S.O.D.

[Guest guest]

I have some things to add to the S.O.D. problem. They can also

balloon the ducts open just like they use balloon angioplasty for

your heart. I have had that done and it worked pretty good for

awhile. Then I had to have the sphincterotomy and that worked for

about four years. I just got back two weeks ago from the Digestive

Disease Center at MUSC in ton SC because I started having

problems again with the S.O.D. and he ballooned open the duct again

because the mannometry pressures were so high. They also use

nasobiliary drainage sometimes. The problem with S.O.D. is that

sometimes when the measure the bile duct pressures, they will

measure high in one spot and they treat it, but later it will

measure high in another part of the duct. My physician Dr.

Cotton will not treat an area he cannot see the abnormality in so it

takes some patience and diligence on my own to keep going back for

treatment for long term relief from S.O.D. I don't know what is

down the road for me, I may have to go back soon again. It took me

four times to ton and then I had four years where I did not

have to go.

The chronic CP that the S.O.D. causes is another problem all

together. Once the pancreas is damaged you cannot fix the damage,

but you have to do everything in your power not to damage it anymore

and cause yourself an acute attack. Even at that, sometimes they

just come no matter what you do. I had several years of staying

pretty much out of the hospital and then bang I was in four times in

three months this summer and decided to go back to MUSC. The duct

was stenosed again, this time I think by scar tissue but was able to

be opened by ballooning it open. I hope it lasts a while.

S.O.D. stinks. I have always called the pain, " the pain from the

sky " because it would come out of no where with no warning! At

least for me and mine always starts in my right jaw and ear before

it ever hits my abdomen. Sometimes my ear hurts for several days

after. I am assuming that is because of all the nerve endings, etc.

that you feel the pain that way, at least I do.

Because of the chronic pancreatitis I have a burning/ache under my

right shoulder blade constantly. I think it just smolders. The

head of my pancreas is the most affected and I think that is on the

right side, but can't remember right now.

For anyone with S.O.D. as well as some of the other causes, the

cause has to be treated to keep the CP at bay as much as it can be

and not cause any more damage.

I also took nitroglycerin but like some of you all, could not take

the headache. I don't even remember if it helped because the

headache was so bad.

I hope that helps explain a little about S.O.D. from somebody who

has had S.O.D. since 1983 but not diagnosed until 1997! They kept

calling it irritable bowel and not until I got pancreatitis did they

diagnose the S.O.D. Had they diagnosed it right off the bat, the

pancreatitis would have never come but 15 years is a very long time

in the medical field and they just did not know.

Again, I hope this explains and helps someone.

Kaye...........NC