I will be having my gallbladder out within the next few weeks due to about 1/2 dozen bouts of incredible chest pressure/pain in the past month & apparent stones found on the abd U/S. However, my PMD & GI specialist were perplexed as to why I also have another type of pain which is ongoing and is usually in the upper left back, & just under the left rib cage. I thought it might be due to perhaps a stone blocking the pancreatic duct. While the first 2 docs seemed skeptical, the surgeon fully agreed that was a very real possibility and that the pain is probably due to some mild pancreatitis. But even the surgeon does not feel he fully understands all of what is going on, and this concerns me. My amylase & lipase are elevated "further than usual" (they have been elevated for a couple of years, and the docs never figured out why... an ERCP with stents did not fix the problem, so it was written off as idiopathic). Anyhow, besides that, my WBC's are elevated somewhat, with the neutrophils up and the lymphocytes down. I thought that could just be due to the inflammation with my gb & panc, but the surgeon said he just does not know and that he'll have to look around when he does the lap chole (gb removal). I asked him about the possibility of cancer, and he shook his head no and is even ok with my waiting till mid-November for the surgery due to my work obligations. How can he feel so sure that it is not cancer? From all I've read since I saw him, wouldn't he want to warn me that the longer I wait, the more damage to the pancreas could occur just from the inflammation? In fact, due to what I've learned along with some greatly increased pains in the past 2 days, I've decided to move my surgery forward. I do trust this surgeon. Not only did he perform a very difficult surgery for my dad, removing a tumor and half his pancreas, his gb & his spleen (which is why I asked for this doc), but I've heard a few times that he's one of the best in the area. I just don't understand, and I'm hoping someone out there will be able to share their insight with me. I am also wondering if anyone has had a similar story in any respect, and how things turned out for them. Thanks so much.