Pancreatitis -Gallbladder

[Bryant7]

I have had terrible pain in my front  right & left ribs & in my sides that wraps about midways in my back somethime under both shoulderblades on both sides for the last 2 years after eating with weight loss that has leveled off some. I have had one mild elevation of Amylase around 135 at the beggining of 2006. I had high triglycerides which are now normal.I have had continual elevations of Lipase around 320 throughout the last 2 years.  Every thing else has been pretty much normal other than a mildly increased ANA that has since been normal. Kidney Function & Liver function normal.I have had normal MRCPs & ERCPS . I am 34 & 180 lbs& have been diagnosed of Hemochromatosis for the last 10 years with a liver Biopsy with Mild Fibrosis & increased iron in 1998- I have maintained a low Ferritin under 20 ever since 1998  .Docs say that  this is not from Hemochromatosis.Ive had a Normal Abdominal CT scan.Normal small bowel series. Ct of Chest showed a couple of very small benign densities on lung .I have no Lung or breathing problems.Ultrasound showed small focus consistent with a polyp near the neck of my gallbladder & mild fatty liver.One doc said this Lipase might be from my kidneys & another one disagreed .One doctor suggested a sweat test for Cystic Fibrosis But Im not sure about this, & am kinda getting tired of going in the wrong direction.. One doctor recommended  some test called a Hida scan & said that he doesnt recommend these very often, but in my case he might do so .Another  Doc said he didnt even believe in these Hida Scans at all ,so Im not sure where to go from here with these different suggestions.Would this Hida scan be Beneficial or cause more problems ? Can the Gallbladder cause pancreatitis & do you think I even have Pancreatitis?.Any other suggestions?.I take Toprol, Protonix & Viokase.

[cudagirl]

Hello
I would ask your dr about a test for Autoimmune Pancreatitis.  I had the same symptoms as you descibe, and I was just diagnosed with this in the summer.  It is very rare in the US but they are running into more and more of them.  The only difference between you and I, is I had a mass on the tail of my pancreas, and they thought it was cancer.  It wouldn't hurt for you to check with your DR about this.  Because of your elevated ANA it is a idea.  The test is called IgG4. It is a simple blood test.  And yes stones from you gallbladder can cause pancreatitis.  Good Luck