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Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction
My doctor thinks that I may be suffering from Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction and wants me to go see a specialist to have it tested. I was referred to a doctor that can see me until February. The pain is so unbearable most days this isn't exceptable to me. Can anyone tell me where I may be able to find a specialist in my general area? I live on the MO/AR/OK state lines. So I will travel anywhere in these areas if anyone knows any specialists.
I had my GB taken out in 2007 because I had gallstones and the gallstone attacks started lasting more days than just the usual one full day. The day after surgery I had what I believe now was my first attack of SOD or acute pancreatitis. Nurses tried to help by giving me a pain shot and connected me to a morphene machine so that I could administer my own injections of morphene. The attack lasted about 30 minutes and it was gone. Nobody said anything more about it to me, not nurses or doctors that day or after. I had changed my diet two months before my gallbladder was taken out of mostly home-made fruit juices and vegetable drinks plus eating more fruits and veggies and very little lean meats, no fats. I have since slowly eating more fats than I did the first full year and a half after the GB surgery.
Anyway, I have had 5 more of those same attacks through these past 2 years, severe upper abdominal pain radiating into my back, that lasts about 30 minutes. During the attack I can't move because the pain is so severe and I can hardly breath trying to catch my breath the whole 30 minutes. I don't know why, but in the beginning of the onset of these attacks I grab a tall glass of whole milk and drink the whole thing down as fast as I can.
This last attack last week I think was worse in severity and again lasting about 30 minutes after drinking the glass of whole milk. I decided to get help. I have an appointment today to go see my homopathic doctor who I found after my surgery of GB because of slight abdomin discomfort I felt off and on through out the day while recovering from the GB surgery. I found information only today looking on the website about SOD and also about the pancreatitis because of the similarity of the attacks that I have had.
I also went back to my veggies and fruit, beans, rice and very small portion of lean meats since last week.
If there is any more information about these attacks and what I can do for myself would be appreciated. I do believe that I should get a liver and pancratic enzyme level checked either during or within 24 hours of an attack. I do not want any drugs or surgery's because from what I have read on the internet and because from what I can see none of it helps to stop the pain. AND, I don't know if drinking the whole milk helped or didn't. I am not a milk drinker, only when I feel an attack coming, which is seconds or a minute.
Thanks silversissy
Anyway, I have had 5 more of those same attacks through these past 2 years, severe upper abdominal pain radiating into my back, that lasts about 30 minutes. During the attack I can't move because the pain is so severe and I can hardly breath trying to catch my breath the whole 30 minutes. I don't know why, but in the beginning of the onset of these attacks I grab a tall glass of whole milk and drink the whole thing down as fast as I can.
This last attack last week I think was worse in severity and again lasting about 30 minutes after drinking the glass of whole milk. I decided to get help. I have an appointment today to go see my homopathic doctor who I found after my surgery of GB because of slight abdomin discomfort I felt off and on through out the day while recovering from the GB surgery. I found information only today looking on the website about SOD and also about the pancreatitis because of the similarity of the attacks that I have had.
I also went back to my veggies and fruit, beans, rice and very small portion of lean meats since last week.
If there is any more information about these attacks and what I can do for myself would be appreciated. I do believe that I should get a liver and pancratic enzyme level checked either during or within 24 hours of an attack. I do not want any drugs or surgery's because from what I have read on the internet and because from what I can see none of it helps to stop the pain. AND, I don't know if drinking the whole milk helped or didn't. I am not a milk drinker, only when I feel an attack coming, which is seconds or a minute.
Thanks silversissy
MrsPerkins, on of the worst things to take are meds that are narcotic-based. In most with SOD it can raise the interductal pressures and make the situation worse. The drugs that are typiclally used are anti-spasm meds, specific calcium channel blocker or nitroglycerin.
In addition, a low fat diet should be followed.
If you're not working with a specialist in SOD, that one doc you should seek out. Most GI docs know about SOD but they really don't have a good handle on how to handle it.
Was the SOD diagnosed via ERCP with manometry?
Check out the SOD group on yahoo. They have some very good suggestions.
In addition, a low fat diet should be followed.
If you're not working with a specialist in SOD, that one doc you should seek out. Most GI docs know about SOD but they really don't have a good handle on how to handle it.
Was the SOD diagnosed via ERCP with manometry?
Check out the SOD group on yahoo. They have some very good suggestions.
Hi everyone. I am twenty years old. I have been dealing with stomache problems since I was fifteen. It started with pain and vomitting every single day. I had my appendix and gallbladder removed and didn't get any relief. I have now been diagnosed with pancreatitis and it's on the fence now of being chronic. Just last week I was also diagnosed with the sphincter of Oddi dysfunction type three. About a month ago I spent a week in the hospital with the worst pain and nasuea. When I got out I had an ercp done which didn't help with the pain at all. So I had a nerve block done last tuesday and have yet to get any relief. I live off of pain medicine and am so sick of it, i hate being treated like i'm just a pain-pill-junkie. Nothing has seemed to help relieve the pain. I have tried giong days without eating and hardly get any relief. I have tried just a liquid diet and still get litttle to no relief. I can't work because I'm so sick. It's just such a frustrating process. Can anyone give me any ideas on things that have helped relieve the pain?
Pretty much started 4 years ago. I actually suffered from a gall bladder attack and had it removed. Over time I would have these spells where I would have extreme abdomen pain (like someone stabbing me). I wouldn't even be able to move. I would take a pain pill and go lay down. After about an hour or so (when I woke from my pill) I would feel better not great but better. I was tested for female trouble and ulsers. Nothing! Last summer after my second child was born they became more intense. I went to my OBGYN again because of the pain. See what was confusing me is the pain would start in the upper part of my stomach but would linger on with uncontrollable pain in the lower part. Doc thought I might have endometriosis and went in. Found nothing! Less than 4 months later I was hospitalized with an undiagnosed condition. Started with upper pain in my stomach as the day progress I couldn't even stand, then moved around to my back. Needless to say the next day I was admitted into the hospital with irratic vitals. I was in the hospital for 2 weeks and after several exploritory scopings and one exploritory surgery they new about as much as when I first came in. The did take my appendix, but that didn't work either. Over the last 10 months I've suffered serverly with abdominal pain. I just now found a doctor who thought that I had this condition. I'm going in for some more tests to confirm over the next week. Keep in touch and I'll keep you posted. I to am taking pills almost daily and drs can't find problem. You are not alone in this battle.
Can you describe your pain to me? I have intense pain. My gallbladder was taken out and the pain continues. My pain seems to be in the front on the right side and then radiate to the right side and back. I am on pain pills 24/7 and would love to get off of them. The drs can't find the problem.
My pain has been constant since June, so I can't say that I have attacks. My bloodwork does not show a bile duct blockage or a problem with my liver. I had my eyes read and was told that my pancreas looked yucky, but my gastro dr said that the blood work looked OK there too. I have had an MRI and will be having a colonoscopy and endoscopy in a couple of weeks. If that does not show anything then I will have a MRCP. I have not been able to sleep in bed since June and only get 3-4 hrs sleep on the couch. This is starting to drive me crazy. REALLY! I just want the pain to stop so I can get of the pain killers.
I do not have diarrhea or constipation. My fecal matter looks lighter than usual. I have tried taken gluten from my diet thinking maybe that is the problem.
I do not have diarrhea or constipation. My fecal matter looks lighter than usual. I have tried taken gluten from my diet thinking maybe that is the problem.
Bankerlady, I do not have this condition, but the pain would feel very much like a rather severe gallbladder 'attack.' The placement you're describing matches rather well in what would happen with a GB attack, or with SOD.
If you're taking narcotic-like based pain pills and you do have SOD, you may not be doing yourself a favor. Many of the narcotic-like pain meds actually raise the pressure in the biliary system and make the condition worse.
Have you had your liver and pancreatic enzyme levels check during an 'attack' or within 24 hours of an attack? If not, do so. It may give you an indication of what's going on. To do so long after the 'attack' might show normal levels of enzymes and the doc would say everything is fine and 'I don't know why you're in pain.' Which is unfortunate.
Are you also having either severe diarrhea, or constipation followed by bouts of diarrhea? And if consitipation, do you note that you're fecal material might look very pale - grayish or whitish?
Are you on a low fat diet?
If you're taking narcotic-like based pain pills and you do have SOD, you may not be doing yourself a favor. Many of the narcotic-like pain meds actually raise the pressure in the biliary system and make the condition worse.
Have you had your liver and pancreatic enzyme levels check during an 'attack' or within 24 hours of an attack? If not, do so. It may give you an indication of what's going on. To do so long after the 'attack' might show normal levels of enzymes and the doc would say everything is fine and 'I don't know why you're in pain.' Which is unfortunate.
Are you also having either severe diarrhea, or constipation followed by bouts of diarrhea? And if consitipation, do you note that you're fecal material might look very pale - grayish or whitish?
Are you on a low fat diet?
Can you describe your pain to me? I have intense pain. My gallbladder was taken out and the pain continues. My pain seems to be in the front on the right side and then radiate to the right side and back. I am on pain pills 24/7 and would love to get off of them. The drs can't find the problem.
Thanks for the advice. The doctor that I was referred to is suppose to do the manometry check first. I'm a little nervous and the pain is getting very dominate now so I didn't want to wait until February. I don't know of any big university to start with in this area. I'm generally a healthy person and have never had to deal with this type of stuff.
Sphinx, here's a link to SOD that you may want to read through: http://hopkins-gi.nts.jhu.edu/pages/latin/templates/index.cfm?pg=disease1&organ=3&disease=12&lang_id=1
One of the better things to do to find a person who works with this condition is check into the largest university-associated teaching hospital in your area. Many have specialists who work with SOD.
One thing to remember is if a doc suggests doing and ERCP to check on the condition, your response should be 'are you going to do a manometry to check on the pressures before you decide to do a sphincterotomy (cutting the sphincter)?' If that person says checking the pressure isn't necessary, or they don't have the equpiment to do manometric testing, RUN to find someone else. With SOD, manometry should be 'routine' and that sphincter should NEVER be cut unless the pressure is raised.
One of the better things to do to find a person who works with this condition is check into the largest university-associated teaching hospital in your area. Many have specialists who work with SOD.
One thing to remember is if a doc suggests doing and ERCP to check on the condition, your response should be 'are you going to do a manometry to check on the pressures before you decide to do a sphincterotomy (cutting the sphincter)?' If that person says checking the pressure isn't necessary, or they don't have the equpiment to do manometric testing, RUN to find someone else. With SOD, manometry should be 'routine' and that sphincter should NEVER be cut unless the pressure is raised.
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