only place on here i could find anything pancreas related.

[flyforfish]

So ive been having lots of bouts of pancreatitus lately and now my dr. has ordered a CT scan? What could he possibly be looking for? I certainly hope it's not this. A little back ground. Im 28 years old i smoke and have done so since i was 16 if not younger. I drink like a fish which i have immediately suspended with my latest bout of pancreatitus 3 days ago that continues to today. I'm also currently coming off xanax tapering off under a doctors care, i just got sick of needing a pill everyday. Could be irrelevant but it could explain me being overly anxious about this situation. I'm also a firefighter so i come in contact with inumerable chemicals and sick people also.  I really don't know else to say. This hopefully is completely irrelevant to this page.

[CHIN_C]

Pancreatitis can often be diagnosed clinically based on symptoms and/or labs (e.g., lipase, and to a lesser extent amylase). CT can confirm this, showing fat stranding around the pancreas, but the main role of CT is to evaluate complications of acute pancreatitis (e.g., necrosis, collections, etc.) and/or sequela of chronic pancreatitis (e.g., calcifications). If a patient experiences recurrent bouts of pancreatitis, MRI/MRCP may be of benefit to rule out underlying causes, such as gallstones and/or pancreas divisum (anatomic variant which can predispose to pancreatitis).

[fntn]

Piparskeggr is a warrior for sure and hopefully winning the battle. As he mentioned, let's hope that there is just a casual followup going on here.

If your doctor was really concerned, specifically, he'd likely have ordered a MRI with a MRCP. These would be very specific imaging procedures wrt biliary/pancreatic diseases. You doctor ordered a CT which is better suited wrt general pathology's so  they are just taking a peek.

We're here if you need any additional information, when new data becomes available.

[Piparskeggr]

Hopefully, the CT will come back that it is just pancreatitis.  You can treat that and pretty much keep it away by mending your ways.

My troubles started in late March (I stopped drinking as soon as I thought something was wrong, used to knock back a full bottle of whiskey every night), turned out to be jaundice caused by a tumor in the head of the Pancreas.  I'm just a couple days shy of being 14 weeks after the pylorus preserving Whipple procedure I had.  Yesterday began my 5th week of being back to work.

They say my pancreas look like I had pancreatitis, but do not recall ever having the level of pain described, or maybe the GERD I was having masked it. ???

Good luck on the least worst outcome.