Pancreas Problem?

I am 47 yr old non smoker non drinker, but take high doses of codeine based medication for long term bone pain. Recently developed abdominal pain, radiating to the right and at times feeling as though someone is driving a red hot poker through to my back. Skin often feels cold and clammy and I sweat easily. I have little energy and friends have said I have at times looked jaundiced, unwell, pale etc. Lost weight and have little appetite. My stomach also bloats and I alternate between diahorrea and constipation. I have a dull pain constantly, however at times it goes into severe if not excruciating spasm and I can only get relief if I use breathing relaxation techniques and bend double, using hot water bottle on my stomach etc. Analgesia does NOT relieve the pain!!

I first thought the medication might be causing problems with either my liver or kidneys, but a liver and kidney function test show my blood results to all be within normal levels.

GP sending me for a ultrasound scan of my stomach but have to wait several weeks for appointment. Meanwhile, condition is getting much worse, friends say I look awful and I am worried whether I should go to A&E as I feel terrible.

Could this be pancreas problem caused by overusage of analgesia - If so does it need urgent attention or can I wait for the ultrasound scan? Any help would be appreciated.

[Banned1]

I'm so sorry you are suffering.  Only you will know when it's time to go to A&E.  There are so many things that could be causing your pain including pancreas.  Although I'm not a doctor and don't know anything about medicine, your symptoms sound as though the pain is interfering with your life.  This could be pancreas, sphincter of oddi dysfunction, small bowel bacterial overgrowth or a hundred other problems.  Waiting several weeks does not sound like a viable option when you're in that much pain.  The spasm does sound like sphincter of oddi dysfunction.

I've been going through this saga for two years now and I'm still undiagnosed and waiting for an endoscopic ultrasound to get to the bottom of it.

I'm going to add some links at the end of this post.  I sincerely hope you feel better soon and that you get to the bottom of this quickly.

All the best,

Sam

First Principles of Gastroenterology – http://gastroresource.com/GITextbook/en/Default.htm [This is my favorite of all the reference materials because it is searchable]

Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of sphincter of Oddi dysfunction – http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=pancdis/8160

Digestive Disease Library – Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://hopkins-gi.nts.jhu.edu/pages/latin/templates/index.cfm?pg=disease1&disease=12&organ=3&lang_id=1

Diseases of the Pancreas  NIDDK – http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/AboutNIDDK/CommitteesAndWorkingGroups/NCDD/NCDDDiseasesofthePancreasNovember192007.htm

GI Consult – Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://www.emedmag.com/html/pre/gic/consults/031505.asp

Evaluating Predictors & Interventions in Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00688662

Gastroenterology – http://intmed.muhealth.org/gast/patient_resource/commondisorders/sphincteroddi.html

Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction: Diagnosis and Treatment – http://www.joplink.net/prev/200111/04.html

Acute Recurrent Pancreatitis and Dysfunction of the Sphincter of Oddi: Comparison between Invasive and Non-Invasive Techniques – http://www.joplink.net/prev/200111/06.html

Idiopathic Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis – http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/487185_2

GI Consult: Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction by John Baillie, MB, ChB, FRCP – http://www.mdchoice.com/emed/main.asp?template=0&page=detail&type=3&id=1126

Clinical Manifestations and Diagnosis of Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/abstract.do;jsessionid=7690FF8E3E31A4C664267BD8276C2B86.0503?topicKey=~Sm4Jhk.9M03Fy&refNum=30

Disorders of the Biliary Tract by Guzman [Pathology Lecture] – http://www.uic.edu/depts/mcpt/curriculum/liver51_gg_lecture.html

Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://www.top5plus5.com/Sphincter%20of%20Oddi.html

International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders – http://www.iffgd.org/site/gi-disorders/other/sod

Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction  Pancreas and Biliary Tree Diseases MUSC Digestive Disease Center – http://www.ddc.musc.edu/public/problems/diseases/pancreas/sphincterOddi.cfm

Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction is Associated with Chronic Pancreatitis – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=9219783&dopt=Abstract

Systematic Review: Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction--Non-Invasive Diagnostic Methods and Long-Term Outcome after Endoscopic Sphincterotomy – http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16842450

Treatment of Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction – http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~UrVVscJQz1HYr