Richard’s story

"Pancreatitis turned my life on its head overnight. I have become a type 3 diabetic and have pancreatic enzyme insufficiency (PEI)."

 Tell us a little about yourself  

“I’m Richard and I’m 60 years old. I’m married and we live close to the sea on the south coast. I work in law and order as a researcher and my hobbies include gardening, photography and travel. I also love building model railways and staging exhibitions, the latter of which I have done to support Guts UK charity.” 

Richard is stood in is garden, wearing a blue Guts UK t-shirt, grey trousers and black rimmed glasses. He has grey hair, and a silver watch on his arm. He has his hands in his pockets and to his left, are a selection of purple flowers, and other shrubs in pots, on a garden table. He smiles at the camera.

Can you describe when your symptoms started and what they were? 

“In August 2019, I went to bed as normal but suddenly became unwell in the middle of the night. I experienced severe abdominal pain, just below the ribs, nausea (feeling sick) and vomiting (being sick), and diarrhoea.“

Talk us through your journey with pancreatitis 

“I called 111 for medical advice and an ambulance was sent. In A&E, everything felt a blur. I was in so much pain. Blood tests led to a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis.” 

Note: If the pancreas has been damaged, pancreatic enzymes called amylase and lipase can show in these blood tests. Sometimes, the early diagnosis of acute pancreatitis is not clear, so a CT scan is often done to assess the extent of the damage to the pancreas. 

“I was placed on a general ward and had an ultrasound scan (a medical imaging technique which uses sound waves to create images of inside the body). This is because they suspected gallstones could be a cause. I was told I’d be in hospital for a few days. It ended up being over four months! 

I had a significantly high heart rate, and doctors were concerned I was developing sepsis (a life-threatening reaction to an infection) amongst other things. I was assigned a critical care nurse and was moved to the intensive care unit (ITU).” 

How did your time on the ITU affect you emotionally? 

 “Being in the ITU had a huge impact on me. Initially, everything felt so hazy, and I was prescribed morphine for my pain. I remember having some very dark hallucinations and dreams. 

As time went on, I slowly learnt to cope with my new reality. To cope with being ill, being in pain, constantly feeling sick, and being dependent on nurses for help with the toilet and personal care. I had a few procedures done, one of which was the insertion of a central line (a long, thin tube inserted into a large vein in the neck), to deliver medication. 

Five weeks on, I was transferred to a specialist centre. I had a stent inserted into a pancreatic pseudocyst (a fluid-filled cavity). I also had gastrojejunostomy surgery (where a connection between the stomach and the middle part of the small intestine is made). I had my gallbladder and dead pancreatic tissue removed at the same time. I was told that this surgery was very high risk, but thankfully, I pulled through.” 

Richard is in a hospital bed in the ITU. He has monitors around him, and is asleep, with oxygen going into his nose. He wears a white hospital gown with small teal diamonds on, and his bed is in front of a window with a blind that is mostly closed. There is also a drip trolley with medication on that Richard is receiving via a line into his body.

How has pancreatitis impacted your life? 

 “Pancreatitis turned my life on its head overnight. 

I had to take a year off work and attend multiple hospital visits. I have become a type 3c diabetic and have pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI). When I eat, I take Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT), along with other prescribed medications, such as insulin for my diabetes.  

Due to my surgical wound failing to heal, I also have a large incisional hernia (a protrusion of abdominal tissue and/or organs through a weakening in the abdominal wall, which forms at the site of a healing surgical incision) which doctors have told me is risky to repair.” 

Note: 25 to 80 people in 100 with chronic pancreatitis will develop diabetes within 10 to 20 years. 

Richard is sat at a table with a craft mat on it. He is putting together a building for his model railway. There is a paint board in front of him, and also various modelling equipment such as paint, pencils and glue. He wears a black t-shirt and also black glasses and has grey hair. The photo is a side profile of him.

Is there anything you would have found helpful to know before being diagnosed? 

“It would have been helpful to know what signs and symptoms to look out for, for both gallstones and pancreatitis. I now realise that I had a previous, short-lived pancreatitis flare-up (onset of symptoms) about 18 months earlier.” 

Why would you like to share your story with Guts UK charity? 

 “The more people are aware of the warning signs, the earlier they can seek treatment and avoid the catastrophic impact often caused by pancreatitis. I would love to see more effective treatment options developed in the future.”

Richard is pictured in Florence, on a bridge, with a river behind him and another bridge in the distant. The sky is bright blue with wispy white clouds and there are yellow and red buildings to his left. He wears a denim cap with pin badges on, black sunglasses, a grey shirt, a light grey jacket, dark grey trousers and is holding his camera which has a long lens on it. He smiles at the camera. 

About Guts UK

Pancreatitis is a priority area for Guts UK charity. We fund research into pancreatitis that has the potential to change and save lives. Our Kranky Panky Pancreatitis Awareness Campaign each November builds a community of those affected by pancreatitis, comforted in knowing they’re not alone. Our expert information allows those with pancreatitis to take control of their health, and make informed decisions.

We believe it’s time the UK got to grips with guts. Your support takes us one step closer. Donate today.

Discover more:

Guts UK brand character of a proud pancreas with a green cape on.

The Kranky Panky Pancreatitis Awareness Campaign

Guts UK information leaflets for acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis

Our information: acute pancreatitis

Guts UK information leaflets for chronic pancreatitis and acute pancreatitis

Our information: chronic pancreatitis

Two members of the Guts UK team - Diane and Helen - stand in front of Colin our inflatable colon. They wear Guts UK branded t-shirts and hold our patient information leaflets in their hands. They are smiling at a man, who has his back to the camera. He has short dark hair and wears a long sleeved grey sweatshirt.

What we do at Guts UK