sphincter of oddi dysfunction

[ttcoffin]

Has anyone had the test to diagnose this? I have read alot about it and it seems risky. Says it can actually cause chronic pain and it can cause pancreatitis. I was wondering if anyone here has ever had it and how it turned out? My husband has had a liver biopsy recently and it turned out just confirming fatty liver. HIs liver enzymes are elevated and I read that could be from the sphincter of oddi dysfunction also. He has had CT scans, scopes, colonoscopy's,upper GI with small bowel follow through. He had his gallblader out almost 4 years ago, felt good for about 2 weeks, and then started getting pain in his upper middle stomach area. Not the same pain as the gallblader pain, and not the same area. He has been diagnosed with chrons disease, low thyroid, fatty liver, barretts esophagus,high cholesterol but they still cannot find the cause of this pain. It always aches but hits hard after eating(about 30 minutes). I have thought for along time,that it was his pancreas but his enzymes came back only one point low.(although this was not doen during an "attack"). Someone on here mentioned the sphincter of oddi dysfunction and it sure seems to macth his symptoms. He is also scheduled for a CT scan of the neck and chest next friday, to check for lymphoma. He has lots of swollen lymph nodes! Please let me know if anyone here has had that test. Thank you........Tanya

[Lor]

I really think you hit it right with the Chronic pancreatitis. Although Chronic pancreatitis is very hard to diagnose. People with CP often show nothing with blood tests. Even at the time of an attack. The Dr who did my ERCP with menometry said the only way to truly find out if CP is your problem is the measure the pressure in the duct that goes directly into the pancreas. Which they don't like to do because of the risk involved. When they do the ERCP with menometry they like to only measure the common bile duct, and avoid going in further. They will go futher if the shpincterotomy doesn't help reduce the pain. Mine did help me for awhile. I really think CP is now my problem. After having pancreatitis and knowing what that feels like. I'm pretty sure the pain I experience from time to time now is my pancreas.

[nadia]

Thanks for the info.. It does help.  I do take vioxx the odd time for fibroid pain, but never thought to take it for this abdominal pain.  I cannot take any acetaminaphen because I become severly nauseous from it, but maybe the oxycontin would help.

[lychick]

Initially I was prescribed oxycontin because my Dr felt I was having pain in my spine d/t my neck problem.It took time for me to convince him otherwise. I continued on that even after d/c form hosp for pancreatitis. My local Dr. wanted me to come off of that, which was fine with me. Withdrawal was awful. I now take Lorcet prn and usually (unless having an attack)don't need unless at night. I have more problems at night, after lying down. I also have Ambien, for sleep, if I need. I believe the Vioxx I take helps also. Lorcet does have acetaminaphen in it which is not good to take with biliary problems.I try to cope with alot of the pain because of my line of work. Eating lowfat helps alot also. Hope this helps. Your Dr should ask you to rate your pain and treat based on rating. Hope this helps.

[lychick]

I have been reading the forum since February and I would like to tell those of you with SOD and pancreatitis what I have experienced. I am a 43 y/o female. I work in the medical field but not in GI services. I had my GB removed 2 years ago, for nonfunctioning GB, based on the HIDA scan and symptoms. No stones. After the surg I gave up beef, pork and fried foods. No problem until Feb this year. Experienced same pain, in same location as the GB. Thought I had an ulcer due to taking Vioxx 50 mg a day for 9 months--have cervical spondylosis. My primary care physician and I see each other several times a week and he is very attentive. After 3 weeks of pain and wt. loss, could only eat bread and water:)I was in constant pain. I was hosp. for 4 days having upper & lower scopes, CT scan and repeat HIDA scan, nothing found, labs OK. GI Dr. suspected SOD--although I had already suspected that from reading the forum. I never had the gripping, bendover pain that I see described. Anyway, appt made at major teaching hosp in my state. GI wanted me to go to MUSC but insurance said no. At my appt. the intern who saw me first said I was not a candidate for ERCP, the Dr. came in and said I was. I wondered if my agreeing to participate in a study made their decision to do the ERCP. Had ERCP with manometry and sphincterotomy. Pressure was 60. Later that day I went to the ER at the same hospital and was hosp for pancreatitis for 7 days.  I continue to have pain and I have since been referred to another teaching hospital due to lack of folloup care, even by my local GI--Procedures seem to be the big thing--from my prospective. It now seems that I have CP--req copy of my rec and noted calcification in the head of the pancreatitis. Makes me wonder if CP was the cause of pain all this time. Anyway I have been told to remember that SOD is not one isolated problem, that my whole biliary system is involved. I have been thru all of Kubler-Ross'emotions. I have "attacks" around the time of my period and at other times. They last 4-7 days then I'll have 5-7 days with minimal pain. I gain a few lbs and lose a few. Have lost 40 lbs so far.By the way Pain meds do help me. Sorry this is so long. Forum has helped me greatly. Thanks! Esp Lor and Nanny!

[nadia]

I am having similar pain to that described in your posting. I am curious what kind of pain meds are helping you.  My doctor does not giving me anything but suggests advil, motrin.  These do not help me at all.  Any help is appreciated..Thanks..

[Lor]

I saw Dr Etzkorn. The ERCP with menometry is the only precedure he does. I felt comfortable with him from the beginning. He called me back into his office. Then took the time to put my old xrays up and tell me everyhting he saw. No Dr before him had done that. If you are married he wants your spouse to be there, so he can help them feel at ease with everything.