To W from Laurie

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

Thanks for giving me your opinion concerning pancreatitis vs

hepatits. I think that my new doctor does not think that my high

liver enzymes (can spike near 1,000 too) are related to my

pancreas because the amylase / lipase never go up with them.

Also, because the first ERCP with manometry showed a slightly

elevated biliary sphincter pressure with delayed contrast

draining, he is apt to think that the high LFTs are from the biliary

functional blockage. I have not run my enzymes since the

sphincterotomy two weeks ago so I do not know if they have

gone down to normal. Based on my symptoms, I would suspect

that they may still be elevated, but that is a wild guess only. If,

after this next ERCP, they remain high or keep spiking as they

were, maybe he will change his mind.

I am very curious what explanation that your doctors gave you

concerning the elevated liver enzyme values, because this guy

seemed so adamant that there is no way that the two are

connected (unless he meant only in my case specifically). Have

they given you an explanation at all about the mechanism

involved?

I have been tested for auto-immune hep too, with blood tests

only , no liver biopsy as it hasn't been deemed necessary yet. All

of my blood tests for infectious hep, auto-immune hep, genetic

hep, etc have all come back negative. Because of the suspected

SOD (and I guess confirmed now) the doctor is not looking to

investigate the liver further (unless the colic attacks should return

I would think).

At this point, I am just waiting for Friday's ERCP and EUS to

confirm or disprove pancreas divisum and / or chronic

pancreatitis. I am not sure what will happen from there if it is

confirmed, or for that matter, if it is not. I would hope that if there

is no signs of pancreatic disease that he would still continue to

investigate the source of my pain, etc (maybe then the liver will

be biopsied or something).

Thanks again for your information, it helps to know that there are

exceptions to the " rule " that my doctor stated.

Laurie