posted
has anyone had any problems with their pancreas? How did you go about getting it diagnosed? I have heard that the problems can sometimes be hard to find and the testing is inaccurate. If anyone could give me more info I would appreciate it. Thanks!
I thought this might be a possibility to the extreme pain in my back area since I developed this pain after really high doses of abx. at a very low weight. The pain is constant and is intensified hormonally, anytime I try to take abx now, and of coarse I have the digestive prob. as well.
Posts: 47 | From WV | Registered: May 2006
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posted
don't quote me, but i think back pain is more related to kidneys? gallbladder?
my shooting pains exactly in the pancreas area are thing there in the stomach.
last amalyse test revealed below the normal range. which is apparently clinically insignificant. i guess they only think it is something if it is higher than normal.
Aniek
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posted
I may have chronic pancreatitis. I had gallbladder symptoms, but my gallbladder is find. My Lipase and Amylase are up and have been for a while though.
So my LLMD thinks pancreatitis, but doesn't seem overly concerned. She thinks if it is, it is caused by the Lyme.
That gastro isn't sure, every tests besides the enzymes was normal (abdominal mri, hida scan of gallbladder, ultrasounds, colonoscopy, endoscopy). If it is pancreatitis, the gastro said he doesn't think the meds would cause it. So if it is, it's probably infected with Lyme.
The new alternative doctor I'm seeing thinks it's actually spasms of my intestine causing the pain and he said lower intestine problems can impact the enzyme levels.
So no clear answer. But my LLMD made me cut out all alcohol and to try and stay away from the vinegar.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
don't have gallbladder any more. I had a very bad obstruction to the duodenal area about 9 years ago. No one was able to find the problem until 2 years later. I was 60 some pounds at that point. Fluids and food were not passing through. They did emergency surgery. After that had gallbladder go bad. They didn't find it until another years later. Again emergency surgery. It was leaking bacteria into my blood and going to brain.
Right after all of this developed pain in back. During the other times was not able to eat fat either due to pain in upper left side. I thought maybe all of this could somehow have damaged pancreas. Pain is constant and very very severe.
Kidney work seems o.k.
Posts: 47 | From WV | Registered: May 2006
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Aniek
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Is the pain similar to your gallbladder pain? If so, it could be a spasm of a duct near the gallbladder.
Have you tried antispasmodic medication to see if it helps? You take it sublingually when the pain begins. This might help figure it out.
If it is a spasm, it might cause damage to your pancreas, because if it is the duct near your pancreas then it releases enzymes when it spasms causing the pancreas to digest itself.
This is what my LLMD told me when we were trying to figure out what was wrong. I kind of stopped trying to figure it out because the severe pain only happened a few times.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
honestly back pain can be a result of ANY digestive issue. Pancreas is possible, but its usually the hardest organ to screw up unless you're a chronic alcoholic.
I get nervous for my Pancreas since I'm on prilosec all teh time, and there have been odd reports of PPIs messing with the pancreas.
I get middle back pain alot, as well as lower back pain, flank pain, turns out its just my intestines and stomach spasming due to the lyme...they are muscles like anything else.
If your bowel movements consistantly look greasy, float, and have undigested food bits in them (not just grains and veggies, I mean like tuna salad coming out the other end and still looking like tuna salad) its possible your pancreas is involved.
If this isn't happening I wouldn't worry, try what Aniek suggested: anti spasmodics. Stress will also make any digestive issue worse. Taking warm baths may also help the pain.
Posts: 594 | From NJ/NY | Registered: Jun 2006
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lymemomtooo
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Oh can lyme damage a pancreas..Now the endo will probably never agree but my daughter is now insulin dependent..And was fine pre-lyme..
Hers started with low blood sugars..DR told us not to worry..NOw I know that is a sign that things are going haywire..good luck..
Posts: 2360 | From SE PA | Registered: Mar 2004
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Marnie
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Bb is "PFK dependent". This is an enzyme that is "rate limiting" for glycolysis (sugar, not oxygen to make energy).
Bb wants/needs fructose...a sugar.
Bb is a happy camper when insulin levels go up because this ACTIVATES this enzyme (PFK).
Now...besides insulin (hormone), the pancreas also makes glucagon.
Eat sugar -> insulin released -> (when enough and blood levels are where they should be) -> glucagon released. Both come from different cells in the pancreas.
Besides those hormones (insulin and glucagon) the pancreas also makes enzymes to help us digest wheat. Some lyme patients can "develop" a gluten intolerance because they no longer make the enzymes to break wheat down. Some viruses and also a recessive gene can trigger gluten intolerance too.
Many lyme patients can develop diabetes.The cells become insulin resistant...they won't take it up.
The pancreas (liver and brain too) is sensitive to the products of fermentation...ethanol is one product of fermentation.
All spirochetes breakdown sugar this way...they ferment it.
Now...just a "heads-up". Because cancer also follows the glycolysis pathway (and breast and prostate follow the glycolysis and cholesterol pathways...estrogen and testosterone come FROM cholesterol)...this means be on the "look-out" for cancer.
Pancreatitis can be a FIRST sign of breast cancer. This happened to my sister-in-law a year ago. She had severe pancreatitis while on vacation and the docs told her when she got home...get a mammogram. She did and yup...breast cancer. It was caught in time!!!
So, don't take pancreatitis "lightly". Watch CEA levels and if a guy, PSA levels. These proteins are cancer "markers". Proteins are acidic. I have a "hunch" this is the bodys way to try to knock out cancer cells.
Vitamin E helps us process (break down ethanol) and so does an enzyme in our liver, but us gals don't have as much of this enzyme as guys - which is why most guys can out-drink us gals.
Get the best form of Vitamin E and it should be taken with a meal.
We know (pubmed) this vitamin (E) drops in lyme.
P.S. alcohol converts to ethanol.
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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posted
what is the most accurate test to do? I know that I have read that it is sometimes very difficult to diagnose. Does there have to be pain after eating and does the BM's always have to be oily or not "normal"?
Is pancreatitis connected with the female hormones and could it cause more pain when taking antibiotics?
Thanks so much for the comments so far!
Posts: 47 | From WV | Registered: May 2006
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Marnie
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posted
I need to present the "other" side of the above statement re: vitamin E and soy.
� SELECT stands for the Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial, a clinical trial to see if one or both of these dietary supplements prevent prostate cancer (see Question 1).
� Selenium and vitamin E are antioxidants. Earlier studies suggested that these supplements might prevent prostate cancer (see Questions 3, 4, and 5).
� In order to participate in SELECT, men had to meet certain eligibility requirements (see Questions 6, 7, and 8).
� Men who participate in this study were randomly assigned to take two capsules a day--selenium and vitamin E, selenium and a placebo, vitamin E and a placebo, or two placebos (see Question 10).
� Participants are asked to provide toenail and blood samples, respond to an annual questionnaire, and pick up capsules every 6 months (see Question 13).
Please note the link addy! This is a government cancer study involving vitamin E and selenium to PREVENT cancer.
Why Consider Soy?
Soy protein, which has been stated to be of "highest caliber," contains many essential nutrients. It has been stated that populations who regularly include soy protein in their diets and reduce meat intake are generally healthier in that their risks for certain diseases are reduced.
These include cancer, especially breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men. The basic assumption that has been made about soy is that its consumption as a dietary staple reduces the risk of a variety of cancers, such as breast cancer, prostate cancer, and colon cancer. A relationship between soy and lung cancer has even been assumed.
Note...''edu'' in the link means this is from a college/university.
Posts: 9481 | From Sunshine State | Registered: Mar 2001
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Aniek
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quote:Originally posted by lymemomtooo: Oh can lyme damage a pancreas..Now the endo will probably never agree but my daughter is now insulin dependent..And was fine pre-lyme..
Hers started with low blood sugars..DR told us not to worry..NOw I know that is a sign that things are going haywire..good luck..
My LLMD has seen pancreatitis in Lyme patients a handful of times. She really believes Lyme can cause it, but said it's only been a few cases.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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