27th June 2009
To,
Dr. Gurmit,
This is in reference to your email.
Thanks for such a comprehensive response.
First ,
allthough the treatment for Autoimmune disease all over the world is same but we need to know whether there are alternative drugs which means ;
no doubt there is steroids then there is Cyclophospomide but within steroids, within the family of steroids which steroid should be taken, within the family Cyclophospomide (and related) which would be the right drug for her.
Also, if there are similar cases seen which have pancreas having been affected how have they dealt.
Don’t you agree that we need to at least find out how other patients have dealt with similar situations, have they changed to other steroids or an alternative to Cyclophospomide.
though you have suggested that the right treatment for her is the blockage of that nerve (or partial removal of the pancreas).
Although you feel that it is going to be a temporary solution but if it will help Richa to live a health life for even 5 years without pain so that she could eat all foods, I would prefer that and then we don’t mind facing the situation after 5 years and replacing the pancreas with a pancreas transplant or whatever has to happen let it happen.
My only point is that she should live as normal and as functional and as mobile as possible.
Even the alternative treatments to allopathy like homeopathy or ayurveda are not going to help her unless and until her pancreas are allowed to function which means I want the pancreas to secrete insulin as well as the enzymes and those should flow out from the pancreas so that her digestive system is as normal as possible.
If this requires a surgery I want that surgery to be done.
I am not at all agreeable to simply block the pain and allow panaceas to die.
I don’t mind if the pancreas are going to die a natural death but I want them to operate and function as normally as possible and I want the juices to flow so that ayurvedic medicines and homeopathic as well as foods which she eats are actually absorbed by the system normally.
If the pancreas do get spoilt later well it is going to be our luck which we are going to face with either a pancreas transplant or some other allopathic innovation which may happen after 5 years.
Autoimmune disease does not always become worse , there are cases where it becomes ok or reduces.
Therefore I am all for surgery of pancreas. I am of the opinion that a minimally invasive surgery is required for Richa so that her pancrea duct which has become obstructed should be released and the pancreas should function.
Thereafter whatever the pancreas damage has to happen (if at all) let it happen.
At least for next few years she will be able to eat well and live well.
As far as taking Cyclophospomide or an alternative to it and the best suitable steroids, this opinion also we need to seek abroad.
Apart from this, we cannot say for sure that the pancreas will continue to get damaged, you never know that the disease may change its route or manifestation it may not really manifest at all or it may manifest in a more subdued way. Therefore I feel –
a) We need to check whether there are alternatives to the drugs which she is taking which maybe safer and more suitable keeping in view her condition.
b) A minimally invasive surgery to allow the flow of the pancreatic juices which are being blocked.
These are the 2 things which I am looking for desperately and urgently whether in India or abroad.
With best wishes and warm regards,
Ashish.
