Nutrition Health Chat: Tuesday, Dec. 8th, 5-6 PM Eastern. Learn how vitamins, minerals, and phytonutrients affect your health. Free live Q&A. Join us!
Member Comments are provided by individuals and reflect their personal opinions only. Under NO circumstances should you act on any advice or opinion posted in this forum. ALWAYS check with your personal physician before taking any action regarding your health! MedHelp International and our partners, sponsors and affiliates have no obligation to monitor any comments posted on this site, or the content and/or accuracy of such exchanges. MedHelp International does not endorse the views of any user.
Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
Re: Abdominal Pain
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
Re: Abdominal Pain
by HFHSM.D.-rf, Jan 01, 1995 12:00AM
Posted By HFHSM.D.-rf on July 10, 1998 at 22:04:39:
In Reply to: Abdominal Pain posted by Justin on July 08, 1998 at 10:19:41:
Approximately a year and a half ago I was hospitalized with Pancreatitus (pancreatitis). During the eight days I stayed in the hospital, I had a series of ultrasounds and a CAT scan in order to see the infection (cyst) on my pancreas. I also gave blood a number of times to see where my calcium levels, liver enzymes and bilirubin levels were. At the time I checked into the hospital, all my levels were high, especially my calcium. After the eight days, my levels dropped down to a little above normal.
In the first part of May of this year, I was driving home from work and I grew nauseous and began to sweat. My stomach ached the same in the same area as when I was hospitalized earlier. I went to see a family practice doctor the next day. I explained my situation and my past history. He gave me one prescription for pain killers and one for nausea. The following weeks ahead, I had a few blood tests and an ultrasound of the pancreas. The ultrasound showed nothing abnormal; no masses or cysts. From the blood results, the physician decided to order a PTH and PTH Intact blood test. Those results showed that my calcium levels were high once again; approximately 2 full points above normal. His prognosis was that I possibly had hyperparathyroidism.
I then scheduled an appointment with an endocrynologist. Upon reviewing my charts, he had me take a sestamibe parathyroid scan and an ultrasound of the parathyroid. These results came back as inconclusive they showed no abnormal activity or cysts. After going over these results with the doctor, he decided that it was not in my best interest to have an "exploratory" done on my parathyroid glands. He recommended that I have an upper GI Series.
Allright, I understand that diagnosing and treating an internal medical problem can be an arduous and time-consuming task, but I don't really anything more now - 2 months later. Is this Upper GI Series just another test to show me the same thing? Do I need to see a GI specialist as apposed to an endocrynolgist?
Today is July 8. My stomach still hurts...HELP!
_____
Dear Justin,
If your stomach hurts, see a gastroenterologist as soon as you can. The cause of your abdominal pain is not known. Possibilities to consider include chronic or recurrent pancreatitis, peptic ulcer disease and bile duct stones. BY taking an appropriate history, performing a physical examination and ordering blood tests, the gastroenterologist can prioritize the possible diagnoses and begin the investigations. An upper Gi series is probably not going to be that helpful and would not be one of my first tests.
High calcium levels are one cause of pancreatitis. It is appropriate for you to expect the endocrinologist to explain why your calcium is elevated.
This information is presented for educational purposes only. Always consult your primary physician for specific medical questions.
If you want, we would be happy to see you in the Division of Gastroenterology at Henry Ford Hospital and perform the appropriate investigations after we have had the chance to meet you and to review your history in greater detail. You can arrange an appointment with Dr. Fogel, one of our experts in the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain by calling the Henry Ford Physician Referral Line at (800)653-6568.
HFHSM.d.-rf
*keywords: abdominal pain, pancreatitis, hypercalcemia
0.3
In Reply to: Abdominal Pain posted by Justin on July 08, 1998 at 10:19:41:
Approximately a year and a half ago I was hospitalized with Pancreatitus (pancreatitis). During the eight days I stayed in the hospital, I had a series of ultrasounds and a CAT scan in order to see the infection (cyst) on my pancreas. I also gave blood a number of times to see where my calcium levels, liver enzymes and bilirubin levels were. At the time I checked into the hospital, all my levels were high, especially my calcium. After the eight days, my levels dropped down to a little above normal.
In the first part of May of this year, I was driving home from work and I grew nauseous and began to sweat. My stomach ached the same in the same area as when I was hospitalized earlier. I went to see a family practice doctor the next day. I explained my situation and my past history. He gave me one prescription for pain killers and one for nausea. The following weeks ahead, I had a few blood tests and an ultrasound of the pancreas. The ultrasound showed nothing abnormal; no masses or cysts. From the blood results, the physician decided to order a PTH and PTH Intact blood test. Those results showed that my calcium levels were high once again; approximately 2 full points above normal. His prognosis was that I possibly had hyperparathyroidism.
I then scheduled an appointment with an endocrynologist. Upon reviewing my charts, he had me take a sestamibe parathyroid scan and an ultrasound of the parathyroid. These results came back as inconclusive they showed no abnormal activity or cysts. After going over these results with the doctor, he decided that it was not in my best interest to have an "exploratory" done on my parathyroid glands. He recommended that I have an upper GI Series.
Allright, I understand that diagnosing and treating an internal medical problem can be an arduous and time-consuming task, but I don't really anything more now - 2 months later. Is this Upper GI Series just another test to show me the same thing? Do I need to see a GI specialist as apposed to an endocrynolgist?
Today is July 8. My stomach still hurts...HELP!
_____
Dear Justin,
If your stomach hurts, see a gastroenterologist as soon as you can. The cause of your abdominal pain is not known. Possibilities to consider include chronic or recurrent pancreatitis, peptic ulcer disease and bile duct stones. BY taking an appropriate history, performing a physical examination and ordering blood tests, the gastroenterologist can prioritize the possible diagnoses and begin the investigations. An upper Gi series is probably not going to be that helpful and would not be one of my first tests.
High calcium levels are one cause of pancreatitis. It is appropriate for you to expect the endocrinologist to explain why your calcium is elevated.
This information is presented for educational purposes only. Always consult your primary physician for specific medical questions.
If you want, we would be happy to see you in the Division of Gastroenterology at Henry Ford Hospital and perform the appropriate investigations after we have had the chance to meet you and to review your history in greater detail. You can arrange an appointment with Dr. Fogel, one of our experts in the diagnosis and treatment of abdominal pain by calling the Henry Ford Physician Referral Line at (800)653-6568.
HFHSM.d.-rf
*keywords: abdominal pain, pancreatitis, hypercalcemia
0.3
