Could I have pancreatitis?

I am a 34 year old female. I had my gallbladder removed over a year ago. One week after it was removed, I began having abdominal pain in epigastric region that felt similar to a gallbladder attack. The pain has not gone away. I"ve had multiple test and 2 ERCP's. The pain is unrelenting and hurts through to my back. It wakes me all hours of night sometimes. After first ERCP, the pain went away for two months but returned last month. I had another ERCP and ended up in the hosital with abdominal pain and fever. The symptoms disappeared quickly but I had elevated liver enzymes and my WBC was high. My CT scan came back normal. I feel my symptoms sound like pancreatitis. But, could I have a normal CT scan and normal A&L levels and still have pancreatitis?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

Pancreatitis will be unlikely given the normal CT scan as well as normal amylase and lipase levels.  

I would consider looking at various causes of upper GI disease, including an ulcer, inflammation of the stomach and esophagus, or GERD.  

An upper endoscopy would be the next recommended test, and can be discussed with your personal physician.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin Pho, M.D.
www.kevinmd.com
www.twitter.com/kevinmd

[justgotpaid]

Ask your doctor about sphincter of oddi dysfunction.

[doubleaaaron]

Having a normal ct scan and enzymes mean nothing. You can still have pancreatits. My fiance did. And so do I.