Guest guest Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 > Long story short I ate tainted food on 11/8 and this somehow kicked something with my pancreas into high gear. I have been hospitalized three times in the last two months with malnutrition/dehydration--- nausau, diarrhea, chest to back pain, sweats, weight loss---it's been awful. I work for a doc who, prior to the aforementioned, told me I should seek the advice of a GI doc who specializes in the pancreas, as he beleived I had CP. I actually have my appointment today and wonder if anyone knows something specific I should asked. Dear J.J., This reply is probably too late to help you if your appointment is today, but I just got online and saw it. All I can say is, " been there, done that " in regard to all of your symptoms/complaints. I have been fighting the malabsorption syndrome for over a year without success. As far as today's appointment goes, ask the doctor what other tests he plans to do to determine whether or not you have CP, and what tests he recommends to find the true cause of your condition, if the documentation that he already has is not enough. The most common tests are amylase and lipase bloodtests. There is also another fasting blood test that checks triglycerides levels - if they are high, it is an indication of CP. Radiology tests that can show pancreatic problems are ultrasounds, CT-scans, MRI's and MRCP's. ERCP's are one test that should only be considered once all the other testing procedures are non-conclusive. An ERCP is a highly invasive procedure and is the 7th cause of pancreatitis, so it's not the type of procedure a competent physician would undertake as for making preliminary pancreatitis diagnosis'. Quite often amylase and lipase blood tests will show normal, even in a person with chronic pancreatitis, so this should not be the definative test to determine your condition. The more damage there is to the organ, the more chance there is of loss of amylase and lipase enzyme production, thus the A & L test can often read low or normal. IMO, X-rays are practically worthless for determining pancreatic damage, so hopefully your doctor will not suggest that. Since he is a Gastroenterologist, I would assume he will be knowledgeable about those tests that are more accurate. If CP is diagnosed, ask him about enzyme supplements. Since you are already taking them, you should continue and you will find that they are very helpful. You should also discuss pain medications, since more than likely, you will need them. After all, this is a chronic PAIN condition, or as one member calls it, PAINCREATITIS!!! You will need something that provides relief from the pain. Also talk to the doctor about your diet. A low fat, low protein, high carbohydrate diet is what is commonly recommended, with no more than 25 grams of fat daily, and no more than about 6-8 fat grams per meal. There are a lot of other questions to discuss; about going to the emergency room, his admitting procedures, etc., but these can wait until you have a firm diagnosis. I hope this information was in time. I'm sure I forgot a lot, but I wanted to try to repond in time for you to see the message before your appointment. Please post again after you appointment and let us know what happened, what the doctor said, and what the plan is. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina SC & SE Regional Rep. PAI, Intl. Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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