just trying to inform.
Additionally, I hope you feel better man - not feeling good sucks.

 

[seakayak]

Thanks, onizuka, and no offense taken. It appears I'm the one who opened this particular can of worms. I really am looking for an honest airing of informed ideas here and you've been around this community long enough to qualify as an informed voice.

 

[pstlpkr]

My wife had gallbladder surgery a couple of years ago, and the surgeon nicked her pancreas. Pancreatitis was the diagnosis... nearly killed her.

But, no problems with that since.

 

[papipeguy]

I can't think of one malady that scotch and the pipe has not got me through. As a friend of mine told me,"I know more old drunks than old doctors."

 

[igloo]

Sometimes it is about the quality of life . There are very few rewards when eating a healthy diet and minimal alcohol use . What most people fail to relize is how food and alcohol are vital to social interaction . One on a restricted diet is often left out of the enjoyment of the finer things and foods . If smoking a pipe brings you joy I would say do it

 

[bogie]

Maybe its just pipe smokers are so far off the grid that we arent even thought of anymore by anyone who deems smoking to be bad for your health. John Q Public only thinks of the cigarettes when SMOKERS are mentioned.
Pipe smoking is the farthest thing off a Dr.'s mind and maybe when a QUIT SMOKING suggestion is made by the Dr. the PIPE SMOKER should address the doc accordingly.

 

[directshot]

Seakayak, please do take care and hope you will feel better very soon. Also hope you post an update on the GI doctors input. Knowledge is King.

 

[bubbadreier]

Having two parents that are doctors, I actually take offense to the comments about kickback from prescribing medications....

 

[cornguy]

Seakayak, please consult your doctor.

I have never received bad advice from mine. He has improved my quality of life and if i were to take his advice and quit smoking I would be in even better condition.

I think sometimes we rationalize our habit/hobby/indulgence. I can be guilty of that.

Sure cigarettes are bad for you. We can all agree on that. And cigars and pipes are probably not as deleterious.

But there's no way putting smoke into your mouth and nose on a daily basis can be good you.

It's entirely probable that we would all be healthier if we quit smoking. We shouldn't even attempt to deny this fact.

We probably wouldn't be as contented or amiable, but we would be healthier.

I enjoy tobacco and I have no intention of giving up my pipe, but I must assumne the risk that this decision carries with it. I hope I don't regret it.

If I ever encountered a doctor who said, "of course you can keep smoking, just don't inhale, it won't hurt you" I would call the AMA and report him/her.

Let's enjoy our pipes, but let's not pretend that there might not be at least the possibility of some unhealthy consequences to our actions.

 

[teamhavoc28]

I can't agree more cornguy. As a smoker, I accept the risks involved in partaking of this hobby. I know full well what I'm risking with my own health and I pray that all goes well you SeaKayak. I don't think doctors take bribes to tell us to swallow certain pills. They are providing suggestions to maintain better health.Hopefully the health situation clears up so you can enjoy the pipe smoking you so throughly enjoy soon without concerns.

 

[seakayak]

Thank you for the many kind wishes, gentlemen. My question isn't really about risk. It's about UNREASONABLE risk. I've been a certified open water SCUBA diver for more than 20 years. I routinely paddle a cockpitted sea kayak off the Florida coast. I enjoy challenging myself and accept the risks involved. At the same time, I trust years of training and experience to get me out of the inevitable dangerous situations that will arise.

My question centers on the possibility of unreasonable risks in pipe smoking for a 60 year old man who suffers from pancreatitis. For someone diagnosed with a seizure disorder, SCUBA diving would involve an unreasonable risk. There's a clear connection. What is the connection between pipe smoking and acute pancreatitis?

 

[pipetrucker]

They also insist that hang nail patients stop smoking to prevent future hang nails.