Re: hello....?/thank you

November 15, 2002

Thank you for answering. I am just feeling a little despaired. I

phoned the lab today to find out what their normal values for an

amalayse test are and they told me anything less than 100 is normal.

My last level was 168. The last time before that it was 132 and the

time before that it was 111. It seems to be going up each time I get

it tested, but I don't know if that means anything. The GI said not

to give it another thought, but I don't know how to do that because I

am getting different information all over the place. I had an

ultrasound done and the head of my pancreas looked a little bulky,

but there was no sign of fluid abnormalties. Doc said the " bulky "

didn't necessarily mean anything either. I don't know what to

trust. Maybe I should just leave it alone because I don't have the

huge pain, and I have never had an attack where my amalayse would

indicate an emergency. (the lab tester told me it would have to be

300 before they alarmed the doc and it would have to be 1000 before

they would send me to the emergency). I don't trust the doctors

anymore. But if I leave it alone and go on with life as normal and

they are wrong and I have a mild case that I could make worse by not

attending to it.....? Has anybody heard of a more accurate method of

testing? I live in Canada so not everything will be available to me

that is available in the states, but maybe I could pass on

information to my doc, or a new GI. I read something about Edoscopic

Ultrasonaography, but don't want to push it unless I have information

from people with experience that say it is worth pushing for. I wish

I could trust the doctors. I will check your site that you

recommended. Thank you again.

Joia

November 15, 2002

Hi ,

Thank you for your reply. The doctor that diagnosed me did the test

because I was feeling ill on a reacurring basis. My husband made me

go in. I probably wouldn't have gone in of my own volition just

because when I am feeling ok I think it wasn't that bad. When I'm in

it I really don't like it. The way it feels is like a bad flu. I

get a really bad headache, nausea(vomited only once), dizziness and

indigestion. I also get pain in my upper gut that feels like an

extremely bad hunger pain with a third degree burn. This has

improved, but then I tend to avoid eating because I avoid the

discomfort by doing so. I have also lost 10 lbs since July. I have

had the floaty stools. A couple of times they were bulky and greasy

looking. I didn't have them tested, so I don't know if it actually

was the steatorhea that I have read about. So, with those symptoms

and the slightly elevated amalayse, the doc said I had CP and gave me

no hope. I have been tested for other things like ulcers and some

kind of stomach bacteria, but both turned up negative. The GI is

sending me for another barium swallow, but one that will show the

whole small intestine, not just the stomach and duodenum. I don't

know what he is looking for, but I do know that it isn't a test that

would try to prove CP. I have been feeling pretty good lately

so.....I don't know. Have you heard of " Endoscopic

Ultrasonography " ? I read somewhere that it is much better than a

regular ultrasound for diagnosing CP.

> Joia,

> Thanks for more on your story. The acute attack with the highest

amylase level was only 514 (i think - it was in the 500's anyway).

They kept me in the hospital for 3 or 4 days with that one. For me,

the numbers don't always indicate the worst pain. I've been in the

hospital longer when the numbers were lower. They have even admitted

me with normal labs simply because the pain, nausea, and vomiting is

so bad. In fact, I have been in the hospital 10 times since July and

the amylase was only elevated on 3. Several of the other times, the

liver enzymes were very elevated, but a couple of times the enzymes

were all normal.

>

> Personally, I'd pay attention, gather information, and maybe find

another GI. Just my opinion.

>

> W

>

November 15, 2002