Can you have pancratitis and doctors can't figure it out?

August 19, 2004

Hi,

I am having some digestive difficulty and not being able to figure it

out. I have a gallstone. I have had gallbladder attacks. I have

had my enzymes tested and a CT scan and at one point an MRCP. All

the scans were done without contrast as I am sensitive to it.

My problem is that the pain starts on the right side and soon it is

on both sides. I have had lots of tests and have been told it is not

my pancreas that is involved. I still question that. I am having

pain on the left side just under the ribcage. There are only just so

many things in that location that it could be. I have had an upper

GI series and a colonoscopy and endoscopy and nothing showed a

problem with my intestinal tract and only some small polyps in my

stomach that they are adamant are not causing my symptoms. So what

else is there but the pancreas?

It is not excrutiating pain, but mild to moderate. I get a sensation

of throbbing in that location. Eating seems to increase the

throbbing and pain. I would like to stop eating altogether if there

is a chance it is the pancreas and making things worse, but the

doctors are satisfied that it is not the pancreas and are telling me

to do the best I can about eating. I can't go without food for long

at all. I am trying to stick to liquids. Freshly made vegetable

juice, diluted tomato juice, warmed up cider, tomato soup, pureed

ministrone soup diluted. Eating this way is leaving me with no

energy and not sleeping well and keeps provoking the pain and

throbbing. They want me to wait 6 weeks for surgery for gallbladder

removal. I can't imagine eating this way for that long. I don't

think I would be in good shape for surgery.

They did a Heinz? something scan that tests the function of the

gallbladder and it showed that bile is able to get through the

gallbladder and empty into the small intestine, but the force with

which it contracts is limited. They call it a sluggish gallbladder

and feel it is not therefore an emergency surgery. There is no

indication of a blockage.

I thought if there was some other way of being sure it is or isn't

the pancreas, then my doctors wouldn't expect me to go so long

waiting for surgery or would put me on IVs so I wouldn't have to eat.

Can anyone give me some input?

Thanks,

Adam

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