Pancreatitis or Gastritis? What is going on?
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Since last year, have been having warmth in back off and on for a year after eating. Ct scan was done and only showed thickened adrenal gland (no cancer) Blood tests were ok. This year having pain in Center and a bit to the right side after eating (no gall bladder). Just had endoscopy and showed mild gastritis. Doc set me up another up for another abdominal ultrasound and suggested it may be liver stones. Anyone have these and what do they do for them? Also could this be pancreatitis or mild gastritis? Sometimes I can feel pressure into back when eating.
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Shortie79 bb123
Posted
Hello BB123
I have Pancreas Divisum which is a congenital abnormality that causes chronic pancreatitis (in my case). I'm only 37 years of age but my symptoms have been severe abdominal pain after eating which radiates to my mid upper back … to the point in which I was scared to eat, I used to weigh 154 and now weigh 115 pounds. I do have other medical issues including a nerve disease called complex regional pain syndrome, herniated discs, Hashimotos (thyroid autoimmune disease) and a couple more problems … therefore I'm used to "pain" but the pain I was experiencing was completely separate and none of my pain medications would touch the pain or symptoms. Furthermore, I would watch your stool (I know it sounds gross) however, when your stool is really greasy or "fatty it lines the rim of the toilet and gives the docs a better understanding of what's going on. I don't have a gallbladder or an appendix therefore everything falls on my pancreas. In my case when you're born, you're born with two pancreatic ducts that are supposed to fuse into one but mine didn't (only 5-10% of the population have this abnormality). When you have chronic pancreatitis you generally can't eat solid foods and are put on antibiotics (through an IV) therefore you don't have too much pain because you don't eat. However, once you do eat, you're in an extreme amount of pain!! I have had both (if that makes sense)!!!! It took the doctors 8-9 months to find out what was going on. All my blood, endoscopy and even an ultrasound came back "normal" but once your pancreas is atrophied you produce "normal" blood work. I then had a CT Enterography performed which revealed my pancreas "atrophy". I saw a GI specialist who ordered a MRCP which revealed the pancreas Divisum. Certain tests reveal certain results. Depending upon your results you will have to go for further tests and/or treatment. Because I'm not a doctor I cannot state whether or not you may have this, that or the other …. I only know from my experience and because I used to be a paralegal … your best bet is going to the doctor's office and receiving their input. Sorry I am not much help but it's better than nothing … ?? I hope you feel better soon and I totally can relate to your frustration and I was also diagnosed with gastritis at one point but because the pain wouldn't go away and I don't have any organs on my right side (pursay) I knew my body and my "regular" pain. You need to be your own advocate and insist on further test. My GI specialist said that the CT scan wasn't that great for diagnostic purposes therefore she ordered the MRCP. Be your own advocate, is the best advice I can give. Oh and also if you're vomiting and have a fever it's probably not gastritis. Best of luck and I hope you feel better soon.
bb123 Shortie79
Posted
Hi Shortie79, Wow you have been through a lot GI wise. You are too young to be going through all of this(I'm 56 by the way). Really appreciate you sharing what you have been through. It's unfortunately been hard getting across to my doctor or getting her to believe somethings wrong and at my last appointment she blew me off and prescribed a pill for anxiety 🙄so I bypassed her and contacted my GI Specialist. Back in 2014 he diagnosed me with Gerd, Gastritis and a hiatal hernia. After not being able to eat without stomach pain and sometimes right back, squeezing feelings in my shoulders I requested an endoscopy but all they found was gastritis
(No hpylori or celiac disease)
I've backed off eating and only eat jello, soups, eggs, grits, skim milk and non fat yogurt, and for some reason my whole body has settled down pain wise, but the other day I added a piece of lean cooked meat and could feel pain in front and back. Just like you, I'm scared to eat, plus I have something going on in my mid back(related?) that feels like a pulse.
Going for an ultrasound in morning but am afraid of the news.
Shortie79 bb123
Posted
I have had a surgery every year since 2002 up to 2015 (like I said a LOT of medical problems) … I also live in the U.S. therefore it is a little harder to get a doctor to "listen" BUT my primary care doctor knows that I know my body. I forgot to mention to stay away from greasy/fatty foods as it can trigger a pancreatitis attack as will alcohol. I don't know if you smoke but smoking apparently also contributes to pancreatitis (from what I have read, my GI doctor hasn't brought up anything about smoking just about fatty foods and alcohol). My GI specialist asked if I had cystic fibrosis because she said it wasn't common for people my age to have chronic pancreatitis but I told her I had never been diagnosed with that (this was before the MRCP). The regular endoscopy will show some things but it won't show if you have pancreatitis … there's a specific ultrasound for that and I believe it's called an ERCP but I'm not certain. I only recently received my diagnosis and read up on it but was tested for pancreatitis when my initial symptoms started but my blood work came back normal. I did read that when your pancreas is atrophied your blood work can appear normal therefore I think that's why the specialist ordered the stool and MRCP. I did start taking digestive enzymes but once the stool test came back I found out I didn't need them, therefore I stopped them (I don't like taking anything that I don't necessarily need because I have to take so many medications for my other problems). I would drink two Ensures a day and then try and eat some sort of soup which the GI specialist said I was doing everything correctly. I think in your case, if it hurts to eat solid foods then drink Ensures (don't drink more than 2 a/day it's not recommended) and if your symptoms don't improve then it's more likely you have pancreatitis. It's hard to diagnose "chronic" but if it's acute it's easier because it shows up in your blood … I think bypassing your one doctor was a great call!! Be your own advocate and listen to YOUR body! Only YOU know your body no matter what any doctor tells you. I sincerely hope you get well soon!!