RE: Re: Hi I'm new here!

April 27, 2004

Hey Tammy,

Thanks for writing me. Do you have a history of drinking? I drank off and on for

5 years, and that has me really worried. The only thing abnormal so far was my

lipase level was slightly elevated once at 57, normal range 0-68. Tomorrow I am

going for a Hida Scan, then an MRCP.

Debbie

Re: Hi I'm new here!

Hey Debbie. I like you do not have a firm chronic pancreatitis. I

have all the symptoms -- severe pain and nausea, diarrhea,

steattorhea, weakness and fatigue. All my bloodwork and tests -- CTs,

MRCP and a ERCP -- are normal. I take enzymes too and they help a lot

with the diarrhea. Hope this helps. Tammy M.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 28, 2004

,

Hi. I'm sure glad to know I am not alone. Today I had a Hida Scan, no results

yet. So far, CT scan, Sono and EGD all normal. Only thing abnormal was one time

slightly elevated lipase. Next time I had blood checked it was normal, amylase

was normal too. How was your Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction diagnosed? How bad

are your symptoms? My symptoms only occur when I am eating. About 20 minutes

after eating I get these spasms in my epigastric area and slightly to the left

side. They last about 10 minutes then subside. Thus I have lost weight and feel

weak and tired all the time. That could also be depression too. My biggest

problem is fear. I am so scared of what to expect in the future, the fear of

diabetes, of chronic pain, pancreatic cancer etc. I am a hypochondriac to begin

with, so that doesn't help matters any.

Debbie

Re: Hi I'm new here!

Debbie,

Hi, I am fairly new too. I found this message board in Jan-Feb of

this year. I too, don't have a diagnoses of CP but have alot of the

symptoms and have been having attacks for 6 years now. Sometimes

the liver enzymes were elevated and sometimes the pancreatic enzymes

were elevated. It does seem like an awfully long road with this

disease but just try to hang in there. Most people on this board

had to search for years before they had a proper diagnoses too. I

have been diagnosed with SOD (sphincter of oddi dysfunction of the

bile duct and pancreatic sphincter too). I still fight with left

sided pain almost daily. I also have a history of heavy drinking

and that was a great concern to the dr. when I last saw him. I

haven't drank since 1989 but he said that the affects of heavy

drinking can linger for years. Good luck with your journey and let

us know what you find out from your dr visits.

Take care

> I'm really not sure if I have pancreatitis or not. I have been

> having midepigastric pain like spasms off and on for 2 months.

> Sonogram and CT scan and Endoscopy were all normal. The only thing

> abornmal was my lipase was slightly elevated at 68, normal range

is

> 0-57. Two weeks later when I had it checked it was back to normal.

I

> have a history of drinking off and on for about 5 years. I was a

> pretty heavy binge drinker. I have stopped drinking entirely for 2

> months, ever since the pain started. Tomorrow I am going for a

Hida

> Scan, and if that is normal then an MRCP. Has anyone had

experience

> like this? Also, I recently purchased some digestive enzymes and

> they do seem to help. What does that mean? Any advice or direction

> would be greatly appreciated. Also, what type of doctor should I

> see? I am currently seeing a GastroEnterologist.

>

> Thanks,

> Debbie

April 29, 2004

,

Thanks for writing me. I just got the results of my Hida Scan, normal. So far

everything is normal except a one time elvated lipase of 68. My doctor said that

was not high enough to be considered pancreatitis. My symptoms are mostly after

I eat or when I lay down. I get these spasms in my stomach that last only a few

minutes. My next test is an MRCP. With that luck that will probably come back

normal too. Then what? My biggest problem is I am so angry with myself for

drinking. I drank off and on for about 5 years, mostly binge drinking on the

weekends. But I feel that is the reason I am suffering now. I get so depressed

about it. I worry about the future. Will I have to suffer with this forever.

Will I have chronic pain, more surgery, diabetes etc? My obsession with this is

literally controlling my life. Just curious, what are your symptoms? Do you take

enzymes, and if so do they help?

Debbie

Re: Hi I'm new here!

Debbie,

You will find that there are many people on this board who have very

similar problems like you do. I find that I get some great support

here and everyone is very kind. My SOD was discovered at my 2nd

ERCP. My first ERCP was supposedly normal. Anyway, it took me

another 3 years after the first ERCP to find another specialist and

he discovered the SOD with the bile duct. He didn't want to touch

my pancreatic duct at that time. I had about 5 months pain free

from that procedure and then the attacks started again. This past

march I had another ERCP with another specialist in Indiana. He

performed the manometry on the pancreatic sphincter and my pressure

was very high. I had a sphincterotomy on the panc sphincter and he

also extended the previous biliary sphincterotomy and also did a

balloon dilation too, and then put a temporary stent into the

pancreatic duct too. I was miserable for a couple of days following

the procedure (acute pancreatitis). It has been about a month now

and I can get about 4-5 days of pain free and then I have pain

again. I was told that I needed to wait for a couple of months to

see if the procedure will work or if I need further stenting done.

I do always have some degree of pain after I eat. Most of the time

it is about 30 minutes after I've eaten, but sometimes it can be 1-2

hours or later and the pain hits too. I take an anti-spasm med

after every meal and I think it helps with some of the milder pain.

Of course it does nothing for me when the pain gets real bad. Then

the stronger pain meds are needed. I think I noticed your post on

the medhelp website. Was that you (nursedeb)? It sounded like your

story. I go on that site alot and have met some really nice people

and we keep in touch through e-mail. Anyway, I think I am just

rambling now so ...hope your feeling better soon and try not to

worry too much. Just remember to be persistent to the doctors and

you should find some answers soon.

Take care

> > I'm really not sure if I have pancreatitis or not. I have been

> > having midepigastric pain like spasms off and on for 2 months.

> > Sonogram and CT scan and Endoscopy were all normal. The only

thing

> > abornmal was my lipase was slightly elevated at 68, normal

range

> is

> > 0-57. Two weeks later when I had it checked it was back to

normal.

> I

> > have a history of drinking off and on for about 5 years. I was

a

> > pretty heavy binge drinker. I have stopped drinking entirely

for 2

> > months, ever since the pain started. Tomorrow I am going for a

> Hida

> > Scan, and if that is normal then an MRCP. Has anyone had

> experience

> > like this? Also, I recently purchased some digestive enzymes

and

> > they do seem to help. What does that mean? Any advice or

direction

> > would be greatly appreciated. Also, what type of doctor should

I

> > see? I am currently seeing a GastroEnterologist.

> >

> > Thanks,

> > Debbie

>

April 30, 2004

Hi Debbie

My name is Patty and I too have CP caused by Alcohol. For about 1995 to 1998 I

worked as a stripper and to do it I felt if I had a few drinks in me I would be

able to do it. (I was a single parent with 2 kids and had 2 surgeries in 6

months and owed several thousand dollars to the hospital) Well anyway before

long I was drinking a fifth of vodka a night nights a week. I quit when I got

married and had only drank when we went out with friends. 2 months after having

my gallbladder removed I had my 1st panc attack. The doctor said it was alcohol

related. I too became severely depressed and I thought my life was over. After

a few months of being down in the dumps I decided that I needed to cheer up and

enjoy life with my children.

I know it is a shock to find out that you have alcohol related panc but there is

no reason to dwell on the past. It's hard I know but you will be ok. Just

start taking it one day at a time and don't concentrate on the future. One

thing you need to do is eat a low fat diet. Stay away from fried food, fast

food, pastries, and whole milk, 2 % milk. I drink skim milk occasionally

because if I drink to much I will get gas and bloating.

Debbie just hang in there okay. I'm so glad you found this group. Everyone is

wonderful and so helpful.

Take care

Patty Jensen

Corydon, IN

> Re: Re: Hi I'm new here!

>

> ,

> Thanks for writing me. I just got the results of my Hida Scan, normal. So far