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Fatty pancreas from alcohol or something else?

Posted , 7 users are following.

CarebearwsMom
CarebearwsMom

So last week I had an ultrasound because of left side and back pain.  The report said, "Mildly heterogeneous pancreas, perhaps due to fatty changes."  The PA at my doctor's office told me Friday that she didn't know what that meant and she would have to confer with the radiologist.  She finally called today, and said the radiologist explained that it was fatty changes due to alcohol. I have stopped drinking any alcohol and will never drink again.  BUT I never drank more than 3-4 glasses a wine on a Friday night.  I never drink during the week, and often not on Saturdays.  Still, the PA was insistent that I was big drinker, and acted as if I was lying.  So insulting.  Apparently, the fatty pancreas can lead to bad stuff, like pancreatitis, so I need to lose weight - I've gotten chubby in my 50's - need to lose about 25 pounds.  But honestly, nothing like shaming someone who feels like crap.  All in all, I realize I am lucky to get this early warning, and have the chance to try to fix it.  Just wondering if anyone else has ever had this diagnosis and how it unfolded and if they received different information about the cause.

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • DavidUK1984
    DavidUK1984 CarebearwsMom

    Posted

    I've not heard of a fatty pancreas. The only things online are about Pancreatitis and Cancer. I don't think they're treated you very well. I would suggest they do further tests to find out exactly. A fatty pancreas could indeed be early Pancreatitis. I've also had left sided and back pain and will have an ultrasound next week.

  • mary_kate1973
    mary_kate1973 CarebearwsMom

    Posted

    Hi, really sorry to hear how you were treated. However, when it comes to any alcohol related diseases that’s the easy out for most Dr.s...

    After 7 years of scans, tests and GI’s refusing to recommend removal of my gallbladder and blaming my several bouts of acute pancreatitis to alcohol      I finally went to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Florida.

    My GI at Mayo- quote: There are 5 reasons people get pancreatitis.

    1. Gallbladder

    2. Gallbladder

    3. Gallbladder

    4. Alcohol

    5. Genetic/Cf

    Had my gallbladder removed and zero systems after.... even if no stones are found through testing it’s the sludge that does the damage - super tiny crystals are in the sludge that seeps into the ducts... worse than having gallstones 

    Get a real doctor to refer you to a GI and make sure they are open minded....the pancrease ages like everything else so there will be changes as we get older as well. As long as your not having crippling pain relax and keep an eye on things. Best of lucksmile 

    • CarebearwsMom
      CarebearwsMom mary_kate1973

      Posted

      Mary Kate, Thanks!  You are so kind.  My endocrinologist's office just called and I talked to the nurse.  I go there because I have osteoporosis that they are treated, brought on by years of asthma meds.  Anyway, she said all my liver stuff was fine going back years, so she didn't see how this could be alcohol related because people almost always have a fatty liver as well, and I do not.  I will take your advice and call my gastro.  I have one because of colon polyps and diverticulosis - Ain't age great ? ;-)   I might change by GP because the PA was so accusatory.  A couple of years ago, they accused me of being in an abusive marriage because my ribs kept breaking - it was the osteoporosis.  They never apologized for that.  Glad to hear you are better!  Thanks for the kind words.

    • mary_kate1973
      mary_kate1973 CarebearwsMom

      Posted

      Happy to help- lose that drs office for sure!  To many good ones out there. If you live by a “teaching” hospital I strongly advise you seek Drs there. They have so much to offer and really look at “everything” before making a diagnosis- wishing  you the best! 
  • DJ-RN
    DJ-RN CarebearwsMom

    Posted

    If I read correctly you said that you never drank more than a few glasses of wine on just a Friday night? If that’s so, that PA was totally out of line if she was indeeed questioning you, and/or doubting what you said. If you are being truthful, which I have no reason to think that you aren’t, I would come right out and ask her if she had a problem with your answer. Yes, Pancreatitis is more often than not caused by excessive drinking of alcoholic beverages. I am not a drinker. I drank in my 20’s and 30’s partying but not much since. Every time I went to a new Dr. they would ask me how much I drank. I told them that I didn’t drink. I may have a glass of wine when I dine out. But, that’s rare. I do not drink at home either. I do not see as an RN or just one with common sense how 3 glasses of wine once per week is in any way related to whatever you have going on. However, if it turns out to be that you have Pancreatitis, you would not want to drink ANY! NONE! There’s nothing worse that one could do is drink while their pancreas is inflamed. I’m not familiar with the term that you used. But, I believe that it is the same thing as what they call a heterotopic pancreas. Which is simply pancreatic tissue (usually fat) that is found outside the anatomical location of the pancreas which is usually seen. I’m not certain, but I believe that this is fairly common and is benign in nature. 

    DJ~RN

    • CarebearwsMom
      CarebearwsMom DJ-RN

      Posted

      Thanks for your note.  The PA was out of line.  As it is, I have given up alcohol completely- not worth worrying about my pancreas.  I found some good alcohol free wine.  I'm assuming that's okay.  It's amazing how Drs immediately blame a patient rather than investigating the real cause.  And it's like the more you deny, the more suspicious they get!  If I get more info, I will update!

    • DJ-RN
      DJ-RN CarebearwsMom

      Posted

      Indeed that PA was way out of line. If you think, or if you’ve been told there are certain things going on involving your pancreas, it would be wise to avoid alcohol altogether. It’s just not worth it. Keep us updated. Take care...

      DJRN

    • CarebearwsMom
      CarebearwsMom DJ-RN

      Posted

      I'm definitely not going to drink. Is non alcohol wine safe?  I thought it would be. 

    • kay82451
      kay82451 CarebearwsMom

      Posted

      My Dr told me non-alcoholic beer was ok so I would think wine would be the same. 
  • kay82451
    kay82451 CarebearwsMom

    Posted

    I had acute necrotizing pancreatitis attack while on vacation in NY.  Spent 3.5 weeks in ICU there before being medically flown home to our pancreatic institute. 

    In NY they keep asking my husband how much I drank, kept telling my him that my DT’s would be severe etc.  This went on for days. I was out so was not aware of this grilling he kept getting.  I didn’t drink much either.  I’m 62 and was a weekend beer drinker if we went out. My husband was furious with them.  They almost took my life there due to their ignore.  When I finally got to MUSC they said Drs etc that do not specialize or understand the pancreas instantly blame alcohol because they don’t know better.  There are many other causes.  Food, interaction of drugs (which was my case), gall bladder issues and more. 

    I would go to. Specialist that specializes in the pancreas.  

    Good luck to you. 

    • CarebearwsMom
      CarebearwsMom kay82451

      Posted

      Wow.  Unbelievable!  I agree that doctors like to blame the patient.  The crazy thing about the PA blaming me is that my liver is totally fine - not fatty at all, and all my liver and pancreatic enzymes are fine.

      I am on a lot of meds, and I read today somewhere that corticosteriods (which I have been on for years for my asthma due to growing up in a plume of my parents' second hand smoke) can cause a fatty pancreas.  I mean I just googled and learned more than the PA.

      I am so glad you are okay.  What a scary thing for you to endure.

    • kay82451
      kay82451 CarebearwsMom

      Posted

      It was. It wasn’t until Jan 2018 that they removed all the necrotis.  It was debilitating!! I have been in malnutrition up until this Feb.  Lost half my hair.  I had never really been sick so it was an experience I wish I could forget. 
  • NixKiwiWolf
    NixKiwiWolf CarebearwsMom

    Posted

    This is very interesting because I had ongoing pancreas issues for most of 2016 and my GI consultant diagnosed idiopathic chronic pancreatitus which he insisted was alcohol related. I have never been a big drinker especially as I have a vomit phobia and don’t even like feeling tipsy. He and my husband nearly came to blows after he tried to catch me out when I was groggy after an EUS. When I eventually got hospitalised with jaundice and biliary sepsis the real cause of my problem was found - by my GI’s colleague - I had pancreatic cancer. My original consultant hadn’t taken any biopsies as he was convinced he had the right diagnosis. I was told to make a complaint but we got so caught up in surgery and treatment that I just didn’t have he time and energy to do it formally but I made it known how I felt and I’ve not seen him since. I was lucky that my cancer hadn’t spread and was operable and I’m cancer free at the moment but he could’ve cost me my life. It infuriates me that doctors automatically think alcohol is the cause. I’m sure some patients do deny or minimise how much they drink but not everyone is a secret alcoholic. Just because a condition is “usually” caused by excessive alcohol consumption doesn’t mean it “always” is.
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