Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
I have right abdominal pain, and it is referring to my right shoulder, right hand, right jaw, right gums, and right breast. The abdominal pain is an ache, not extreme. The referred pain is pretty sharp. Pain increases when I eat.
I also have pale stools and a history of elevated pancreatic enzymes. I've been having nausea and diarhea recently.
I'm seeing the nurse practitioner at my LLMD's office tomorrow anyway. I've been off abx for 2 weeks because of the diarhea. It stopped, when I stopped taking magnesium and Vit C. One or both of those seems to make the diarhea worse.
A year ago, I had a full gallbladder work-up (HIDA Scan, ultrasound, CT scan) because I had what appeared to be a gallbladder attack. Everything was negative. Also had endoscopy and colonoscopy a few months later.
I'm worried I have serious pancreas problems. But how would I know? Any tests besides enzyme levels? Or could it be a sick gallbladder that wouldn't show up on tests? What should I ask the NP tomorrow?
My liver enyzmes are consistently ok. Just pancreas high.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
Dear Aniek,
I am not an expert at this but I have had my gallbladder removed due to stones and have a positive history of pancreatitis as well.
My gallbladder gave everyone fits. It took two weeks of ultrasounds to see gallstones. My blood work was normal with this.
When they removed my gallbladder, I believe they left a stone in the common bile duct, which at times acts up and gives me pancreatitis.
My gallbladder pain was lower in the stomach area. Pancreatitis creates a pain up high, right under my ribs.
Both gave me horrible reflux and the taste of bile in my mouth especially at night. My gallbladder attacks always came at night in the beginning.
I was 36 weeks pregnant when I had my first pancreatitis attack. Not pretty. I was hospitalized with nothing to eat or drink by mouth for four days.
I was so hungry. However, this lowered my enzymes back to normal.
Also, my gallbladder pain radiated from the front around to my back.
Pancreatitis was more localized to the front for me.
I don't know if any of this helps as everybody has different symptoms. If it is pancreatitis stay away from real fatty foods and spicy foods.
I hope you get some answers soon and feel better.
Geneal
Posts: 6250 | From Louisiana | Registered: Oct 2006
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posted
I do not have pancreatitis, but recently had my gallbladder removed. HIDA scan was normal, but ultrasound showed multiple stones. I didn't have an attack until months after the tests.
At the first attack, I thought I was having a heartattack. The pain was substernal and a little to the right. It also radiated around behind my right shoulder blade.
Between the attacks and the surgery I stayed away from fatty foods and it helped.
At one time a previous LLMD did think I had pancreatitis because stool samples showed undigested fat. Apparently having fatty stools is a symptom of pancreatitis, so a stool sample may be a good additional test to have?
Good Luck.
Posts: 48 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Thanks. I had a stool sample recently that showed low levels of pancreatic enzymes, which suggests pancreatitis.
I've had tests looking at fat digestion before, they were ok but I generally eat very low fat. Because fat makes me nauseous, which I know is a sign of pancreatitis.
Anybody know if there is any treatment for pancreatitis? I'm worried I'm destroying my pancreas and I won't know if it's the meds or the infection.
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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posted
When my former LLMD thought I had pancreatitis, she prescribed pancreatic enzymes for me to take with each meal. That is the only treatment I know of, but it doesn't mean it's the only one out there. I sure do hope you feel better soon!
Posts: 48 | From USA | Registered: Aug 2006
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Geneal
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 10375
posted
I know that the MD wanted to scope me--go down my throat, etc. to see if there was a stone stuck in my pancreas or common bile duct.
This didn't happen because I was very pregnant.
I know that watching the diet helps. Some people just have chronic pancreatitis where meds for pain are prescribed.
posted
Wow Aniek, We have a lot in common. Pale stool, upper right abd pain, not severe.
My blood work came back normal today, and I have an ultrasound tomorrow.
Seems like my pain has moved around some. It was on my side on the right, just under my ribs.
It has continued forward to upper rt abd quad and down the right side. Still, it is not severe.
It feels maybe more intestional today.
I worry though. Six months ago my doctor (not a LLMD) in WA took me off antibiotics, after 6 months of treatment because I was having adrenal stress.
(I had a saliva adrenal stress test)
The doc was not sure if the adrenal stress was from all the antibiotics or the lyme/babs.
Within three weeks I was clearly going down hill, and went to a LLMD for another opinion.
Now I have been back on antibiotics about six more months, and each month is better.
Hummm.... Aniek, keep us posted
Posts: 258 | From Washington State | Registered: Nov 2005
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Aniek
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 5374
posted
Thanks for the replies.
I met with the nurse practitioner at my LLMD's office this morning. She is having me increase the digestive enzymes I take and get another HIDA scan and ultrasound. It's been about a year since the last.
The pain seems to root from the gallbladder. But when she examined me, I was tender more in the center, right under the ribs. From pictures of the organs, I think that's where the pancreas is. Maybe both organs are sick?
Geneal - Thanks for the link. I know I don't digest protein. My other doctor connected this to an amino acid deficiency. But maybe the root of the amino acid deficiency is really pancreatitis?
Von - I believe adrenal stress can be caused by Lyme. FYI.
-Aniek
-------------------- "When there is pain, there are no words." - Toni Morrison Posts: 4711 | From Washington, DC | Registered: Mar 2004
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