Re: Pancreatitis and Connective Tissue Disorders from Jim

April 1, 2004

I have been diagnosed with idiopathic pancreatitis. For the past

couple of years I have also had recurrant episodes of sore gums and

tooth aches. The pain seems to move around my mouth. Sometimes

it's the upper molars on the right side. Sometimes it's the lower

molars on the left side. Sometimes it's the upper incisors. Etc.

Etc. My dentist has investigated the problem a number of times and

can find nothing wrong. I floated this by my gastroenterologist and

he blew it off as unrelated to pancreatitis.

Does anybody else have this problem? If so, has any medical

professional shown any light on the matter or tied the sore

gums/teeth to pancreatitis? Am I dealing with some sort of

bacterial infection (H. pylori or similar)?

Jim from Schenectady

> Sandy in California,

>

> You wrote, " My son is just 13 and they are thinking this is

[rheumatoid arthritis and connective tissue disease] what he has now

after more than a year of no diagnosis... "

>

> I am discovering that there are many more cases of connective

tissue disorders associated with Pancreatitis, than previously

thought. It's the chicken or the egg thing, however. I do know that

it supports many of our claims that as our disease progresses, we

are often heard complaining of pain in our joints, particularly our

knees and hands. That is congruent with autoimmune disorders. I

think that it would behoove someone to do a study regarding this,

since I do not claim any other diagnosis, Lord knows, I don't need

or want one more. However, my pain symptoms seem to be running

parallel to many of those non-specific disorders, like we are

speaking of. The other consideration is that there are many

medications, particularly ones that are used to treat Rheumatoid

Arthritis rate high for having Pancreatitis as an adverse reaction.

Thus the chicken or the egg deal.

>

> Karyn E. , RN

> Executive Director, PAI

> Pancreatitis Association International

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