Pancreatic lipomatosis

2023 Author: Alfred Shackley | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 13:14

Pancreatic lipomatosis is an irreversible process of replacing healthy cells with fat cells. Thus, there is a gradual decrease in the work of the organ - it is not able to perform its main function. The result is digestive problems, the development of diabetes mellitus and other pathologies.

Causes of lipomatosis

Doctors classify lipomatosis as a disease whose causes are not fully understood.

It is known that overweight older people are at risk. Also, those who do not observe proper nutrition get here. This is understandable, because adipose tissue is a substitute for healthy cells.

Causes include other rare factors. For example, this disease of the pancreas was noticed in many members of the same family, which allows us to speak about the hereditary component of the problem, that is, the disease is transmitted at the gene level.

Signs and symptoms

Lipomatosis, like any disease, conditionally develops in several stages. Depending on the degree of pathology, specific symptoms appear:

• First stage. At this step, there is a partial replacement of organ cells with adipose tissue, up to 30%. At the same time, the healthy part of the organ is fully capable of working 100%. As a result, the sick person is not even aware of his problem. Lipomatosis at this stage is usually detected by chance, with ultrasound or X-ray. It can be seen that the size of the pancreas has not changed, only its structure has changed. In some cases, the patient has symptoms of the third degree of damage, but this happens when the fat cells have captured tissue near the excretory ducts.
• Second stage. This stage in the development of pancreatic lipomatosis is characterized by the classic symptoms of a malfunction of the digestive system. The patient experiences problems with stool, he is often worried about diarrhea, belching, heartburn, heaviness in the abdomen, especially after eating. A sick person begins to feel that something is wrong and seeks help from a doctor. Unfortunately, other people suppress the symptoms with drugs and do not realize that the disease is gradually entering the last phase.
• Third stage. At this stage of the development of the disease, pancreatic lipomatosis already manages to capture more than 60% of healthy cells. The pancreas simply cannot cope with such an attack of fat mass. In this case, the pancreas still remains within the "healthy" size. At this stage, a person feels constant weakness, he is tormented by nausea and vomiting after each meal, as well as girdle pain in the abdomen.

In addition, some patients complain of mouth ulcers, general weakness, dizziness, and loss of appetite. Of course, any of the above symptoms can also mean a common indigestion or other medical condition. However, if the painful condition persists within a few days, it is best to seek help from a doctor. An accurate diagnosis will be made only by a specialist after a complete examination.

Lipomatosis is an irreversible phenomenon, that is, unfortunately, it is impossible to return the fat cells to their primary purpose. It is for this reason that doctors advise to conduct a full examination of the body at least once a year or two. This is especially true for obese elderly people who are at risk, and close attention should be paid to the gland. As already mentioned above, the first stage of the disease is asymptomatic, therefore, health control is necessary.

Pancreatic lipomatosis treatment

Lipomatosis is irreversible, but at the initial stage of the development of the disease, it is possible to stop the further formation of fatty nodes.

Conservative treatment consists of strict adherence to a diet that limits fat intake and measures aimed at reducing excess weight. According to statistics, almost all patients suffering from pancreatic lipomatosis have problems with the latter.

Losing excess weight will allow you to partially remove fats from the lipid depot of the pancreas.

Associated symptoms such as digestive disorders are relieved by medication. It can be:

• Enterosgel or Smecta for diarrhea and for stool normalization. Enterosgel is recommended to take a tablespoon three times a day between meals with water. For children, the dosage is reduced - up to 3 years old, a teaspoon 2 times a day, 3-5 years old - a teaspoon three times a day, 5-14 years old - 3 times a day, a dessert spoon. Smecta is prescribed for adults according to indications, 3 sachets per day between meals, dissolving in water, for children, the dosage is determined according to age - up to a year, 1 sachet per day, 1-2 years - 1-2 sachets, from 2 years - 2 sachets.
• Cerucal or its analogues, which relieve nausea and vomiting. The dosage for children from 3 years old is calculated by weight and depending on the severity of symptoms - 0, 1-0, 5 mg is shown per 1 kg of weight. Adults - 10 mg 4 times a day. Take 30 minutes before meals with water.
• Rehydron to restore the body's water-salt balance. The dosage of the drug is determined by the mass lost with diarrhea. It is recommended to take in a volume 2 times the weight loss. A bag of powder is dissolved in a liter of boiled water and drunk during the day in small portions.
• No-shpa for relieving pain in the abdomen. Adults per day are allowed 120-240 mg in 3 doses, children 6-12 years old - 40 mg per dose, children over 12 - up to 160 mg in 2-4 doses.

In some cases, when fat cells merge into large formations, an operation is prescribed, since they block the ducts of the gland and prevent the normal outflow of secretion.

It is impossible to cut out small diffuse formations that were found throughout the entire volume of the organ, but it is really possible to get rid of large fat areas.

Diet for lipomatosis

To prevent the formation of new fat cells, doctors strictly prescribe a diet.

The diet places a taboo on the following foods:

• pickles, this includes both meat pickles and canned vegetables, for example, sauerkraut;
• smoked meats;
• marinades;
• foods that cause flatulence, such as beans or soy
• pork, especially fatty, as well as lard;
• mayonnaise;
• fatty dairy and fermented milk products;
• chips, crackers and all kinds of snacks, as well as products with a lot of artificial colors and flavors;
• alcohol.

As for the regimen of food intake, here nutritionists are unanimously talking about fractional nutrition, that is, the usual breakfast, lunch and dinner should be divided into five meals a day.

Doctors advise giving vegetables to light heat treatment, and not eating them raw in large quantities. Steamed or boiled dishes are the best option for patients with lipomatosis.

At first, the diet will seem bland for people who are not used to such a menu, but over time, the taste buds will adapt. Low-fat meats, fish and milk porridge - this is what should be on the dinner table of a patient with lipomatosis.

If the patient is overweight, then it must be thrown off without fail. It is difficult to do this in old age, but proper nutrition will benefit your figure. Of course, no one requires the patient to sweat in the gym, but you can't do without walking in the fresh air and exercising. The extra pounds will begin to melt, and along with them, the fatty formations in the gland will partially go away.

You can also use folk remedies.

Folk remedies for the treatment of lipomatosis

Instead of regular tea, the patient is encouraged to switch to herbal medicine, which includes decoctions of various medicinal herbs that will help cleanse the body.

• In a glass of boiling water, steamed a tablespoon of herbs and bullock roots. The cooled infusion is filtered and taken 3 times a day for half a glass;
• Infusion of blueberry leaves can be used instead of tea. A teaspoon of raw materials is taken in a glass of boiling water, the infusion is kept for 10 minutes and drunk;
• Before meals, you can swallow a pinch of dry crushed wormwood, be sure to drink it with water;
• Hemlock tincture is useful, the intake of which starts with 1 drop and gradually increases the dose to 40 drops per day, adding drop by drop every day. Then the dosage is reduced according to the same scheme;
• Along with the hemlock tincture, you can use an herbal infusion of valerian, calendula, nettle and St. John's wort. The components are taken in equal parts and a tablespoon of the collection is steamed in a glass of boiling water. When the infusion has cooled, it is filtered and drunk during the day.

Disease prevention

As mentioned above, lipomatosis is an irreversible process, therefore, the prevention of this problem includes the treatment described above. This also applies to patients who have undergone surgery.

Proper nutrition, diet and weight control will benefit not only the pancreas, but the entire body as a whole, so you should not neglect this.

Do not forget about such aspects of health as maintaining the correct balance of fluid in the body. Doctors recommend drinking at least one and a half liters of clean water a day without gas, not counting tea and other drinks. Pure water, like nothing else, fights fat deposits - this has long been proven by nutritionists around the world. Do not neglect folk remedies, continue to drink herbal decoctions.

Among other things, you need to pay attention to immunity. To do this, the simplest and most effective way will be to take vitamin courses.

Lipomatosis is a dangerous disease that does not respond to treatment, leading to many health problems. It causes diabetes mellitus, indigestion, loss of appetite.

Remember that cells that have been taken over by lipomatosis are no longer able to perform their main function, namely the production of hormones and enzymes. And although it is impossible to cure him, constant monitoring of his diet and taking medications that relieve symptoms will prevent him from moving to a new level.