Help!
Posted , 3 users are following.
Had a case of acute pancreatitis in November, 2018.
Was hospitalized for five days.
Lipase was at 17,000 (not a typo). (The HIGH end of normal lipase is around 180).
CT scan revealed two "communicating" pseudocysts at the tail of pancreas.
G.I. doc suggested a cholecystectomy.
Had it done four months later in March, 2019.
Pathology said no biliary calculi were found.
Follow up CT scan revealed that the pseudocysts had shrunk by 1/3.
All other health parameters are within normal limits.
I am a 68-year-old male, in relatively good health.
Question: Why do I STILL have slight pains every so often?
Is it possible that I could still be convalescing ten months later after the initial bout of acute pancreatitis?
More importantly, why do I have halitosis so badly?
It isn't a question of poor oral hygiene.
It SEEMS to be a question of gut health.
Thanks in advance.
0 likes, 5 replies
vedawms alan1951
Posted
Before you panic, a LOT of us have had very high lipase. It's a sign of a significant acute attack.
About the pain, it's not uncommon to hurt for months. My pseudocysts made it feel like I was being stabbed. It got better as they shrank. Fortunately I didn't require surgery for them; with luck, you won't either. I have been in pain for years now, though, and that's not unusual.
If you've been diagnosed as chronic, get used to being in pain. Hopefully it's mild. But you need to do everything to protect your pancreas from here on out. No alcohol, eat right, and get digestive enzymes, check for physical causes (like divisum). Work with a GI pancreatic specialist.
As far as the oral health goes... that could be due to meds, or even open mouth breathing. Tobacco obviously can make it worse. Talk to your GI person, get some dry mouth mouthwash. If it persists, it might be Szogren's sicca (autoimmune), but don't jump to conclusions.
Do keep us posted on how things go. Your GI specialist is your best line of defense.
alan1951 vedawms
Posted
Thank you vedawms, very much.
corinne82278 alan1951
Posted
your enzymes level was very high (mine was 17700 on my last acute pancreatitis). It takes several months to recover from such a severe attack . Do you follow a strict diet ? NO fat/LOW fat, no sugar and 5 mini meals a day. You might ask yr Dr to order an MRI with contrast .
Hope you feel better soon ..
alan1951 corinne82278
Posted
Honestly speaking, I've learned as much reading the two posts above as I've learned from spending hours doing Internet research. THANKS to both you and vedawms.
vedawms alan1951
Posted
Hi Alan,
There is a LOT to know. I messaged you privately about the Facebook groups for pancreatitis. You'll find them useful.
Ask about TPIAT, also known as islet transplant surgery. It could be a lifesaver for you, if you're eligible and can make it happen. There are two FB groups for that. Search for TPIAT and TP/IAT. If you don't ask, I guarantee someone will ask you!
We are collectively still learning and trying to get ahead of this illness. It can ruin lives, so best to dive in, learn as much as you can, and find the right doctors. There are only 10 or so hospitals in the US that do the islet surgery, so just know that.
This is a very small group here, but we'll help if we can!
Best,
Veda