Losing dress sizes not weight

I have been experience chronic right upper quadrant pain for 1 1/2 years.  It all started after my gallbladder was removed because of chronic inflammation.  4 months ago I was a size 8-10 and weight 158 pounds, now I'm 142 pounds and wear size 2-4.  In total I have lost less than 20 pounds but have gone down over 4 dress sizes.  It seems like I'm loosing a lot of body fat but not weight.  I have had blood work, ct scans, and upper gi and everything has come back normal.  I'm concern about having chronic pancreatitis, my grandfather had it and it developed into pancreatic cancer.  Does any one knows if chronic pancreatitis can cause you to lose body fat?
Thanks.

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  Your weight lost versus dress size lost is not concerning for me.  However the weight loss itself and the pain is concerning.  Have you had blood tests to check your pancreas functioning?  Have you been checked for Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction?

[martinez3783]

Thanks for your reply,  I'm not sure if I had blood work to check my pancreas funtioning.  I had a comprehensive metabolic panel and Im not sure if that's included on that panel.  My GI doctor is at lost, I've been reading about sphicenter o oddi dysfunction but he has never brought it up on any of my visits.  Right now I'm going to a pain clinic to take care of the pain.  Last week I had a nerve block injection and It worked really good, my upper quadrant pain was gone instanly, but I'm still concern about what's causing me to have pain, it seems like my clothes are fiting loser and loser everyweek.

[patient915]

I would recommend you ask you doctor to check your pancreas and also bring up SOI dysfunction at your next appointment.  Do you know what type of nerve block you got?

[martinez3783]

I had a celiac plexus nerve block injection.  People with chronic pancreatitis or any other type of chronic abdominal pain usually get this injection, it suppose to block the nerves that send pain signals to the brain.  Do you know something about this type of nerve block?   I had it done a week ago and it went better than I expected.  My urq pain was complettly gone after the injection but yesterday I started having terrible back pain on my right side and is getting worse.  I'm not sure If I should call the pain clinic or my family doctor?

[patient915]

Actually, people with chronic abdominal pain rarely get a nerve block unless they know what is causing the pain.  I know a little about this type of nerve block but I've never had it (I had a different type of nerve block.  I would recommend calling the pain doctor if you think you just need more pain meds, but calling the family doctor if you think something different is going on.

[martinez3783]

I was kind of confused with the whole thing of getting a nerve block without knowing the exact cause of the pain, but my doctor suggested it because I can't tolerate very well prescribed pain meds.  I get a lot of drowsiness and nausea evertytime I take them.  I have to see him back in a week.  I'll probably have another nerve block done, the first one was kind of a test to see if it was going to work.  Thanks of your reply.

[martinez3783]

Do you know if pancreatic problems can cause high blood sugar levels?
Yesterday my mom who is a diabetic tipe 2 was getting her sugar levels tested and just to play I checked mine and it came to 156.  all I ate for lunch was a little bit of mashed potatoes and that was approximately 2 1/2 hours before I checked my sugar levels.  Today I decided to check my sugar levels an hour after lunch and it was 130 an hour latter it was 148.  Can all this be related to my chronic upper abdominal pain?  Any sugestions will be greatly appreciated.  thanks.

[sweetgrl]

Sounds exactly like sphincter of oddi dysfunction -- unfortunately doctors often overlook it.

[patient915]

I agree that it could be SOI dysfunction, that was one of the first ting I mentioned at the top.

Yes, pancreatic problems can cause high blood sugar levels.  It could be related to your chronic upper abdominal pain.