FAQ Your questions answered

Pancreatitis often causes persistent abdominal pain. Pain in the abdomen usually occurs in the upper abdomen, can spread (radiate) to the back, and may come and go. Abdominal pain can vary from mild to severe, and often is worse after eating, drinking, consuming alcohol, and while lying on the back.

Acute pancreatitis means inflammation of the pancreas that develops quickly. The main symptom is tummy (abdominal) pain. It usually settles in a few days but sometimes it becomes severe and very serious.

Unless the pancreatic duct or bile duct is blocked by gallstones, an acute attack usually lasts only a few days. In severe cases, a person may require intravenous feeding for 3 to 6 weeks while the pancreas slowly heals

The main symptom of pancreatitis is pain felt in the upper left side or middle of the abdomen. The pain: May be worse within minutes after eating or drinking at first, more commonly if foods have a high fat content. Becomes constant and more severe, lasting for several days.

Some mild cases resolve without treatment, but severe, acute pancreatitis can trigger potentially fatal complications. Acute pancreatitis starts suddenly, but chronic pancreatitis is recurring or persistent.

Acute pancreatitis is a sudden attack causing inflammation of the pancreas and is usually associated with severe upper abdominal pain. The pain may be severe and last several days. The most common cause of acute pancreatitis is gallstones.

Mild to moderate pancreatitis often goes away on its own within one week. But severe cases can last several weeks. If significant damage is done to the pancreas in a single severe attack or several repeat attacks, chronic pancreatitis can develop.

It's possible to live without a pancreas. But when the entire pancreas is removed, people are left without the cells that make insulin and other hormones that help maintain safe blood sugar levels. These people develop diabetes, which can be hard to manage because they are totally dependent on insulin shots.