Do all bile duct obstructions have to be cancer ?

[amyj]

My father a generally healthy 54 year old has recently been diagnosed with a bile duct obstruction after having and ERCP.  The doctor thought that it might be a gallstone stuck in the bile duct but as it turns out its not.  They have done brushings and so far they have been coming back negative for cancer? The doctor said still to not get our hopes up it still could be a carcinoma ? He has lost 30 pounds over the course of 2 months while all these tests have been going on but now after inputing the stent in the obstruction he is feeling better. Has anyone had problems with bile duct obstructions ?

[TechChick]

It took 2 years for my GP to take me seriously. When my GP finally took me seriously, I was haveing a full blown attack, vomiting bile and horrible pain. She beleived me then. I immediately got an appointment to a GI, who then narrowed my problems down. The first thing he told me was that it sounded like liver or pancreas problems. He did an endoscopy, ultrasound then an ERCP, this all happned in a 4 month period. I go back again in March for another ERCP.

It sounds like more young people are having these types of problems, I just wish that doctors would take us more seriously, and not push it off as IBS or what ever floats their boat.

As for being a veggertarian, I love gardenburgers, but I also eat chicken, and very little beef. As for now, I'm trying to learn a little more about my problem, the doctor didn't say what kinda cysts they were yet, since they are in the duct, I worry about more obstructions. Thanks for the reply, it helped greatly

Heather

[mas77]

Hi Heather - I've been going through 'pancreas-related pain' since August (began a week before my 28th birthday).
Between seeing doctor after clueless doctor, I've taken to the Net, medical journals, and whatever else I can get my hands on to learn about pancreatic conditions. One thing I've found is that pancreatic cysts (often referred to as 'psuedocysts', I believe) are commonly associated with pancreatitis and are generally not a cause for alarm in and of themselves.  
I've really been amazed at the volume of posts at this site, many of them from 20-30 year olds, asking questions related to pancreatitis and vague pancreas-related problems. What's more disturbing are the difficulties several of us are having in procuring any kind of decent care, based largely on age, it sounds like. Totally sucks.
Just curious - is anyone here who's suffering from pancreas-related pain a vegetarian? I am, and eat a lot of soy products (gardenburgers and the like); I mention this as I've been reading lately about how eating a large amount of soy can actually cause (or at least worsen pre-existing) pancreatic problems, specifically acting as a trypsin (sp?) inhibitor (a pancreatic enzyme which assists in the breaking down of proteins).
I'm curious if anyone else knows anything about this? I'm REALLY hoping it's crazy propaganda being circulated by the meat industry or something :)
Take care - M

[amyj]

Thank you sooo much!  I am going to have him ask the doctor about it.  Its nice to have advice from others.  His doctor is wonderful but sometimes sends him home and questions are left unanswered.

[TazLady]

Hi,

An ERCP is a likely cause of a pancreatic attack.  The pancreas may have looked just fine when they did the surgery, but when he came out of surgery, he may very well have had a pancreatic attack that they are overlooking.  

A non-working gallbladder can mimic pancreatic conditions.  Mine was bad, they took it out...I had a pancreatic attack that the surgeon did not believe was happening and did nothing about. Now I have chronic pancreatitis.  I know 3 people in the last year who had their gallbladder removed and have had a pancreatic attack right after surgery.  ERCP's will do that to you.  It is a very common cause of that. Weight loss is extremly common in gallbladder problems and pancreatic problems.

A severe stricture can be helped with surgery.  I had a severe stricture in my pancreatic duct.  It took 3 surgerys to take care of it, but I'm doing much better.

I am not trying to "push" a pancreatic problem on you, but PLEASE don't let the doctors overlook this possibility.  Even if they said in surgery that the pancreas looks good, I would ask for a simple blood test of a amylase and lipase test to determine levels.

Sandy

[TechChick]

I was just told Monday that I had pancreatic duct cysts. I had an ERCP 2 months ago. I have to go back in 3 months and have another ERCP to see what they are doing.

[TazLady]

Hi,
Bile duct obstructions and pancreatic duct obstructions are completly common with someone who has pancreatitis.  Has your father been tested for this at all?  I have found that alot of doctors don't usually check for this unless certain conditions apply.  Such as over consumption of alcohol.  Having a pancreatic attack after having an ERCP is a fairly high percentage rate.

Ask your father to talk to the doctor about doing tests on the pancreas.

Sandy