LymeNet Flash: Pancreatitis--symptom of any co-infection?

This is topic Pancreatitis--symptom of any co-infection? in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by ArtistDi (Member # 2297) on :

My llmd and I are trying to determine why
I have elevated pancreas levels. When they
are elevated I have nausea and pain on the
right side. Despite cat scan, ultrasound,
Hida Scan and more recently, MRCP, everything
looks normal with the ducts.

He theorizes that it may just be part of my
illness, inflammation or immune dysfunction.

Has anyone come across this symptom in
conjunction with any co-infection? Other
llmds say it is rare to have with lyme, and
yet I know of a couple other lyme patients who are being dxed with pancreatitis.

Thanks.

Posted by lla2 (Member # 2364) on :

nothing pancreas, but just had my gallbladder out last thursday di..

as I know you know pancreas is highly hormonally regulated...so if your hormones are screwed up, it will raise your lipase levels as well, and lyme can screw with your hormones as we all know...HOw are your sugar levels?.

lisa

[This message has been edited by lla2 (edited 16 March 2005).]

Posted by Oz (Member # 2905) on :

I had a similiar problem. About a week after I started recephin,I developed a pain in my upper abdomen and a really sick feeling.This was all before I knew anything about Lyme,Babesia or the side effects from all the crap I was taking.

I had an ultrasound done that was neg but my blood work showed elevated pancreatic enzymes. I was given a diagnosis of pancreatitis.In retrospect it could have been caused by the MS Contin I was taking. The MS stands for Morphine,stupid! Stupid because I ended up getting addicted to the stuff and eventually had to detox. After detox, a CAT scan and MRI showed there was nothing going on in my pancrease.Over time the abdominal pain went away and a good LLMD got me basically straightened out. I still wonder if the Lyme,babesia and the medication comingled to cause the elevated pancreatic levels and the scare with it.

My theory and it doesn't apply to all cases and does goes along with your LLMD, is that if you didn't have this problem before you had Lyme, it just might be causing it and if I got better so will you.

Posted by Aniek (Member # 5374) on :

It can also be caused by medications. Have you talked to your doctor about reducing your med load?

Also, my doctor insisted I stay away from alcohol and vinegar when my pancreatic levels were elevated.

Posted by ArtistDi (Member # 2297) on :

Thanks for the responses.

I have been off antibiotics for 2.5 years,
but the pancreas levels are elevated on their
own now.

I still don't know if the Plaquenil, Biaxin
and Mepron combo did some serious damage--
brain and pancreas. I had seizures that
began with third round, and pancreatitis
came months later. Still bowel turned yellow
then as well, and never been the same since.
(Sorry for the graphics).

I know of two other lyme patients (one on
meds), one not, who have pancreatitis---elevations with amylase and lipase.

I know Mepron can cause amylase levels to
go up, but gastro thinks that it should only
be acute not chronic like me.

Lis,
How did they know the gallbladder had to go
out? Did you have pain, Hida?

I am still looking to figure out if there
are actual medical articles that state pancreatitis (or elevations) can be found
with lyme or any other co-infections.

I know from other llmds, that is very rare,
and yet, I know two other people besides myself.

Posted by lark1067 (Member # 6433) on :

my 19 year old daughter's amylase levels were high for one year on antibiotics--for lyme and babesia. the gastro did a test and found that it was not elevated from the pancreas, but rather from the SALIVARY GLANDS!! That said, neither her LLMD nor her neuropsychiatrist nor the Salivary Institute at Col-Presbyterian, nor her chronic disease specialist could figure out why.

Posted by ArtistDi (Member # 2297) on :

Thanks Joanne. That helps.

lak1067--Yes, now I remember the gastro saying these kind of elevations can be seen
with Sjogren's. I have dry mouth symptoms.