Back Pain?

[Guest guest]

Hello All,

I have been feeling a bit better lately but also occasionally

experiencing unusual symptoms like chills and weakness. I am really

hoping to have this resolved soon. My current question relates

specifically to the back pain possibly associated with pancreatitis.

It seems like currently, if I am in a slightly bent over position,

like over my keyboard typing, and I breathe in deeply, I can feel the

discomfort, like im " pushing " against my panc or whatever it is

inside. I also feel discomfort if I am lying on the floor and I rest

my weight on that part of my back, which as Ive mentioned before is

squarely underneath my left rib when I feel discomfort in the front

of my abdomen, and in the back its in the same spot, just in the back

of course.

Does this sound like it is concurrent with the type of back " pain "

that can be associated with pancreatitis? Ive never had Jaundice that

I can tell (knock on wood), but I do feel my skin is pale, at least

in my face, and I continually experience just about every other

symptom associated with it including loose stools that can be odorous

and large, and abdominal discomfort, though some of the more intense

symptoms have recently wained.

Sorry to keep hounding you guys so much, while I wait to be seen

professionally this is the best place I can come to.

Thanks,

Ian.

[Guest guest]

Ian,

The back pain that each of us feels with our CP varies for each

individual. For many, it's a distinct sharp and aching pain radiating

from the abdomen back into the midback and shoulder area. This pain

can often be more pronounced than the abdominal pain is at that time,

and can last for several hours or more at a time. In my body, the

pain has always initiated on the left side, but has crossed to the

right in episodes of extreme severity.

While this description doesn't sound identical to those that you've

written about, it doesn't mean that what you're feeling couldn't also

be pancreas related. Each of us are different. I have experienced a

feeling of pressure or pushing when leaning forward that you describe,

in my case it was determined that my inflamed pancreas was pushing

against the stomach, which was being compressed by the inflamed pancreas.

Once you see a specialist, all these questions should have appropriate

answers for you. I would suggest that you write down each different

type of pain and episode of discomfort in full description, so that

you can discuss these symptoms with your doctor when you see him.

You can go down the common list of symptoms and find many different

complaints. A person doesn't have to suffer from each symptom in

order to be diagnosed. Jaudice, for one, is a symptom that normally

doesn't appear unless the patient is in severe condition. Many CP

patients haven't had problems with it at all. Some patients have had

only a few of the many symptoms, yet still been diagnosed with CP, so

don't feel that you need to have all symptoms represented in order to

be taken seriously.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

hhessgriffeth@...

SC & SE Regional Rep., P.A.I.

www.pancassociation.org/anthology#Heidi.html

Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should not

be substituted for professional medical consultation.

Ian wrote:

<occasionally experiencing unusual symptoms like chills and weakness.

<if I am in a slightly bent over position, and I breathe in deeply, I

can feel the discomfort, like im " pushing " against my panc

<feel discomfort if I am lying on the floor and I rest my weight on

that part of my back

<Does this sound like it is concurrent with the type of back " pain "

that can be associated with pancreatitis?

<never had Jaundice

(snip)continually experience just about every other symptom......

loose stools that can be odorous and large, and abdominal discomfort,

[Guest guest]

Ian,

I know what you mean about that feeling that something is there in your left

side. Actually my doctors can feel it also. They are sending me to ton

so I will let the docs there feel it and see what they say! LOL!

My pain is in my left side mostly in the back but sometimes I will have pain

in the middle under my breast bone, it feels like I have been hit with a

baseball bat. I started having pain on my right side several weeks ago and it

was

from air in my bile duct. It is still there but a little better.

I too had many questions when I first got here. I have received so much

comfort from not feeling alone with this disease anymore! Isn't it wonderful to

have people who actually understand what you are going through!

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "

[Guest guest]

Ian,

I have found that if they do a CT scan or any other tests when I am having a

bad attack things do not show up. I think it is due to all of the intestinal

gases that build up when I am having an attack. When I have tests and things

are settled down they usually can tell alot more of what is going on. Good luck

with your appt.

Angie in SC

" The happiest of people don't necessarily have the

best of everything; they just make the best of everything that comes along

their way. "

[Guest guest]

Hi Angie,

Yes I am very happy to have found the extremely helpful and friendly

members of this site. I also see that the pain you have experienced is

similar to what I have felt. As many know, a CT Scan in August of 04

revealed nothing extraordinary, so that is the hope that I currently

cling to of this not being as bad as I think sometimes it might be,

however I am hoping my upcoming visit to the GI doctor will clear all

of this up for me.

I can only hope it works out for the best.

Thanks,

Ian.

> Ian,

> I know what you mean about that feeling that something is there in

your left

> side.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Angie,

While I know what you and many others have had to go through has been

absolutely torturous in some instances, living with the condition is

not my greatest fear. As Ive said from the beginning my greatest fear

(and I am admittedly part Hypochondriac with all the events over the

past year I wont bore you with here) my greatest fear is that of cancer

of course. And I can say that at the time I had my CT scan last august,

I didnt know anything about the pancreas, but just reported to my

doctor that I occasionally got pains in that area and would not let the

issue be until he investigated further. Also, when I went in for the

scan I was not having an attack of any kind, I was definitely settled

down at the time of the Scan. Basically, what Im hoping is, that with

all the talk with the cancer that once symptoms show up with PC its

usually developed quite a bit, my clear contrast CT in August is a good

indicator that I am OK there because I had already been experiencing

abdominal discomfort since shoot.. probably May of 04. Im also only 22

years old.

However, aside from that, the symptoms themselves still scare me. Today

was the first day I can honestly say I had PALE colored stools that

were almost gray and my bowel movements have not been normal for at

least three months now. Im back to possibly 1 movement per day (down

from 2 or 3 in the past weeks) though. I know that Heidi mentioned that

Jaundice usually only occurs in situations of advanced conditions, so I

hope this is not the case with the stools as well, which seem to always

be linked with Jaundice in the medical literatures Ive been parousing.

The worst attacks have (thank God) passed, but now as I mentioned to

you before, its just a dull and constant " ache " that doesnt bother me

unless I breathe in deeply or when I first wake up in the morning and

am moving around.

Sorry to get so wordy!

Thanks!

Ian.

> Ian,

> I have found that if they do a CT scan or any other tests when I am

having a

> bad attack