Possible Pancreatitus -So many tests???

[tex]

I have upper left quadrant pain under ribs which often radiates to back.  I have diahhrea which floats with what looks like oily spots and alternates with constipation.  I've had 3 ct scans (1 with constrast), mri, two endoscopies, one colonscopy, upper gi with barium, lower abdominal ultrasound, fat fecal, fat stool checks, enzymes tested every couple of months, blood work for aids, arthritis, diabetes, thryoid, ms, cf, myasthenia gravis, you name it.  I had gallbladder out in 99.  Daily moderate to mild pain punctuated with occasionally 15 scale pain.  Can't eat greasy, fried, carbonated.  Have lost 45 pounds.  Non-smoker, never drank.  Two gastros have diagnosed severe ibs and put me on celexa 10 mg a nite, and levsin for pain.  They are adamant I don't have pancreatitus but I'm still concerned.  If I had it wouldn't it have shown up on these tests?  Am very concerned they are missing something.

[1thumper]

I have a gallbladder attack while traveling in December 1999.  Had emergency lapcoli for removal.  Have been pain free until past week when I experienced nearly the same pain that radiates under both sides of the rib cage.  Have been able to eat nearly all foods except heavily spiced as that results in indigestion and mild diarea.  The recent pain comes on about 2 AM and feels like fire under the rib cage on both sides.  Very hot feeling.  Getting out of bed and sitting up or standing and walking moderate pain.  Any advice when I see MD?

[smurfette]

hello,

  I was hoping that I could get some answers from ya'll if you don't mind.  I have been to a doctor and he says I have gallbladder probs.  another doctor says I have gastritus... my question is before you have had your gallbladder removed what were your symptoms?  Mine are:

  cramping in upper right and left abdomen under rib cage and back pain.  it feels really bruised and sore to touch. along with ibs sympotoms.  I also feel stomach cramping and for a while it felt like my intenstines were in a knot i think that is ibs?   Could this also be a pancreas thing?  I don't have insurance and am nursing my baby....i would have to quit nursing for any meds.....can you tell me if you feel alot better after having your gallbladder removed? i have tried gi diet diet but I need more nutrients for my baby..... thankyou for your help.....: )

xo_serenity_xo***@****

[TazLady]

Hi Dani,
Yes, I believed we have emailed each other.  You have had 7 ercps, right?  I have lost your email address.  Please email me and let me know how long you had the pain with SOD monometry and the ERCPs.  I go 1 week from wednesday and am getting so stressed about this.
Sandy
***@****

[Dani]

Hi Sandy,
I was reading your post and am not sure if we have chatted or not. I have been having problems with SOD for 4 years now and have had 7 ERCPs. I am very interested in your diagnosis of pancreatitis. How did your docs come up with that? At first I had problems with pancreatitis alot because of the SOD. MOre recently it has been showing up in my liver enzymes. I still get alot of the same pains, though. OFten times I call my doc and I say that I feel just like I have pancreatitis, but then my labs will come back normal. I am wondering if some of my pain is still related to pancreatitis.
Thanks,
Dani

[tex]

Sandy, would love to hear from you.  e:mail me at ***@****.  I've lots of questions if you don't mind and would appreciate talking to someone who's been there and done that.

[TazLady]

Hi,
Tried emailing you but it came back as user unknown.  You can email me at ***@****.  I don't mind the questions.  I welcome the chance to speak to someone who is going through what I am.
Sandy

[TazLady]

I had my gallbladder out in dec. 99 and have NEVER felt better.  The symptoms of pancreatitis are along the same lines as gallbladder pain.  I get attacks that send me to the ER, but only at night.  And yes, like yours my tests have come back near normal or normal when I'm not in the middle of an attack.  I was hospitalized for 5 days because the tests finally showed extremely high.  Stress makes the pain much worse.  Also, high fat foods do the same.  I am on Xanax at night to help me relax because I'm so afraid I'll have an attack.  I compare the nighttime pain to that of childbirth, or worse.  The daytime pain is managable with codine or darvocet.  Sitting and resting helps.  Also try drinking something really cold while having the pain, such as ice water or a slurpee.  For some off the reason it helps the pain.  I think the MRCP (from what I've read) is better than the ERCP they will do on me very soon.  A more comprehensive test. Do you ever get the feeling of being "brusied" in the rib cage area even tho you know that you couldn't possibly be?  I get that on a daily basis.
Sandy

[tex]

Thanks Sandy.  Would you mind giving symptoms?  I'm 51 year old female, in high stress job.  Symptoms started after having gallbladder out in Jun 99 first one in February 00.  Been to ER lots of times--they do nothing except full blood work which comes back normal.  Everything I've ever had done is normal.  Two of finest gastros in Dallas say severe IBS but I'm really concerned.  What do you think of mrcp and endoscopic ultrasound?  How do you control yours?  tex

[TazLady]

If you have pancreatitis, it may not show up on the tests you have had done.  Or, during an attack certain levels would be high.  Also, the more the diease progresses the more quickley the tests will come back down to normal.  And the further the diesae progresses, the pain will diminish to almost nothing a day.  I know, becasue I have it. I can't eat high fat foods or I have a rough time of it.  (More than usual)
Sounds to me like you should be more forceful with your GI's to examine this possibility.  It took 2 years for the doctors to diagnose me with this.  Like you, I don't drink and have had my gallbladder removed.  So in their eyes, I couldn't possibly have it.  Also, I'm a 36 year old woman and it's not "commom" for me to have this.  I pushed the issue, got myself to Stanford Univercity in California and was diagnosed on my first visit to them.  A univercity will know more than a GI in private practise, in my humble opinion.
Be more forceful and ask for a ERCP to be done so that you can be sure.
Good luck to you.
Sandy