Where Is Your Pancreas?

Where Is Your Pancreas?

How much do you know about your body? You know where your heart is or where your stomach is, but do you know the exact location of your pancreas? It is obvious to feel confused and ask, "Where is my pancreas?" because it is deep under your tummy. Keep reading to learn more about it.

Where Is Your Pancreas?
Precisely, it is located deep in your abdomen with part of it tucked between the spine and the stomach. The other part of your pancreas is in the curve of the first part of the small intestine, called the duodenum. If you touch your right pinkie finger and right thumb together while keeping other three fingers straight and place your hand in the center of your abdomen just below your lower ribs, your hand will be at the level of your pancreas.

It is usually difficult to detect Tumors of the pancreas mainly due to its deep location. It is for this reason that most people experience no symptoms of pancreatic Cancer until the tumor grows in size.

Function of the Pancreas
Now that you know, "Where is your pancreas?" you may want to learn a bit about the roles it plays in your body. First, your pancreas produces digestive juices. Secondly, it produces insulin and other hormones related to digestion. The exocrine pancreas is the part responsible for producing the digestive juices, whereas the endocrine pancreas is the part responsible for producing insulin and other hormones.

Digestive Juices
As you eat food, your digestive system breaks it up and sends the partly digested food to the beginning of the duodenum in a couple of hours. The pancreas releases digestive juices when food reaches the duodenum. The juices mix with the food and help break it down. This leaves small fragments of food that your body absorbs through the small bowel.

Insulin
Insulin helps regulate levels of sugar in your blood, and is therefore very important for health. If the level of sugar is high in your body, your pancreas will secrete insulin to manage the imbalance. Similarly, your pancreas secretes less insulin when there is enough sugar in your blood. You develop Diabetes when your body does not produce enough insulin.

Inflammation of the Pancreas–Pancreatitis
Now you know the answer to, "Where is your pancreas?" and what roles it plays in your body, it is important to understand that you may have to deal with certain issues when your pancreas becomes inflamed. The condition is called pancreatitis, and it can be of different types. For instance:

• Acute pancreatitis: In this condition, the inflammation develops quickly but it is usually not serious and goes away completely.


• Chronic Pancreatitis: In this condition, the inflammation is less intense but is persistent. It may lead to scarring and permanent damage to your liver.

Causes of Pancreatitis
You develop acute and chronic pancreatitis due to same reasons. The most common cause is alcohol abuse and gallstones–about 35-45% of patients develop pancreatitis due to these causes. About 10-20% of pancreatitis is caused by trauma, medications, infections, chemical exposures, hereditary diseases, surgical procedures, and high fat levels in the blood.

Diagnosis
Your doctor may order different tests and follow specific procedures to diagnose pancreatitis. They may order blood tests to check for the levels of pancreatic enzymes; stool tests to check the levels of fat; and CT scans, abdominal ultrasound, and endoscopic ultrasound to make a correct diagnosis. MRIs also prove effective in identifying abnormalities in the pancreas, gallbladder, and ducts.

Treatments
Your doctor will determine the best treatment option considering the severity of your condition and symptoms. Here are the most common treatment options:

Hospitalization

Your doctor may recommend hospitalization for proper management of your condition. Hospital care may help improve your symptoms. They achieve it through the following ways:

• Empty your stomach for a couple of days to help your pancreas recover. They give you clear liquids and bland foods after the inflammation is under control.


• Give you pain medications to help relieve pain.


• Give you intravenous fluids to provide your body with some energy, which helps repair your pancreas.

Treating the Underlying Causes

Once your condition is under control, your healthcare provider will start looking for any underlying causes of pancreatitis. They select a treatment approach considering the underlying cause of trouble. For instance:

• They may recommend endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) to open a blocked or narrowed bile duct that could be the cause of your pancreatitis.


• Mayrecommend Gallbladder Surgery to remove gallstones.


• They suggest pancreas surgery in case they think it is necessary to drain fluid from your pancreas to prevent further damage.


• They may help you find a treatment program to end your alcohol addiction if excessive drinking is the underlying cause of your pancreatitis.

Additional Treatments

In order to deal with your chronic pancreatitis, your doctor may try different treatment options. They may start with pain medications that block pain signals, recommend pancreatic enzyme supplements to help improve digestion, and help you understand what changes you need to make to your diet to improve your condition.

So, once you know, "Where is your pancreas?" you will understand how important it is not to ignore any symptoms that may indicate an issue related to your pancreas, such as pancreatitis. Be sure to talk to your doctor when you suspect something wrong.

Can You Live Without a Pancreas?

Can You Live Without a Pancreas?

Located between the stomach and other organs, including the liver, Spleen, and small intestine, the pancreas is an abdominal organ of about 6 inches in length that helps regulate blood sugar and improve digestion. Diabetes, pancreatic Cancer, and Pancreatitis are three diseases associated with the pancreas that may require its surgical removal. How will your life change when you have your pancreas removed? Let's find out more.

Can You Live Without a Pancreas?
Yes, you can live without a pancreas. You will have to pay attention to several things though. The pancreas secretes insulin to control blood sugar levels and releases digestive enzymes as well. In the absence of your pancreas, you will have to take medications to replace these functions. You may have to take oral pancreatic enzymes and insulin injections for this.

It is also important to know that the complete pancreas is rarely removed through surgery, but it is more common to have a pancreas that does not function properly. If you have Type 1 diabetes, it means your pancreas still produces digestive enzymes but is incapable of making insulin. However, even when part of the pancreas is removed, the remaining pancreas usually does not work efficiently to produce enough enzymes or insulin. Some people go for artificial replacement, but this usually is not as effective as a healthy pancreas. You can still try ways and make lifestyle changes to live an active life even with pancreatic insufficiency.

Tips for Living Without a Pancreas
Can you live without a pancreas? Yes, but you need to follow certain steps and make changes to your lifestyle to live an active life.

1. Know How Much Enzymes You Need
It is important to take your enzymes without fail when you are dealing with pancreatic insufficiency. Without enough enzymes, your body will fail to digest food and you will end up dealing with issues such as bulky floating stools, Diarrhea, and abdominal pain. Along with taking your enzymes regularly, you also need to know how much you need. If you are on a fat-rich diet, you will require more enzymes for proper digestion. So, pay attention to your diet when deciding on how much enzymes to take.

2. Pay Attention to Your Blood Sugar
You need to monitor your blood sugar levels closely when your pancreas is removed. Your doctor will tell you how often you should check your blood sugar, especially when you are in stress, are ill, or have performed strenuous physical activities. Any change in your blood sugar levels will make you feel shaky and tired. Do not ignore these signs.

3. Always Stay Prepared
Can you live without a pancreas? Monitoring your blood sugar level is critical when you do not have a fully functional pancreas. Keeping your blood glucose meter with you all the time will help make things easier. Also, keep your sugar tablets or gel with you and have extra stashes with you to use them whenever you want. You may also consider keeping a snack with protein with you to consume when your blood sugar levels are low.

4. Work with Your Doctor Closely
You need to work with your healthcare provider and keep in mind that you will always require their assistance when you are living without a pancreas. There will be times when you will eat something that your body fails to digest. You may have to change the amount of enzymes you take for better absorption. You can make all these changes only after talking to your doctor. Moreover, regular doctor visits are important because your healthcare provider will check your kidneys and other organs to ensure they are functioning fine. You will require blood tests and have to opt for extra immunization if you have already had your spleen removed. Regular eye and dental checkups are also important.

5. Use All the Support You Can Find
Talk to someone who has the same issue to know how they are managing things. You may even require counseling to deal with all the stress that comes with the surgery. The surgery will lead to hormonal imbalance that will affect your mood as well. You may also experience different emotions, such as anger, anxiety, fear, and frustration before and after the surgery. So do not shy away from working with a counselor to make you feel better.

6. Make Lifestyle Changes
Can you live without a pancreas? Yes, it is possible, but you will have to make lifestyle changes. For starters, pay attention to your diet. Sticking to a low-carb diet with nutritious, unprocessed food will always help. You may consider keeping the Official Pocket Guide to Diabetic Exchanges with you to help keep an eye on how many carbs you consume. You may also want to try low-carb recipes to keep things under control. Similarly, maintain an active lifestyle, but do not push yourself hard.

Experiences from People Living Without a Pancreas

"I lost my pancreas to an acute necrotizing pancreas attack. My CT scans showed a mass of cysts and scar tissue with the duct destroyed completely. My body was not producing any insulin. It was extremely difficult to cope with all the changes, especially during the first year after the loss. I then followed an exercise routine with attention to my diet to control the diabetes. I also take enzymes to prevent digestive issues."

"My son liveswithout a pancreas. He lost most of it when he had a partial pancretectomy at 11 days old, and the rest of it was removed when he was 21 days old. He is now 20 years old and is on 4 shots of insulin a day. He also takes 5 Creon Forte with every meal as well as 1 Creon Forte with a snack. He is overall healthy but has small stature. Diarrhea is a common issue for him, especially when he forgets his Creon."

"I had my pancreas removed at 21 and am now in clinical studies because of an auto-islet transplant which helped improve my diabetes. I was diabetic for 4 months, but then my liver started pitching in and is now producing insulin on its own. I have to take 5-7 pancrelipase pills with every meal. I also have my appendix, spleen and gallbladder removed. I experience abdominal pain, and pain in my upper left quadrant of my stomach. My stools sometimes become fatty and I feel very sick after having a bowl movement. I am still looking for something that works fine for me."

"My mother has her spleen removed about 9 years ago because of pancreatic cancer. She is now 85 and takes medicationswith insulin to keep things under control. It is working fine for her but she has lost serious weight just recently."

Pancreas

Pancreas

What is Pancreas?

The pancreas is actually a very important organ in the body but not everyone has ample amount of knowledge about the pancreas. The pancreas is considered to be a digestive organ which is seated deep into the abdomen. This can be likened to that of the salivary glands in the mouth because just like these glands, the pancreas also release digestive enzymes that help break down foods into smaller chunks for absorption. The salivary glands help produce enzyme which help break down carbohydrates into finer pieces. The pancreas is also capable of doing this. Nonetheless, unlike the salivary glands, the pancreas is also able to produce enzymes that can break down protein molecules which the former cannot produce. It is only when people suffer from certain forms of pancreatic anomalies that they become more aware of this vital organ.

Pancreas Function

The pancreas is a unique organ because it has two distinct functions. It is composed of two types of cells which enable it to work either as an endocrine or exocrine gland. The different functions of the pancreas can be classified as either endocrine or exocrine. Specifically, these include the following:

Endocrine Functions
The pancreas, as an endocrine gland, help secretes different types of hormones. This organ is primarily known for its capacity of secreting a very important hormone called insulin. A number of people probably know something about insulin because this is the particular hormone that diabetics lack thereof. The insulin is an essential hormone which helps regulate the blood sugar levels. Aside from producing insulin, the pancreas also produces other types of hormones which are glucagon, somatostatin and the pancreatic polypeptide. The different types of hormones are produced by the varied cells of the islet of Langerhans. The following is the summary of the different types of cells found in the islets of Langerhans of the pancreas:

• Alpha cells- produce glucagon


• Beta cells- produce insulin


• Delta cells- produce somatostatin


• PP cells- produce pancreatic polypeptide

Exocrine Functions
Another unique function of the pancreas is being an exocrine gland in which this is capable of producing digestive enzymes. The pancreas specifically produces enzymes that can digest carbohydrates, fats or protein. This is capable of doing this specific function because another type of cell can be found in it. The acinar cells are the specialized types of cells scattered all over the pancreas. Aside from producing digestive enzymes, the pancreas also produces an alkaline fluid which is referred to as the pancreatic juice. This is especially produced as a form of response to secretin and cholecystokinin. The digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas to fulfill its exocrine function include the pancreatic lipase, pancreatic amylase, trypsin and chymotrypsin. There’s also an acinar cell called the centroacinar cell which is responsible for a bicarbonate and salt solution into the intestine.

Regulatory
The pancreas is also able to control the secretion of hormones. As a form of sympathetic or adrenergic response, alpha 2 increases alpha cells secretion but decreases secretions from beta cells. On the other hand, the parasympathetic response (muscarinic) of the pancreas increases both alpha and beta cells secretions which are specifically done by M3.

Pancreas Location

As previously mentioned, the pancreas is an organ situated deep into the abdomen. Its anatomical location makes tumor in the pancreas difficult to detect by mere palpation. To give you an idea about the location of the pancreas, you may try to do this. Touch your thumb to your pinkie while the three other fingers are together. You may then place your hand at the xiphoid process on the center of your abdomen. The three fingers should be pointing to the left. This can be reckoned as the probable location of your pancreas.

Pancreas Problems

There can also be certain problems that may arise from the pancreas. Again, due to the deep location of the pancreas, problems in it, especially tumor formation, cannot be easily detected. Problems developing within the pancreas can either be non-malignant or malignant. A slight injury to the pancreas (i.e. a puncture) would lead to serious complications. In 1896, Professor Hans Chiari was the first person to conduct a clinical study on the diseases that may probably affect the pancreas. He pointed out that infectious organisms cannot be pointed out as the possible culprits of diseases relating to the pancreas. Rather, this can entirely be due to the premature activation of these pancreatic enzymes especially due to a mutation in the trypsinogen gene which makes up the major digestive enzyme called trypsin. It was only after almost a hundred years that this hypothesis was proven by Professor Whitcomb circa 1996. It has been established that the premature activation of the digestive enzymes would lead to the autodigestion of the pancreas and as well as the islets in it. This phenomenon can be accounted for the development of Pancreatitis. This may only begin as an acute pancreatitis but may later on become a chronic problem. This is also believed to be the primary etiology of hereditary pancreatitis. In certain instances wherein the islet cells are damaged, diabetes mellitus may eventually result.

Pancreas Anatomy

The pancreas is composed of two different types of parenchymal tissues. These can be determined through a staining process which then viewed under the microscope. The two types of cells found in the pancreas are the islets of Langerhans and the acinar cells. Under a microscope, these cells assume different appearance. The islets form spherical clusters and are often lightly stained. On the other hand, the pancreatic acini have a darker shade and form small, berry-shaped clusters. The pancreas is also made up of glandular tissues. It has its own duct system. The primary duct of the pancreas is the pancreatic duct which stretches on the entire pancreas. Its diameter is about one-sixteenth of an inch. The ampulla of vater is formed in the junction of the pancreatic duct and the common bile duct. Generally, it is composed of five different parts which are the head, neck, body, tail and the uncinate. The uncinate contains two important structures which are the superior mesenteric artery and vein.

Pancreas Pain

Pain coming from the pancreas is oftentimes confused with ordinary stomach pains. Thence, individuals are not initially alarmed by their condition. You could suspect yourself to be suffering from a pancreatic disease when the pain is localized at the middle quadrant of the abdomen. The pain especially becomes more prominent when one is eating or drinking which almost all the time coincides with pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

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Symptoms
Initially, pain is felt whenever something goes wrong with the pancreas. As the condition progresses, other symptoms may also manifest such as:

• Jaundice


• Nausea


• Vomiting


• Bleeding (which may be present in severe cases)

The progression of the disease may also cause severe, drilling pain. Some would even experience pancreatic colic.

Causes
The primary cause of pancreatic pain can be due to inflammation such that of in pancreatitis. The presence of tumor in the pancreas would also likely lead to a painful sensation due to the possible compression over the affected area.

Treatment
Pancreatic pain treatment can be dealt with primarily by putting the affected individual on NPO (nothing per orem). Painkillers are also effective in dealing with the condition. This is to temporarily halt the production of digestive enzymes which aggravates the pain. The patient can still be however nourished through intravenous infusions of the essential nutrients. The patient should also undergo several laboratory workups to further confirm the condition. Prevention of organ damage is also a priority. While waiting for the results, fluids and electrolytes may as well be supplemented. Soon as the underlying condition has been fully determined, this is the time that further treatment is indicated. For instance, if the presence of gallbladder or pancreatic stone is the primary cause of pain, then removal of the stone would be the treatment for it. So as to avoid relapse, one should learn how to fast. Sometimes, the patient may also be subjected to gastric decompression.

Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is considered to be one of the aggressive types of cancer and this oftentimes appalls a number of people because of its deadly nature. Statistically speaking, pancreatic cancer reaps about 35,000 thousand lives each year. This can be considered a really mulish type of cancer because this is resistant to the conventional modes of treating cancer. What makes pancreatic cancer difficult to treat is that this is oftentimes difficult to detect and whenever it is detected, the condition has already progressed and cancer cells have metastasized to other parts of the body and surgery may only be effective if and only if the cancer is at its earlier stages. Thus, the only hope to curing this condition is through early detection and surgery, if possible. The common means of medical management for pancreatic cancer is chemotherapy because the use of radiotherapy as a mode of treatment is still controversial.

Pancreas Diagram

Picture (Diagram) of Pancreas…