1. Have you had high lipase, amylase, both?

2. Have you been diagnosed with pancreatitis?

3. What has the doc said the cause might be (e.g., Lyme, gallstones, microlithiasis, medication)?

4. Were you on meds (if so what?) when you had the high enzymes?

5. What tests did you have done and were they positive or negative (e.g., gallbladder ultrasounds, CT scan, MRCP, ERCP, HIDA scan)?

6. Any history of pronounced weight loss?

Thanks again! Some of our docs are curious about this Lyme/pancreatitis relationship.

[This message has been edited by duramater (edited 11 March 2005).]
 

My doctor believes it was likely the medicine load. I was taking: Ketek, Augmentin, Acyclovir, Plaquenil, Synthroid, Flexeril and Diflucan. We immediately cut out the Augmentin and reduced the Diflucan from 1 a day to 1/2 a day.

My doctor also told me to cut out any alcohol and as much vinegar as possible.
We checked levels monthly. My enzymes are now back to normal levels.

Also, I will be starting Mepron at some point. My LLMD has said that Mepron can be very heavy on the organs. Because of the high enzyme levels, she does not want me on Mepron and abx at the same time. I will likely stop the Ketek in late May and start the Mepron.

I had a HIDA scan and ultrasound of my gall bladder before treatment, it was all normal. Only weight loss was gradual due to the anti-yeast diet.

Lisa
 

sorry to hear about gb. did you have high enzymes? pancreatitis?

there is certainly a lot of gb disease here even in the absence of rocephin, but we are specifically interested in pancreatitis or high pancrease enzymes.

the gb/HIDA scan question comes up only b/c pancreatitis is often caused by gallstones...

hope you are recovering well.

~DM
 

Do you have symptoms of pancreatitis? It can be very dangerous, so I'd talk to your doctor about stopping or reducing meds to see if it makes a difference.
 

I do not know all that I should about it but it has something to do with the fact that this works with some that can't excrete neurotoxins..My daughter unfortunately had that gene and doesn't get rid of the toxins.

Perhaps high amylose promotes more toxins to overload the liver and pancreas..Just a thought..Maybe someone smarter can figure this out..Hope you get better.
 

A Hida scan showed my gallbladder functioning at 89%, but I did have multiple polyps on an MRI, CT and ultrasound.

I get my pain after eating certain foods and also after certain supplements. I don't think it's an ulcer because nothing showed on the upper GI.

It is a needle like pain under the left rib in the stomach area. I have a hard time gaining weight.

I have no idea how to diagnose pancreatitis other than going into the pancreas and looking around.

If I even try to have a glass of wine lately I get nauseas episodes and dizzy/brain fog.

What do you think?

Chris
 

have you been checked for babesiosis?

lisa
 

I can't answer these questions,because I never had the appropriate lab work done,or had acute pancreatitis, and was never Dx'd with low level pancreatitis, if there is such a thing. However, I had some musings on the topic that may o/w be appropriate for us to consider prior to getting assesed for pancreatic, hepatic, and gallbladder, and perhaps kidney function.

* Plant and animal multi-enzyme supps. often contain the enzymes amylase,and lipase. Theoretically,therefore, supps. containing amylase,and lipase would confound the diagnostic picture.

*When one has a gallbladder attack, the blood level of amylase can increase. If recall correctly,in gallbladder attacks, pancreatic amylase levels rise due to pancreatic cell destruction(?). I forget my physiology. In turn, these high levels, if high for a long period(s) of time, will digest the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas?

*Chymotrypsin, according to one company's booklet for professionals, will maintain inflammation(generally speaking) at a low level. This may further confound the diagnostic picture.

These would seem to be considerations for the survey, and in the service of diagnostic accuracy and reliability.

pq

[This message has been edited by pq (edited 22 March 2005).]
 

I think the both gastroenterologist I saw thought I had a drug and drinking problem but not before I subjected myself to an utrasound, CAT scan and a MRCP that all showed nothing was going on with my pancrease.And of course to deny this met I really had a problem! At the time I had no appetite and lost about twenty lbs within the next couple of months. I attribute it all to Lyme, babesia and the medications.