Do pancreatic problems run in families?

May 7, 2003

Hello,

I have suffered with middle of the night belly aches for 3 years,

directly after the removal of my gallbladder. But, I had had a very

painful attack in my upper abdomen, below my breastbone, in Dec. '98

that landed me in the hospital for 6 days with peritonitius and

abdominal distention, fever, and nausua, no vomiting. No gallstones

found, but the surgeon and his staff could not seem to come up with

any diagnosis for my problem.

This doctor was very cocky and arrogant and would not answer any of

my questions. But anyway, today, I am still having recurring belly

aches in the middle of the night, and constant pain that

radiates/pulsates into my right back and I have a constant pain under

my right side ribcage area. I even have runner's stitch pain so

severe that I have to lay with a heating pad on my right side some

nights to be able to go to sleep.

My GI is treating me with Nexium 40mg a day, and it has seemed to

help with the lessening the belly aches, but not eliminated them.

Then I had a change in my stools and began to have some severe

constipation recently, which lead to a colonoscopy. Everythings fine

down there, as I knew it would be. Due to two prior upper GI's I

have been dianosed with a huge hiatle hernia and excessive acid

production, too.

This constant pain in my right side into my back is what bothers me

the most. I don't suffer with a lot of nausua and no vomiting.

Though I learned the other day that my mother's sister is in the

hospital being tested for pancreatic problems due to an abdominal

pain she suffered. And another 1st cousin has been diagnosed with

pancreatic cysts. My mother has complained for years of similiar

abdominal pains and vomiting but has refused to ever go to a doctor.

My GI now tells me he says I have IBS and that is my cause of

bellyaches back pain. I will see him on Monday and will ask him if

any testing that has been done on me has included my pancreas.

Would many of you convey your symptoms?

I have had the hardest time trying to convince my GI that I don't

have IBS. I know he has tested my biliary ducts because He had me

have another HIDA scan in January and said it was 'fine.' And he has

mentioned testing me for liver problems, but not my pancreas. I have

been way too passive........

Thanks so much,

Sandi in Southern WV

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