Almost exactly a year ago I had a repeat last night...as my wife and kid said that I had bouts last January 2015 of Bangungot (bad dreams) No! No, not that simple dreamy type anxiety but actual manifestation of breathing problem and near death struggles and was very much thankful for my family to easily heard my groaning or agonizing in sleep.... but seeing my self drift to death itself and seeing the fabric of fragile life sends me shivering fear....
Last night was a different experience, I knew there was that same heaviness on belly area but this time I actually am seeing my wife shaking me, I could hear her crying out load...but then her image was blurry...just like that of an old black and white film...the scratchy images....is that the matrix of life and death boundary?
At some point I even give up but my family was there to put me back to fight...they persevere, they wish and want me to stay.....Elijah embracing me on my side...Bhel on top of me she is praying...and Elyona on my foot....the sincere love of their embraces....God I want to stay....
"I spoke of Jesus name once again!" during that moment you would know that that was the most fearful moment of your life....and the honest talk to God.
Miracles can happen.
These made me took some quick research, and these was my first result, a memorial of sort for actor Rico Yan...
Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis....Source: Philstar
Filipinos refer to it as bangungot – a word we associate with scary dreams, possibly an aftermath of watching a horror movie or telling spooky tales before bedtime. However, most of us only have vague ideas about this phenomenon. It was just recently, with the untimely demise of matinee idol Rico Yan, that we begin to realize that bangungot is not just a case of scary dreams one can wake up from. It can actually be a deadly phenomenon, wherein one sleeps straight to his death.
In medical terms, it is called "sudden nocturnal death syndrome," the most common cause of which is acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis.
Acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis or AHP is a severe swelling of the pancreas, a gland that produces digestive enzymes, particularly insulin, to metabolize the carbohydrates that we take in. In AHP, the swelling is so severe that the pancreas literally digests itself. Fatal complications may set in fast within a matter of minutes to a few hours.
The disease affects four out of 10,000 people, most of them, men. Eighty percent of pancreatitis cases are related to gall bladder stones or alcoholism. Other agents or drugs such as glucorticoids, thiazide diuretics or acetaminophen, can likewise bring on an acute attack of pancreatitis. An alcoholic binge, coupled with a high carbohydrate intake, has been postulated as a trigger. However, there are also cases of AHP wherein the specific cause or triggering factor cannot be pinpointed.
Such may be the case of the late actor. Many people have wondered how this young, healthy man, who was recognized as a model of the youth for his intelligence and clean living, would be a victim of this alcohol-related disease. Although science has explained the effects of this disease, its cause and the reason why it mostly strikes young men in their sleep is still one nebulous area.
Pain is the first and utmost symptom of AHP. The pain, which is felt in the upper mid-abdomen just below the ribs, radiating to the back and under the shoulder blades, is intense, steady and severe. The patient’s breathing then may become quite shallow because deeper breathing tends to cause more pain. Nausea, vomiting and cold clammy perspiration are all common as well. A patient may also have fever, with an increased heart rate and a low or shocky blood pressure. A fatal arrhythmia or abnormal beating of the heart can hasten the death of the afflicted individual.
Pain
Most of the victims of this disease die in their sleep. One misconception, especially among us Filipinos, is that these people die because they are not awakened from a very horrible dream. The bleeding and intense pain may cause the brain to trigger a series of wake-up calls. Some may be too deep in their sleep because of alcohol that they may not wake up. Some are awakened because of the pain, but may already be too weak to move to seek help. They may make groans or make other noises by banging their bedside table or breaking whatever that can call attention, but because others are deeply asleep, these calls for help are usually unrecognized.
Complications of AHP are caused by markedly deranged activities in the pancreas. Under normal circumstances, many of the extremely potent enzymes produced by the pancreas are not active until they are passed into the duodenum, where contact with certain other chemicals allow them to activate their digestive function. In pancreatitis, something allows these enzymes to become prematurely activated, so that they actually begin their digestive functions within the pancreas. The pancreas, in effect, begins a destructive process of auto-digestion or digesting itself.
A cycle of inflammation begins, including swelling and loss of function. Erosion of the blood vessels in the pancreas results in bleeding leading to AHP. Other active pancreatic chemicals cause blood vessels to become leaky, and fluid begins leaking out of the normal circulation into the abdominal cavity. The activated enzymes also gain access to the bloodstream through eroded blood vessels, and begin circulating throughout the body.
Inflammation
The pancreatic tissues then begin to die, and bleeding further increases. The bleeding in the abdomen causes two distinctive signs, which may be noted in patients with necrotizing pancreatitis.Turner’s sign is the term for the reddish-purple or greenish-brown color to the flank area or the area between the ribs and the hipbone. Cullen’s sign refers to the bluish color around the navel. Some may suspect foul play because of these signs, but they’re part of AHP.
Fatal complications of AHP are generally due to shock. When shock occurs, all of the body’s major organs are deprived of blood and, therefore, oxygen, resulting in damage. Kidney, respiratory and heart failure are serious risks of shock.
The pancreatic enzymes that have begun circulating throughout the body, as well as the poisons created by the abnormal digestion of the pancreas by those enzymes, have severe effects on the major body systems. Any number of complications can occur, including damage to the heart, lungs, kidneys, lining of the gastrointestinal tract and liver.
Once the pancreas is triggered to start the fatal process of auto-digesting, the damage is immediate and fast. This is why the chance of survival is relatively slim for AHP victims. When necrosis, or the presence of dying pancreatic tissues, and bleeding are already present, majority of patients may die even in the best of hands and facilities.
However, in fortunate cases who are awakened from sleep or is conscious during the attack, treatment could still be possible if promptly administered. Treatment of acute pancreatitis involves quickly and sufficiently replacing lost fluids by giving the patient intravenous fluids. Pain is treated with a variety of medications.
Treatment
In order to decrease pancreatic function and decrease the discharge of more potentially harmful enzymes, the patient is not allowed to eat for a few days. A thin, flexible tube (naso-gastric tube) is inserted through the patient’s nose into his or her stomach. Oxygen may need to be administered by nasal prongs or by a mask.
Complications, such as abscesses or other infections that often occur in cases of necrotizing pancreatitis, will require antibiotics administered intravenously. Severe necrotizing pancreatitis may require surgery to remove part of the dying pancreas and drain the abscess, if present. When diagnostic exams reveal the presence of gallstones, surgery may also be necessary for the removal of the gall bladder.
However, treatment does not mean complete cure. Those who have survived the fatal attack of pancreatitis may develop diabetes because of the decreased ability of their pancreas to produce insulin.
Prevention is important but may be just as empirical as preventing hiccups. A medical check-up may help unveil triggering factors. This will enable gallstones to be detected and surgically removed before they can block the passages (common bile duct and pancreatic duct) that can trigger damage to the pancreas.
Avoiding heavy alcohol drinking may also help prevent acute pancreatitis. Patients who survived an attack of acute pancreatitis must stop drinking alcohol completely. They should not push their luck too far. The problem can hit them at another time and may become chronic or recurrent. Drugs that may cause pancreatitis should also be avoided in high-risk individuals. Doctors also advise against eating a high carbohydrate diet before sleeping.
But after all the precautions are taken, we should also pray to God before we sleep to tell our guardian angels to wake us up and our companions should we have a bout of acute pancreatitis in our sleep. Although AHP is pretty scary, let us not lose sleep on this. It only happens in one out of 2,500 individuals. Let’s just pray that we belong to the 2,499 who will never have it.
Other link that might help....
Here's a good read also....
http://www.news-medical.net/health/Acute-Pancreatitis-Treatment.aspx
Acute Pancreatitis Treatment
By Dr Ananya Mandal, MD
There is no specific treatment for acute pancreatitis but the condition usually resolves independently within seven days.
While a patient is recovering, they are carefully monitored for signs of any complications and provided with fluid and oxygen. If complications do occur, further additional treatment may be required and recovery may be significantly extended.
An outline of the usual treatment approaches taken to manage patients with this condition is given below:
There is no specific treatment for acute pancreatitis but the condition usually resolves independently within seven days.
While a patient is recovering, they are carefully monitored for signs of any complications and provided with fluid and oxygen. If complications do occur, further additional treatment may be required and recovery may be significantly extended.
An outline of the usual treatment approaches taken to manage patients with this condition is given below:
- Although no diet restrictions are placed on patients with mild acute pancreatitis, they may still be advised not to eat because the digestion of solid food can strain the pancreas. Instead, patients may need to receive their nutrients via a feeding tube, which is inserted into the nose and passed down to the stomach. Depending on how severe the condition is, patients may have to be fed in this manner for a few days or more.
- The body can get very dehydrated during a bout of acute pancreatitis and bodily fluids will need to be replenished using a tube that is connected to the patient’s vein. These fluids are referred to as intravenous (IV) fluids.
- Oxygen is provided through a nasal tube to ensure the patient’s vital organs are receiving adequate amounts of oxygen. In severe cases, ventilation may be required to support breathing.
- Strong painkillers such as morphine are usually needed to treat the severe abdominal pain that acute pancreatitis can cause. These painkillers can cause drowsiness and a lack of alertness.
- Once a patient is stabilized and seems to be recovering, the underlying cause of the acute pancreatitis is treated. Two of the most common causes of this condition are gallstones and drinking alcohol.
- In cases where gallstones are the underlying cause, a procedure called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may be performed. This involves an endoscope and surgical instruments being passed into the digestive system so the gallstone can be removed. Alternatively, surgical removal of the gall bladder may be necessary. This does not have any major impact on health, but means patients may find it more difficult to digest fatty or spicy foods.
- Patients who have had acute pancreatitis are told to completely avoid drinking any alcohol for six months, irrespective of what caused their condition. This is because alcohol can further damage the pancreas during recovery.
Here's a good one also that would probably change so much of my lifestyle if I wanna stay longer:
(NaturalNews) Pancreatitis is a severely painful chronic inflammatory disorder of the pancreas. It happens when the pancreatic enzymes become activated within the pancreas and begin digesting the cellular wall. Beat pancreatitis with natural healing strategies.
The most common signs and symptoms of pancreatitis include severe upper abdominal burning pain that often radiates into the back, nausea and vomiting that worsens with eating. During an acute attack, the individual goes into a state of dehydration and blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate spike. Chronic pancreatitis will often lead to low energy, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
When the pancreas is hyperstimulated (alcohol or excessive eating) or when the bile-pancreatic duct is obstructed (gall stones), it increases pancreatic duct pressure and activates the enzyme trypsin. When intracellular protective mechanisms to prevent trypsinogen and trypsin activation are overwhelmed, it leads to activation within the pancreas, auto-digestion of the pancreatic gland and resulting inflammation. This can result in severe pain common to acute pancreatitis and chronic symptoms associated with chronic pancreatitis.
Be sure to avoid all common food allergens, alcohol and caffeine, as these can trigger further problems. If you have pancreatitis, gallstones or are at risk of getting these, be sure to make coconut oil your primary fatty acid. The small and medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are easy to metabolize and do not depend on high amounts of pancreatic enzymes or bile. Use other good fats in moderation to reduce stress on the gall bladder and pancreas.
Clean proteins include organic poultry, 100% grass-fed beef and wild-caught fish. Great sources of fiber include sprouted chia, flax, hemp and pumpkin seeds. The best fermented foods include sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, kombucha, coconut kefir, fermented herbal botanicals and fermented raw dairy from 100% grass-fed cows.
A lifestyle build around superfoods and intermittent water fasting for periods of 16-24 hours daily is especially helpful. Intermittent fasting allows the digestive system to rest and heal. During the fast, drink as much clean water, green drinks, herbal teas and herbal antioxidant extracts. No calorie-rich foods or high-sugar fruits should be used during this period.
The best herbal extracts for pancreatic function include turmeric, milk thistle, holy basil, ginger and dandelion. These herbs are best taken in a fermented form with organic acids, enzymes and probiotics for optimal absorption. Drinking lemon water and organic herbal teas is also highly recommended to soothe the pancreatic duct.
One could also juice lemon, ginger, dandelion, cucumber, celery and kale and make a powerful anti-inflammatory green drink. This should help soothe the pancreatic duct and allow for healthy secretion of pancreatic enzymes. The individual should rest and can do coffee enemas to help move out toxins and relax the pancreas and gall bladder.
The most common signs and symptoms of pancreatitis include severe upper abdominal burning pain that often radiates into the back, nausea and vomiting that worsens with eating. During an acute attack, the individual goes into a state of dehydration and blood pressure, heart rate and respiratory rate spike. Chronic pancreatitis will often lead to low energy, nutritional deficiencies, diabetes and pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatitis and gall stones:
Pancreatitis is most often associated with excessive alcohol intake and gallstone formation. When gallstones get large, they obstruct the pancreatic duct from effectively emptying their enzymes into the small intestine. Pancreatitis is characterized by blood amylase or lipase levels four to six times higher than normal.When the pancreas is hyperstimulated (alcohol or excessive eating) or when the bile-pancreatic duct is obstructed (gall stones), it increases pancreatic duct pressure and activates the enzyme trypsin. When intracellular protective mechanisms to prevent trypsinogen and trypsin activation are overwhelmed, it leads to activation within the pancreas, auto-digestion of the pancreatic gland and resulting inflammation. This can result in severe pain common to acute pancreatitis and chronic symptoms associated with chronic pancreatitis.
Steps to prevent pancreatitis:
The best action steps to prevent pancreatitis flare-ups are to follow an anti-inflammatory nutrition plan that is free of sugars, grains, high fruit consumption and processed foods of any kind. Meals should focus on good fat sources, antioxidants, clean proteins, fiber and fermented foods.Be sure to avoid all common food allergens, alcohol and caffeine, as these can trigger further problems. If you have pancreatitis, gallstones or are at risk of getting these, be sure to make coconut oil your primary fatty acid. The small and medium chain fatty acids in coconut oil are easy to metabolize and do not depend on high amounts of pancreatic enzymes or bile. Use other good fats in moderation to reduce stress on the gall bladder and pancreas.
Load up on superfoods:
Consume good fat sources such as coconut, avocados, raw chocolate, extra-virgin olive oil and sprouted seeds. Loads of phytonutrient-rich vegetables, lemons and limes and organic herbs should be used. This includes red onions, which are rich in anthocyanins and quercetin, and dark leafy greens such as kale, collards and spinach, which are loaded with lutein, zeaxanthin and chlorophyll.Clean proteins include organic poultry, 100% grass-fed beef and wild-caught fish. Great sources of fiber include sprouted chia, flax, hemp and pumpkin seeds. The best fermented foods include sauerkraut, apple cider vinegar, kombucha, coconut kefir, fermented herbal botanicals and fermented raw dairy from 100% grass-fed cows.
A lifestyle build around superfoods and intermittent water fasting for periods of 16-24 hours daily is especially helpful. Intermittent fasting allows the digestive system to rest and heal. During the fast, drink as much clean water, green drinks, herbal teas and herbal antioxidant extracts. No calorie-rich foods or high-sugar fruits should be used during this period.
Steps to alleviate acute pancreatitis:
If you are suffering with acute pancreatitis, then you will want to do a water fast with antioxidant extracts. No solid food should be consumed during this period and absolutely no high-sugar, protein or fatty foods, as these all require specific pancreatic enzymes to digest.The best herbal extracts for pancreatic function include turmeric, milk thistle, holy basil, ginger and dandelion. These herbs are best taken in a fermented form with organic acids, enzymes and probiotics for optimal absorption. Drinking lemon water and organic herbal teas is also highly recommended to soothe the pancreatic duct.
One could also juice lemon, ginger, dandelion, cucumber, celery and kale and make a powerful anti-inflammatory green drink. This should help soothe the pancreatic duct and allow for healthy secretion of pancreatic enzymes. The individual should rest and can do coffee enemas to help move out toxins and relax the pancreas and gall bladder.
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