Re: Re : weight loss...again

[Guest guest]

Thanks Sandy...I'll definitely try the protein drinks. I'd love to

find SOMEthing that works and I'm glad it worked for you.

And Fliss, thanks for the reply again. I was on Creon too and ended

up with abdominal pain. The worst one was Panocase, which is what

caused the severe attacks. The attacks were identical to the type i

normally have but much more severe. My doctor simply took me off of

them altogether because he thought my reaction was too severe but

maybe if i ever do need to go back on I can hope that it will be

temporary like yours.

And you had asked what tests I've had so far and I forgot to answer.

Here's the list...

Endoscopy....normal

Ultrasound...normal

Cat Scan...normal

MRI/MRCP...normal

Decida-Scan (which I am sure i'm spelling wrong, but it's the one to

check gall bladder function)...normal

Endoscopic Ultrasound...normal

Small Bowel Study...normal

Cat Scan (again)...normal

MRI/MRCP(again)...normal

Test for lactose intolerance...normal

D-Xylose test (checks to see if my intestines are absorbing properly

and, i'm told, can help tell if your problem is an intestinal disease

or not)....haven't gotten results back yet

Lots and lots of blood tests....about one a month....I started out

with slightly elevated lipase levels all year....my last one in

November showed normal Lipase...everything else normal

Also, I was tested for malabsorption and that showed up positive once

and negative once but the negative one was when I was barely eating

fat due to some rough attacks. I do definitely have fat in the

stools (not to give too much info but since you've been going through

this for years I'm sure you're used to talking about these things

with strangers too).

So, that's all I can rememember. I may have forgotten one or two. I

have also had a sharp pain in one spot just inside my ribs on my

upper left side all through this...when I'm having attacks or

not...it's practically constant. The frustrating thing is, I don't

respond to the enzymes, my lipase was never really high, especially

right after my biggest attack, and i've never had any nausea or

vomiting. So i've been told I may have chronic pancreatitis but

don't exhibit classic symptoms. BUT, as I said...and as you

know...it sometimes cannot be diagnosed for years. So very

frustrating but I'm trying to hang in.

Any advice is always appreciated. The hardest part of all of this is

not knowing anyone who has it and getting the impression that it is a

sentence to a life of illness and pain. To be honest, I am

terrified. My boyfriend and I are in the process of looking for a

house and I fear I won't be able to do things like have children or

live a healthy life. But enough complaining. It just helps to talk

to you all on this message board.

Happy New Year to you all and I hope you are able to go out and

celebrate.

Sincerely,

> ,

> I don't know if you've tried this but I tried just

> the protein drink powder. My husband found it at the

> healthfood store, and I found it to not be so filling

> and it helped me put back on some weight. You can put

> it in any drink, liked o.j., milk or whatever. It

> might be worth a try, right?

> Hoe this helps,

> sandy g

> reno