Re: U of Mich GI Appt- to Debbie

[Guest guest]

kietzmans@a... wrote:

I had my appt w/GI Specialist at U of Mich today and feel

disappointed. She was a nice person and believed that I have

had 5 acute pancreas attacks (even though only the last one

was dx in the ER). She believes that since I had my gallbladder

out and have not had an acute attack since then, that it is not my

pancreas causing me ongoing pain. She said usually people

who have pancreatitis caused from the gallbladder don't have

any ongoing pancreas problems - having the gallbladder out

stops the attacks.

Hi Debbie,

You've asked a question that I know someone here can answer

based on their personal experience, someone with CP and no

gallbladder, so hopefully they will speak up.

You said, " can't a person have damage after several attacks and

she said not if it is caused from your gallbladder. I would think

that it wouldn't matter what the cause of the many attacks were -

as each attack may cause damage no matter what the cause? "

While I haven't had my gallbladder removed because it is healthy

and apparently not the cause of my chronic pancreatitis and

pseudocysts, I know of several people in the group that DID have

theirs removed and continued to have damage to their

pancreas', continued to have on going pain, and now have

chronic pancreatitis. In fact, I think there are more CP people in

the group without their gallbladders than with them! So her

explanation just doesn't wash with me.

I can understand your disappointment and how you feel about

finding a doctor that can look more closely at your symptoms.

Yet if this doctor recommends prevacid, you might want to go

ahead with her suggestion and take it and see what happens. I

wouldn't think it would hurt, it may help, if it does - great, if it

doesn't - then you know you need to look further. Hopefully by the

process of elimination you can get closer to finding the cause.

Have they done bloodwork? There are other procedures that are

less invasive than an ERCP that often can determine pancreatic

damage, such as ultrasounds or ct-scans. I don't know your

history, so don't know if these tests have already been done. An

ERCP, because of its invasive qualities, is usually the last

procedure done on the list, when all other avenues of testing

remain non-conclusive. Dr. Lehman is known to be an excellent

practioner of this procedure, and I know of several members

who have seen him in your area.

Do you have any other symptoms, i.e; weight loss, diarrhea,

constipation, nausea, back pain, or ongoing fatigue? I'm sure

I've missed a few, but most of us have some or all of these

problems at one time or another.

I hope this has been of some help. It looks as though you need

to keep searching for the correct diagnosis for the cause of your

ongoing pain.

With hope and prayers,

Heidi in SC