Hi , Marmite --thanks for your reply. I live in Ontario, Canada and presently travel 2 & 1/2 hrs to see a specialist. I saw this doc last week and he agreed that a sphincterotomy may not help me and he would consider doing one- if my flare-ups start happening 3 or more times a year ; or if I don't recover well from one. He considers my flare-ups "mild" --because I'm only in hospital for 4 days ! I pointed out that I'm still quite ill for another 4 or 5 weeks after I go home. I would call a "mild" episode - one that you could stay home and manage with clear fluids & pain pills ? I wish I were that fortunate ! Instead --I am in extreme pain with severe vomiting --that goes on for 2 to 3 days and I have a big fluid shift that causes a weight gain of about 15 to 18 pounds ( this has led to fluid in my lungs --so I feel like I'm drowning - an awful feeling !) Anyway, I wish I had the money to see a specialist in the US --but since there doesn't seem to be a solution to preventing or fixing this - what would be the point ? -- I will continue to pray that someday an answer will be found for this condition ! --Linda