Re: NEW HERE AND NEED HELP- CHRONIC PANC.

[Guest guest]

Denny,

I wanted first to welcome you to the group.

Next, it is possible to have an acute pancreatic attack and have normal

or below normal enzyme levels. This usually means that there is so much

damage to the pancreas that it just can't produce enough enzymes and it

then to be considered chronic pancreatitis. A good place to get

information on Chronic pancreatitis and Acute pancreatitis is the

Hopkin's GI website:

http://www.hopkins-gi.org/pages/latin/templates/index.cfm?pg=disease1 & organ=4 & di\

sease=24 & lang_id=1

If the above link doesn't work, copy and paste the whole text string,

including any that wrapped to the line below into your browser.

Chronic pancreatitis is considered very hard to diagnose because it's

symptoms are frequently very similar to other disorders/diseases. If

you've had so many acute episodes of pancreatitis, regardless of cause,

it's possible for it to become chronic. I know because that's what

happened to me. I have a pancreatic divisum which caused repeated cases

of acute pancreatitis. Eventually, it became chronic. Some of us do

have back pain, though I haven't had it more than once or twice. The

reason your doctor is asking you about Lupus is that it sometimes is

linked to causing acute pancreatitis cases. So the doctor is probably

trying to rule that out. Again, visit that website, it is ver

informative and also visit

http://www.top5plus5.com . It also has a great deal of information on

pancreatitis.

I hope this is of some help in your search for information and answers

to what you are going through. Please feel free to ask any other

questions you may have and someone will try and ansewr then to the best

o their ability.

Kimber

--

Kimber

Vallejo, CA

hominid2@...

Southwestern US regional and CA state Representative

Note: All advice given is personal opinion, not equal to that of a licensed

physician or health care professional.

[Guest guest]

Denny,

You don't say where you live which would help for those of us that may live near

you to give you a referral to a good doctor near you. Check out the 's

Hopkins website and read up! Your lipase and amalase levels do not have to be

elevated for you to be having an attack. My levels almost never go up anymore.

I still have the same pain though. I was recently diagnosed with Lupus, which

lead the doctor to think that my body is rejecting my own pancreas. Having the

test done is painless, it is just a blood test so there is nothing to lose but

the treatment would different than if you did not have autoimmune disease. Do

you see a doctor that specializes in the pancreas? Most GI's know very little

about the pancreas, so don't think a GI is the answer to your prayers. Don't

get me wrong there are some very good GI doctors out there that know allot about

the pancreas but most don't know enough and they get frustrated when they can't

help you. Do you have a doctor that is treating you for pain? Are you

maintaining a low fat diet and abstaining from alcohol? These are very

important things to do for THE REST OF YOUR LIFE! When you are hurting like

this does it help to rest your pancreas and just drink liquids for a few days?

You can drink things like boost or boost breeze to help maintain the nutrients

your body needs during these times. Also it is normal to have pancreatitis

pains after an ERCP, I know I end up in the hospital when I have one done, and

even the IV meds do not help the pain. Let us know a little more about you and

we will do our best to help as much as we can.

Simi Valley, CA