Shadows Fall drummer Jason Bittner was slated to perform at the Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) this week. Instead, he’ll be resting up after being diagnosed with acute pancreatitis.

“Due to my recent health issues, I am under doctors orders to cancel my trip to Austin TX this week to perform at PASIC 2012. For over a week, what I thought was a stomach bug (and i was still on tour when all of this started), I came home last week and went to the doctors, and it was written off as just that, a bug.

This past Saturday the pain came back and lingered into Sunday which forced me into the emergency room yesterday. After a day in the hospital I was poked, prodded, tested and it turns out I have acute Pancreatitis, which I’m told can be very serious if left untreated.

They’re not sure what brought it on (my Dr thinks it was viral), but I have been told by my doctors to not leave this week because I need to sent for more tests/mri, etc to make 100% sure I’ll be road ready for the second leg of the SF tour which starts Nov. 8th – I should be fine, but needless to say I’m very disappointed I will not be able to come perform in Austin this week! Maybe Pasic 2013??”

Acute pancreatitis is a pretty serious disease. If you’ll remember, it’s what sidelined Mastodon’s Bill Kelliher several years ago in London and Rochester. Drinking is one of the main ways to contact pancreatitis, but if Bittner says it was viral, we’re willing to believe him. It’s good that it was caught in the early stages, as there’s a high mortality rate if untreated. And if he’s still able to play those Shadows Fall dates, then it seems like he’s in good shape.

[via theprp]