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New here and needing advice or feedback please?

Posted , 4 users are following.

anonymous74
anonymous74

I will try to compress this into as small a post as possible with all the info I can.I apologise in advance for my grammar,punctuation and if I do not get points across properly too.

Approx 6 years ago my gall bladder burst and I got scepticemia I was well into the infection when they discovered it and was rushed into ICU and put onto strong IV antibiotics right away.I remember very little from that week except the agonising pain inbetween being sedated with morphine but after a week my gall bladder was removed and the doctors told me that the septicemia had damaged my pancreas.I was in the hospital for approx 2 months recovering.

Now I am on medications for sciatica (pain meds) and suffer from agoraphobia and severe anxiety which have developed steadily over the last 5 years ( not related but I don't know if I needed to put those) but the last 2 years at least I have been suffering from attacks of pain exactly like I had in the hospital, it is so agonising and scary I never forgot it so I knew it was the same pain.I feel a burning like a red hot poker pushed deep into my abdomen right in the centre just under the middle of my ribs and it can last anything from 2 to 10 hours a searing sharp hot pain.I start sweating,trembling and start to feel like I'm not quite with it (if that makes sense) the pain is so severe I cannot move and it makes my cry out in agony.Afterwards I feel so sore and exhausted especially if it is a long one and sometimes take a day or two to recover.These episodes have been getting more frequent over the last 18 months and  in the last 4-5 months I've noticed other things that are different, I eat plenty anf healthy but I've lost a lot of weight, 4 dress sizes in 4 months and where I once had to take senna for constipation (caused by my pain meds) I now can go without them but my stools are greasy or oily kind of and much softer.I also notice that when the pain comes I can feel a hardening in the area between and just below the centre of my ribs where the pain hits.

I see my doctor as much as I can but he has prescribed me omeprozole and peptac liquid for acid both of which do nothing and I know this pain is not indigestion or any kind of acid reflux.

I am so tired and run down I look gaunt and sallow all the time and 20 yrs older than I did 5-6 yrs ago.

I don't know what else I can do but thought maybe somebody recognises some of what I am experiencing and if they cannot advise at least I know I'm not alone.

I have just about had enough.

 

0 likes, 5 replies

5 Replies

  • nataliefranc
    nataliefranc anonymous74

    Posted

    Oh this sounds terrible. I can't really offer any advice as I've not been diagnosed with chronic or acute pancreatitis although I've had upper left pain for 7 years now and worry that I have it. I've read a lot about it in that 7 years and what you describe does sound like you may have chronic pancreatitis especially as your pancreas was damaged years ago. I'm shocked they haven't done an MRI or anything to confirm this as your in so much pain and tick off most symptoms of it. They could put you on digestive enzymes. Are you on Facebook? There is a brilliant group called 'chronic pancreatitis support group' lots of people on there that suffer and will know a lot more than me from all over the world so your guaranteed to get a reply to questions any time of day or night.

    Wishing you all the best and I hope you can get to the bottom of this.

    • anonymous74
      anonymous74 nataliefranc

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your reply.

      I have not had an MRI or been offered one, just repeat prescriptions  of stomach acid meds but I think I have to do something soon and will definitelycheck out the group.Thanks again for your help I really appreciate it smile

    • pete70517
      pete70517 anonymous74

      Posted

      Hi Anonymous! I'm very sorry to hear that you have suffered so much.I think you should change your doctor.With your history it's hard to believe that you are being prescribed this medication for indigestion. Your symptoms are very like mine and I have pancreatitis. However,with the right treatment you will be fine. It's important to stay positive. But,as Reef has said,see a gastroenterologist, one who specialises in the pancreas. You need a break as you have been through a lot. Some doctors need to cop themselves on,as we say in Ireland. I take the same medication for heartburn as you do,but it has nothing to do with pancreatitis. So, get the right treatment from the right people and you will be back to yourself in no time!

      Regards,

      Pete.

  • Reefsider
    Reefsider anonymous74

    Posted

    Hi there, sorry to hear your struggle.  Is your doctor a gastroenterologist?  If not please get a referral to one, better if it's one who specialises in the pancreas.  You were told your pancreas was damaged 6 years ago and it sounds like you have pancreatitis but you'll need various tests to confirm. 

    Losing so much weight in a short time isn't good either.  Don't be fobbed off by your current doc, insist on a referral to a good GI and if you have another of those pain episodes before the appointment go to the ER of the hospital you were in 6 years ago (if it's close) they'll be able to refer to your previous admission notes and do tests.  Obviously what's being done now isn't working so don't accept it.

  • anonymous74
    anonymous74

    Posted

    Thank you guys,

    its nice to know I'm not alone, although a bit scary to realise I may have let this progress a bit far...I suffer badly from stress which I never knew was a trigger too but its a combination of being ex military and having ptsd,severe anxiety and fast progressing agoraphobia that has me at a really high stress level nearly all the time.I only realise how bad it is when recently at an appointment a nurse had to give me 60mg of diazapam to stop me shaking and crying and send me home in a car and apologised profusely for making me go to the appointment.

    These symptoms are getting worse and I think now they could hinder my progress re my pancreas and I don't know how the heck I can control the stress if stress can trigger attacks.

    Regardless I have to ask my doctor if I can see a specialist and hope I can make all the appointments assuming there might be a fair few.

    Thank you all so much for your help <3

    and i wish you all the absolute best with your situations with this condition. and="" i="" wish="" you="" all="" the="" absolute="" best="" with="" your="" situations="" with="" this="">

    and i wish you all the absolute best with your situations with this condition.>

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