Local physicians stumped & mystified, I need answers and relief

[Loreta__0]

  I am 52, a polio survivor with PPS and muscle atrophy, fibromyalgia was recently diagnosed, as was CFS and prior Ebstien Barr virus.About a year ago, I began "feeling badly"with no other particular symptoms. These spells became more frequent and severe. In Dec. of 1997, I had a kidney infection. In Jan. of 1998, I had spells of unexplained fever,and my blood pressure would often be in the stroke zone. This continued until I had an abrubt attack of abdominal pain and went to the emergency room on April 13,1998. I lost 3 pints of blood and had exploratory surgery.Four inches of my transverse colon was removed as was my spleen, due to tearing and bleeding.There was NO trauma.I have had gastroparesis since the surgery. My GI, says I have an injured pancreas. If my pancreas was injured over 20 years ago, would it just now be giving me problems? I have never drank much alcohol. What causes pancreatic injury other than trauma and alcohol abuse? What causes gastroparesis? Five months after surgery, I cannot eat because of pain. I was down to 87 pounds,before I went to see the G.I. Since July, there has been burning, swelling and stinging in my abdomen as well. There has been some vomiting. I was given Levsin 4xdaily,(?mg),Prilosec 2xdaily,20MG, Propulsid 3xdaily,20mg, and Tagamet 3xdaily (?mg), beginning in August. A week ago I experienced symtoms of overdose of the Levsin and had to discontiue.These medicines seem to help at first,now I have decreased the prilosec, and omitted the tagamet. Most of my lab work is normal, but a repeat CBC is forthcoming. A Specialist has told me the gastroparesis is not from the post-polio syndrome. I can't eat or sleep. If I could, I could have a hot date and be having tons of fun! Any answers or suggestions? Thanks
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Dear Loretta,
I was intrigued by your medical history. Without access to all your medical records, it is impossible to provide unifying explkanations for what has happened to you.  I will try to provide general answers to your questions.
1) The two most common causes for pancreatic injury are gall stones passing down the common bile duct and alcohol.  They are responsible for approximately 80% of cases of acute pancreatitis.  Blunt trauma to the abdomen causes 15% of cases.  The remaining 5% are due to a variety of causes: familial, infectious ( different viral infections e.g. CMV), drugs ( Furosemide, estrogens, sulfonamides,etc), collagen vascular disease (e.g. lupus), metabolic causes (hyperparathyyroidism, certain hyperlipoproteinemias).
2) Gastroparesis means that the stomach empties its contents very slowly.  Initially, one must exclude mechanical obstruction e.g. narrowing of the pylorus, obstruction of the duodenum by ulcers, pancreatic inflammation, pancreatic tumors.  If there is no mechanical obstruction, the physician would postulate that there is a functional cause. that is the muscles of the stomachs do not work properly either because of a primary problem of the muscle or secondary to an abnormality of the nerves innervating the muscle.  The list of causes for gastroparesis is long.  The most ferequent explanations are diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, drug effect and idiopathic (unknown cause).  
This information is presented for educational purposes only.  Always consult your personal physician for specific medical questions.
If you wish, we would be happy to evaluate your problem in the Division ogf Gastroenterology of the Henry Ford Health System.  You can arrange an appointment with Dr. Fogel, one of our experts in gastrointestinal disease by calling [phone].
HFHSM.D.-rf
*keywords: gastroparesis, pancreatitis
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