I was diagnosed with pancreatitis. a week later, i'm still in pain and now i'm seeing a general surgeon. what can i expect?

Continued pain: Pancreatitis whether from biliary stones or from alcohol is a chronic process that slowly subsides while a well planned diet is employed. Depending on degree of vascular closure along branches of splenic artery various degrees of necrosis develop from mild inflannation to necrotizing pancreatitis. Steroid should not be employed since they have been implicated in initiation of the process.

Few things: The cause will decide about next steps. Pain can last a while. Pancreatitis associated with gallstones would need removal of gallbladder, alcohol related pancreatitis would benefit from abstinence, drug induced pancreatitis resolves if offending medicine is stopped. development of a pseudo cyst etc may need further management. Hope you feel well.