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Can Alcohol Consumption Cause Pancreatitis?
Question: How much alcohol would it take to cause pancreatitis ?
When I was diagnosed, (found inflamation) when sugery performed to take out gallbladder. After surgery, Surgeon asked me my alcohol intake. At stressful time in my life, I answered how I was currently drinking, which was 1/2 pint everyday. My true alcohol consumption was this
5 yrs. drink 28 yrs, no drink at all.Drank everyday for 3 months.I am labeled Alcohol induced Pancreatits. spell? Can this much cause it. went as high as 700, then 250, now normal.
When I was diagnosed, (found inflamation) when sugery performed to take out gallbladder. After surgery, Surgeon asked me my alcohol intake. At stressful time in my life, I answered how I was currently drinking, which was 1/2 pint everyday. My true alcohol consumption was this
5 yrs. drink 28 yrs, no drink at all.Drank everyday for 3 months.I am labeled Alcohol induced Pancreatits. spell? Can this much cause it. went as high as 700, then 250, now normal.
Brief Answer:
Certainly possible.
Detailed Answer:
A 700 is not a huge enormous number. Mostly a pattern is what people go by.
If someone has more than average alcohol intake and they get pancreatitis about the time the alcohol is fading from the system AND the pancreatitis STOPS when they don't drink anymore, it is a strong indication.
The likelihood of getting it is highly unpredictable. It has to be more than the usual 1 drink amount of alcohol, but whether it occurs with 3x the normal or 10x the normal or doesn't happen at all is unpredictable.
BUT
ANY previous injury to the pancreas forever changes/scars/damages the ductwork within it. It makes another episode of it very very much more likely even at much smaller amounts of alcohol.
Furthermore, if someone has had alcoholic pancreatitis then there is a 100% chance that they are in the small group that is most susceptible to it.
Certainly possible.
Detailed Answer:
A 700 is not a huge enormous number. Mostly a pattern is what people go by.
If someone has more than average alcohol intake and they get pancreatitis about the time the alcohol is fading from the system AND the pancreatitis STOPS when they don't drink anymore, it is a strong indication.
The likelihood of getting it is highly unpredictable. It has to be more than the usual 1 drink amount of alcohol, but whether it occurs with 3x the normal or 10x the normal or doesn't happen at all is unpredictable.
BUT
ANY previous injury to the pancreas forever changes/scars/damages the ductwork within it. It makes another episode of it very very much more likely even at much smaller amounts of alcohol.
Furthermore, if someone has had alcoholic pancreatitis then there is a 100% chance that they are in the small group that is most susceptible to it.
Note: In case of any other concern or query related to prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, or the recovery of persons with the any type of addiction or substance use, follow up with our Addiction Medicine Specialist. Click here to book a consultation now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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