I have been hospitalized twice with pancreatitis. I have never been a drinker — my pancreatitis was triggered by a reaction to a medication I was taking for multiple sclerosis. The first time I was admitted, my bowels and bladder had begun to shut down.
This page is for those navigating pancreatitis — whether yours came on suddenly, was triggered by something unexpected, or has become an ongoing part of life. You are not alone in this.
Blog Articles Related to Pancreatitis
My Pancreatitis Diagnosis
In April 2021, I found myself in the emergency room, holding my stomach and trying to stay ahead of the pain. It had been building for days—constant, sharp, and impossible to ignore. I was convinced it was a bleeding ulcer. An earlier endoscopy had already shown...
What is Pancreatitis? Causes, Risks, and Treatment
Pancreatitis occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. It can appear suddenly as an acute condition or develop over time as a chronic issue. While some causes are well-known, others are less obvious. I know firsthand how disruptive pancreatitis can be, having...
Symptoms of Pancreatitis
The symptoms of pancreatitis can mimic several other conditions, so when I was first diagnosed and hospitalized with it, I was completely caught off guard. I had been convinced that I was dealing with a severe ulcer. The pain was intense and unrelenting, centered in...
Articles Related to Pancreatitis
About Cultivate an Exceptional Life
Cultivate an Exceptional Life is a chronic illness community for women who are done waiting for their hard season to be over before they start really living.
Here you'll find honest stories, practical tools, and hard-won wisdom for building a life you love — alongside your illness, not in spite of waiting for it to get better.
Because an exceptional life doesn't just happen. It has to be cultivated.
Meet Leisa Watkins
Leisa is a chronic illness writer and advocate living with MS, fibromyalgia, Lyme disease, and CFS/ME, and a mom navigating her kids' chronic illness journeys alongside her own.
She writes from lived experience and years of research, sharing practical strategies and compassionate guidance for women building a full life alongside chronic illness.
Not a medical professional. Please consult your healthcare provider for medical advice.