Re: Diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis

[Guest guest]

Hello!

Thank you very much to all of you who kindly replied to my posting!

The reason for my worry that my pain may be pancreas-related is that

I had pancreatitis in 1977 when I was 9. The diagnosis was made based

on the high amylase level. The pancreatitis was labeled chronic at

that time, but I am not quite sure why. They did not do any imaging

studies. My guess is that I had abdominal pain for over a year before

they checked my amylase and all that pain was subsequently blamed on

pancreatitis. But this is only my guess. Unfortunately, my medical

records from that time are lost.

I was successfully treated that time, was on a strict diet for about

a year and remained on some sort of a diet for the rest of my life (I

decided to do this voluntarily). I was completely pain-free for about

5 years since 1977, than I experienced abdominal pains off and on for

years. The pain, however, has never been the same (in terms of

location) as in 1977. My amylase was measured every now and then,

ultrasounds were done - nothing bad was found.

I should mentioned that I never had attacks of the pain. My pain has

always been constant, not very intense, and would last for months. No

nausea, no vomiting, no fever.

Since September 2001 I am suffering from left-sided abdominal and

back pain clearly aggrevated by food. It's getting worse slowly but

persistently. The pain gets worse also when I am riding in a car or

on a train.

I remain undiagnosed so far. I hope very much that the secretin test

I am about to have at the end of this month would give me some

answers.

Again, thank you very much to you all.

K.