Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Questions

[SuesQ]

For about a year I had a constant pain behind my rib cage (upper right quadrant) that felt like I had a tennis ball lodged inside me.  In May 2004 I was diagnosed with common bile duct obstruction and had an ERCP with a sphincterotomy.  About 3 months later the pain behind my rib cage returned.  In October 2004 I had an ERCP with manometry, during which I was diagnosed with Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction.  Another sphinterotomy was performed.  Unfortunately, the procedure resulted in severe acute pancreatitis.  Four months later, I still have some inflammation, but not that severe.  I am concerned because the pain behind my rib cage is coming back.  

1)  What is the liklihood that the sphincterotomy was not successful and that the SOD is back?

2)  If it is SOD, can it be corrected using external surgical methods? Does surgery pose the same risk for pancreatitis?

3)  What risks are involved with doing nothing, assuming I can learn to live with the pain?

Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.

[ddlembo]

Oh my God!  I am crying as I am reading this.  I just had my gallbladder taken out on 5/24 after over a year of the gallbladder pain.  I was doing well after my surgery until Tuesday of last week.  I have more pain now than I did before!  I went to the doctor today for my post-op and he thinks I may have the Oddi dysfunction now.  I cannot believe this.  I am 32 and I don't know what to do now.  I am scared to death.  The pain has progressively gotten worse over the last week and it is especially bad after I sit for for long periods and driving is a horrible experience now.  I read the posts and I feel just like the poster who said they had a tennis ball stuck under they rib cage.  My belly feels like its full of gas and very distended too.  Th pain goes into my back as well.  I talked to so many people who had they gallbladder out and this did not happen to any of them.  I didn't have any stones but had a 0% ejection fraction so we were certain that is what was causing the pain.  How can people live like this?  I am so discouraged.

[doc holiday]

See my posting under undciagnosable RUQ pain cyst related

[RPIJW]

Amazing. These stories are shocking similar to my wife

[medical_questions]

Three weeks ago my mom had the sphincterotomy and a stent placed. The manometry showed high pressures, the duct was dilated and even "angulated." The stent was suppose to straighten the duct. She has had no relief. In fact, possibly even worse pain. Is surgery our next option? Perhaps a longer stent? We'll see. I'll post again soon.

You know there's a support group for everything in the world, EXCEPT SOD. (Just to add to the nightmare of this condition.)

[becaloo]

I had my gallbladder out  4 years ago and have been to the ER
4x I have severe spasms and vomiting the only thing they ever find is 1 elevated liver enzyme then when I go to my regular doctor it is back to normal. He put me on Hyoscamine the last time i had a spell it stopped it within 10 minutes but it also made me very sleepy but i don't mind.

[MoeMcGinty]

I had my gallbladder removed approx. 10 years ago, never had any problems, until about a year ago when I started with right upper quadrant pain. Amylase and Liver enzymes were normal except when I had the pain. Wound up having a spincterectomy and a stint place in the pancrease. It is 6 months later and back to square one...pain is back...should I go for another stint?