pancreastitis

[Paula1955]

How long is the life expectancy for someone who has severe pancreastitis and when it has calcified...I saw my doctor this past Thursday and was told this. I am sure it has been going bad for awhile. I have not drank alcohol since i was 25yrs old. I am now 56yrs old...please respond as soon as possible...I see my doctor again on March 29,2012. I also have a hernia in my small bowel and get frequent bowel obstructions. I have already lost 50inches of my small bowel.

[patient915]

Yes, those tests will help to determine if your colon (or large intestine) is not functioning and needs to be removed.

[Paula1955]

yes it was the ng.  I have since had a sitz marks x-ray series and thursday I am going to swallow a camera. then they are planning on taking out my bowel intestine or whatever it is...(will know more after I talk to doc again.) My colin has died

[patient915]

I've never heard of an eng tube or a "eng thing" test.  Do you mean an NG tube as in a naso-gastric tube?

[Paula1955]

Yes this I know...If I have to have surgery again they will have to do a colostomy..Also over the past 4 years I have been hospitalized 20 times for bowel obstructions, they did not require surgery. An eng tube was inserted for 5 days and when the obstruction passed they took it out. But I was closely watched in case i did have to have surgery again. This week I am having 3 tests done, a CT enterography, a colonoscopy and a eng thing done on the upper intestines...I am now seeing a colorectal specialists...

[patient915]

There are two types of pancreatitis: acute and chronic.  From what you describe, it sounds like this is a case of chronic pancreatitis.  You are definitely at risk of getting a bowel obstruction again which could shorten your life expectancy.

[Paula1955]

the report said severe pancreatitis and the pancreas has calcified. I have scar tissue in my stomach from a hysterectomy done in 1994. I have had 2 surgeries for bowel obstructions caused by the scar tissues. the surgery I had in 2006, my bowels had turned inside out...I was VERY sick. the doctor did not think I would live through the surgery...He is a very good doctor. during that procedure I lost 3 feet of my small bowel, during the 1997 bowel obstruction I lost 2ft...

[patient915]

Welcome to the gastroenterology community!  Do you mean chronic pancreatitis?  Why do you get frequent bowel obstructions?