Re:Pseudocysts: To and Sandy

[Guest guest]

Sandy and ,

, I just read your post from early in the week and replied to that, but now

that Sandy's got some similar questions about pseudocysts I'll try to answer

both your questions.

Yes, a pseudocyst can feel like a hard knot. One of mine does, the other one

feels softer. One of mine is full of a lot more calicification than the other,

too,

and that's the one that's harder. Makes sense. Just on my last ultrasound

we noticed that it's reallly collected a lot more debris.

My other pseudocyst near the pancreas tail is the softer one that can be

moved around a little bit. It's buried under more organs, and has a section of

my large intestine draped over it, so it isn't as easy to manually feel, but the

ultrasound radiologist can make it move with the ultrasound wand. Not the

other one, it stays in a set postion just above my navel, midway between

navel and base of sternum.

I cannot lie of my left side without the one in the tail causing too much

discomfort. So if they are in the right position I imagine they could cause

someone to have difficulty sleeping, if they're being pressed by another

organ. If mine are pressed or prodded too much, they will cause me to go

into a flare. My doctor knows this and won't even touch them anymore, he

just takes my word for how they're feeling, and looks at the ultrasound pics.

He says there's no reason to leave the doc's office feeling worse than you did

when you went in......

My advice to both of you about this is to get in touch with your doctor's

explain what you've been feeling, and explain that it is a new development,

and ask that you be tested. A CT-scan is the preferable imaging study to

detect pseudocysts. They can be seen on ultrasound by an experienced

technician, but usually the ultrasound is used to check their progress AFTER

they've been detected on a CT-scan and the radiologist knows where they

are.

If you have any other questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I never mind

the questions about my little buddies down there. I've had them so long now

they're like part of the family.....LOL!

With love, hope and prayers,

Heidi

Heidi H. Griffeth

South Carolina

SC & SE Regional Rep.

PAI

Note: All advice or comments are based on personal experience or opinion,

and should not be substituted for consultation with a medical professional.