Abdominal pain for 12 weeks

I did suspect pancreatitis as I meant to say I had abdominal tenderness under my left and right ribcage. I also get a strange rush/pressure feeling in my head after I eat anything with sugar...it is uncomfortable . Most nights I still wake up with pain, chills and heart palpitations which is really scary especially as it's been going on so long. I was convinced with the pain gallstones were the initial trigger but the hospital send my tests were 'inconclusive' and I went to see a Gastroenterologist after my hospital visit and he just concurred with the results and wouldn't take it any further. I was very fit and healthy prior to this...now I'm pretty much bed bound most days..moving around seems to exacerbate symptoms. I am taking omeprazole for the gastritis and was given amitriptyline to help me sleep but it's not working...I'm thoroughly exhausted. I am currently waiting to hear back from my Neurologist as the hospital thought it could be nerve related but he said no and thought it was more likely enzyme imbalance which would explain the pancreas connection. I worry now this is how my life is going to be from here on and its soul-destroying. I also worry about any further damage that may have been done after the initial(undiagnosed) attack

Well it takes years upon years to really damage the pancreas and usually you're an elderly. I was dismissed due to my age when I was diagnosed but it turned out I was born with a rare pancreas condition. As for enzymes there's a simply solution but you need the fecal test. I have to take digestive enzymes everyday for the rest of my life but it's okay. I just had my pancreas removed, it was a last resort type of option for me but how you're waking up light headed etc is how I feel without a pancreas and it has to do with my blood sugar. You may be prediabetic.

I really appreciate your help. Just feeling a bit hopeless at the moment because I feel noone is listening to me. It's not normal for someone as healthy as I was to have this pain and then suddenly I cant to anything...they brushed me off with mild gastritis and sent me on my way. Feel like I'll never feel normal again 😦

I also meant to say I get an itch on my torso which comes and goes...flares up with heat. Most nights I wake up with the chills and what feels like a fast heart rate-i can feel my heart pumping right up to my ears if that makes sense. Its very very unsettling. I was told all my stats, bloods ect were quote "unremarkable' and I only had a raised temp at the very start. But things definitely aren't right. How do you suggest I deal with healthcare professionals to get them to listen to me. I worry that I'm losing so much weight I might fade away. Do you still have your gallbladder I meant to ask. Did it play a part in your symptoms? Did they do tests for it?

I don't have my gallbladder or even my appendix anymore, those were removed back in 2003. I was very healthy and used to go to the gym 3-5 times a week then bam back in 2014, everything went downhill. My entire life changed. I was working full time and had two part time jobs plus raising my children with my husband. All of a sudden (over months but felt like all of a sudden), I started to get horrible abdominal pain. At work I would have to press on the wall as I would walk down the hall to keep myself from falling down. I was exhausted 24/7 which was weird for me because working out gave me a lot of energy. I went to my primary doctor and she thought it was my endometrosis growing back. I was referred to an OBGYN and she went in to cauterize it but that wasn't my only issue. Turned out my intestines were all adhered together. They fixed that issue but when I woke up I couldn't eat food, I had to learn how to digest all over again. I thought my issues were done but they got worse and worse. After telling my doctor about my pain, vomiting, itching everywhere (there were so many symptoms) I asked for more tests. After the tests I asked for copies of all reports and looked up the medical terminology used. I saw my CT Enterography said atrophy of my pancreas and my primary said she saw no reason for my pain. I pointed out atrophy is associated with chronic pancreatitis. I was sent to a GI and they did a MRCP which revealed my two pancreatic ducts. My GI thought my symptoms were IBS related because I was 36-37 at the time. I had lost nearly 50 pounds in a matter of months being bedridden, I knew it wasn't IBS so I asked to see a pancreas specialist and he performed an ERCP which diagnosed my chronic pancreatitis and confirmed my pancreas divisium. This took two years just to get a diagnosis and going through treatment took two more years. Even with a diagnosis nothing really changes other than you have to learn what to eat. Don't allow the doctors to make you feel a certain way. Journal your symptoms, always bring someone to your appointments that way you have someone to be a witness and keep demanding tests. It's your health and you don't feel right plus you can always get a second opinion. You just have to be your own advocate in this and I know how difficult it is.

Thanks so much for all of your advice and being so open with your story which sounds awful. I have an appointment with my doctor tomorrow and I'm going to push for an MRI and tell him about all my symptoms. I just want some kind of normality back in my life and to be able to sleep at night again...I've not had a full nights sleep in 3months and if I keep eating(or not I should say) I'm going to need to be hospitalized with malnutrition!! It seems from reading all these forums most people struggle with the health professionals when it comes to pancreas/gallbladder issues -unless theres something glaringly obvious you are told its gastritis or worse ' it's all in your head' and quickly get referred to a psychiatrist (that's what's happened to me!)

It's horrible the way some doctors don't listen to the patient but the pancreas is the hardest organ to diagnose due to its location. After everything I went through, I'm now recovering from having my entire pancreas removed and my islets transplanted to my liver. It was a last resort treatment and a tough recovery but for me it was worth it.

Hi Shortie,

I am thankful you are recovering and things are getting better! Is there anyway you would take a look at my post and see if any of the symptoms look like what you went through at the start?

Dear Shortie79

I have for 10 years tried to get a diagnosis of CP for hopefully getting same operation. I was even send to Leicester in the UK for reveiw in 2014 but they could not see anything. Now 4 weeks ago my panged changed from being anoying to unable to eat and pain at nigt.

Kindly advise how you managed to get the operation