Danny’s story

Tell us a bit about yourself

“I’m Danny, one of three brothers. I love travelling, especially going on beach holidays. I also enjoy playing pool, which has been a passion of mine since I was a small child. 

I’ve worked for Specsavers for nearly 20 years. I work in planning and supply chain, which involves working with suppliers to get the stock in the right place at the right time.”  

When did your symptoms of pancreatitis begin and what were they?

“It was ten years ago, when I was 26. I flew back from a holiday and a day or so later I got a sharp pain in the side of my stomach. 

I spent the next couple of days in bed in agony, I couldn’t eat and I was struggling to drink. 

I felt like I had reflux and my stomach was bloated, but the pain was something I’d never felt before. I thought maybe I had food poisoning.” 

Tell us about being admitted to hospital and your diagnosis of pancreatitis 

“I managed to get a doctor’s appointment just before the weekend. The doctor examined me and thought it was potentially acid reflux and gave me some tablets. 

I went home and I was in agony all weekend, I was rolling around on my bed and no matter what position I got in, it just would not go. The tablets the doctor gave me did nothing. 

I waited until the Sunday and my mum said, ‘You just need to get into A&E now.’ So, we went down to my local A&E and I was sent to another hospital to have some tests done. I waited for hours in a waiting room, and I didn’t get seen until really late on. I then had blood tests and a CT scan. 

The doctor came to speak to me about the test results and there was a sense of urgency. I was moved to a hospital bed and was told it was acute pancreatitis. I’d never heard of it. 

I soon learned how serious inflammation of the pancreas could be, but one of the things that scared me most was discovering that there wasn’t a treatment that could stop the inflammation.” 

Talk us through your experience in hospital. 

“My first night was in a hallway in the hospital. I was finally given a room in the early hours of the morning. I was given pain relief, and that was the first time in four days the pain reduced.  

My condition worsened after a couple of days when I developed an infection. I was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), where I received supportive care while my body fought the inflammation. Despite the exceptional care I received, at times I felt like a lot of whether I would recover came down to hope. 

I was given strong pain relief and I couldn’t eat solid food, so nutrition had to be provided through an IV drip. At points, I also needed oxygen to support my lungs. I remember looking at myself and struggling to believe how many monitors and drips I had attached to me. I absolutely hate needles. Even today, I still have to look away.  

I was in hospital for just over two weeks, with four or five days in intensive care.   

The big turning point for me was standing up, going to the window and smelling the fresh air. A picture of that window is the only photo I took during my time in hospital. I managed to go outside that same day after being bed bound for two weeks.” 

How are you now?

“Fortunately, I haven’t had another episode of acute pancreatitis, but I have experienced digestive issues including abdominal pain, bloating, reflux and ongoing bowel problems, often triggered by certain foods. When I do experience pain, it’s difficult not to worry about what it might mean.  

There was uncertainty around the cause of my pancreatitis, which I’ve found difficult to accept. Despite ultrasounds during my illness and after my recovery, no evidence of gallstones was found. Alcohol was considered as a possibility. However, I wasn’t a regular heavy drinker, although I did binge drink at times. I was advised that drinking alcohol could increase the risk of further problems, and after the pain I’d experienced, I decided I wouldn’t drink again.  

Alongside stopping drinking, I was advised to stop smoking and follow a healthy, low-fat diet. My brother, who is a personal trainer and has always been interested in health and fitness, saw this as an opportunity to help me get fit and start training, without the worry of a hangover getting in the way. At the time, I wasn’t ready. I was still trying to process what happened. It would be seven years before I began to look at changing my lifestyle with the same positive mindset that my brother did. 

I began challenging myself physically and discovered a love for running. That progressed into strength training, CrossFit and racing, things I could never have imagined becoming such a big part of my life back when I was in hospital. I’ve lost over five stone in weight through a healthy lifestyle.”

Why are you sharing your story with Guts UK?

“10 years later, pancreatitis remains poorly understood. Its causes can sometimes be difficult to identify, and treatment still needs improving. I’m grateful for the opportunity to support Guts UK’s work in changing that. 

By sharing my story, I hope more people become aware of pancreatitis, learn about its symptoms and understand how serious it can be. If it starts conversations that otherwise wouldn’t happen or contributes towards better treatment for people facing it in the future, then something positive can continue to come from one of the most difficult experiences of my life.” 

Tell us about your fundraising for Guts UK 

“I’ve created my own fundraising challenge, ‘10 Races for 10 Years’, to mark 10 years since I was affected by pancreatitis. 

I decided I wanted to do something to mark that milestone and, over the next 12 months, I’m going to be doing 10 races and doing a few events that I’ve never done before. I’ve managed to run up to 10k so far, and I’m going to progress that to a half marathon and a marathon. I’m also looking to do a HYROX, which is a combination of running and functional fitness stations, so I’ve got three new types of events built into the plan. 

I did quite a lot of preparation for it throughout last year because I knew the 10-year milestone was coming up. I’ve also been putting a couple of little videos out and sharing what I’m doing along the way. Despite the setbacks I’ve had with injury, I’m determined to complete all 10 races, and I’ve already had an amazing response to the fundraising, which is brilliant, and that’s given me even more motivation to keep going.” 

About Guts UK

Pancreatitis is a priority area for Guts UK and we fund research into pancreatitis that has the potential to change lives. Our Kranky Panky Pancreatitis Awareness Campaign takes place each November and builds a community of those affected by pancreatitis, comforted in knowing they’re not alone. Our expert information allows those with acute pancreatitis and chronic 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.