CT scan yesterday...

[Guest guest]

I have been getting really bad stomach aches after eating for awhile

now. Had most of my 90-95% of my pancreas removed last year and am

taking Pancrease. Besides having the bad pains, my blood sugars have

been quite a bit higher. I saw my endocrinologist on Monday and he

said that there was the possibility that I am experiencing

pancreatitis again and of course wanted to check my amylase and

lipase - I tried to explain to him that having most of my pancreas

removed and being on enzymes would not be a good indicator. He looked

at me like I was stupid. Anyway, yesterday I went to my PCP and they

sent me to the hospital for an emergent CT scan. As an aside, they

gave me two bottles of lemonade with the contrast in it to drink when

I got there - I told the nurse that I was a diabetic but she said

that other diabetics have had it and it was okay. Before I drank it

my blood sugar was 120, one-half hour after I finished the second

bottle it was already 300. I told the nurse who quickly went to find

a doctor. (I had no insulin with me because I thought I was going to

go to my PCP and then come home). They gave me insulin and told me to

tell them the next time to give me the barium contrast instead. I

tried to tell them but they wouldn't listen! Oh well... Anyway, I

had the CT scan and the radiologist came out to tell me that compared

to my last CT scan about 8 mos. ago that it looked a lot better but

that I had a small pseudocyst about the size of a quarter but she

didn't think this would be causing my pain. Now, I only have a very

tiny bit of pancreas left, so why wouldn't that cause pain? They sent

me home to take Vicodin and call my dr. on Monday. Does this make

sense? What should I do next? Thanks all for your help.

[Guest guest]

What is it with doctors? Why is such a majority of them so

arrogant? Is it something in their training or the collective

attitude of the profession or something else?

The attitude seems to extend beyond just things medical. I have a

friend who is a computer systems support person at a large local

hospital. He has developed a severe dislike for medical doctors

because of their prevailing attitude that they know everything about

all things, including his area of knowledge.

He gets a perverse pleasure when they order him (against his

recommendations) to take actions on their computers which result in

the loss of their records/data. It seems this has happened a number

of times recently.

Jim

> I have been getting really bad stomach aches after eating for

awhile

> now. Had most of my 90-95% of my pancreas removed last year and am

> taking Pancrease. Besides having the bad pains, my blood sugars

have

> been quite a bit higher. I saw my endocrinologist on Monday and he

> said that there was the possibility that I am experiencing

> pancreatitis again and of course wanted to check my amylase and

> lipase - I tried to explain to him that having most of my pancreas

> removed and being on enzymes would not be a good indicator. He

looked

> at me like I was stupid. Anyway, yesterday I went to my PCP and

they

> sent me to the hospital for an emergent CT scan. As an aside, they

> gave me two bottles of lemonade with the contrast in it to drink

when

> I got there - I told the nurse that I was a diabetic but she said

> that other diabetics have had it and it was okay. Before I drank

it

> my blood sugar was 120, one-half hour after I finished the second

> bottle it was already 300. I told the nurse who quickly went to

find

> a doctor. (I had no insulin with me because I thought I was going

to

> go to my PCP and then come home). They gave me insulin and told me

to

> tell them the next time to give me the barium contrast instead. I

> tried to tell them but they wouldn't listen! Oh well... Anyway, I

> had the CT scan and the radiologist came out to tell me that

compared

> to my last CT scan about 8 mos. ago that it looked a lot better

but

> that I had a small pseudocyst about the size of a quarter but she

> didn't think this would be causing my pain. Now, I only have a

very

> tiny bit of pancreas left, so why wouldn't that cause pain? They

sent

> me home to take Vicodin and call my dr. on Monday. Does this make

> sense? What should I do next? Thanks all for your help.

>

[Guest guest]

wrote:

> I have been getting really bad stomach aches after eating for awhile

now. Besides having the bad pains, my blood sugars have been quite a bit

higher.

I went to my PCP and they sent me to the hospital for an emergent CT scan.

I had the CT scan and the radiologist came out to tell me that compared

to my last CT scan about 8 mos. ago that it looked a lot better but

that I had a small pseudocyst about the size of a quarter but she

didn't think this would be causing my pain. Now, I only have a very

tiny bit of pancreas left, so why wouldn't that cause pain? They sent

me home to take Vicodin and call my dr. on Monday. Does this make

sense? What should I do next?<

Dear ,

It's insulting that you were treated the way you were, with no consideration for

your diabetic status and with disregard for your own suggestions. I'm sorry

that your experiences were so aggravating, it shouldn't have to be that way.

I'm surprised that the radiologist even told you about the pseudocyst without

consulting with your doctor first. Of additional interest was her estimate of

it's

size being about the " size of a quarter " , and her statement that she didn't

think that would be the cause of your pain. Pseudocysts are measured in

centimeters, and a quarter is almost one inch, meaning that the pseudocyst

would be approximately 2,5400 centimeters. I *believe* this would be

interpreted as 2.5 cm., which is not exceedingly large, but it is significant

enough to be monitored on a regular basis.

And I can tell you by personal experience that pseudocysts of ANY size can

and do cause pain! I have two pseudocysts, and my pancreas has burned

out, yet even so, my two pseudocysts are the primary cause of all my

pancreas pain. My personal experiences have shown that any additional

increases in pain, or lengthly periods of prolonged pain, have always been an

indication that the pseudocyst(s) are increasing in size. This may not apply to

you, I'm just explaining how it's worked for me.....your experiences may be

different.

Your doctor should regularly monitor this pseudocyst to see if it shows any

significant changes, such as an increase in size. If it were to increase in

size,

decisions would need to be made about what to do about it. Drainage or

removal of larger pseudocysts are the standard method of treatment. You

mentioned a Endocrinologist and your PCP, but not a Gastroenterologist. If

the pseudocyst continues to give you additional pain, I would suggest that

your PCP refer you to a gastroenterology specialist. This doctor would be the

one that would follow up on the monitoring of the pseudocyst and would treat

you for your pancreatic pain issues.

I hope this information helps. You should discuss this all with your PCP as

soon as you can get your appointment with him. If you have any other

questions relating to pseudocysts or CP in general, I'd be happy to discuss

them with you.

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All advice or comments are personal opinion only, and should not be

substituted for a professional medical consultation.