Posted , 3 users are following.
I've had 4 occurrences of pancreatitis in the last two years.. The first three severe so they proformed a ERCP and found my duct to be stopped up from sludge open it up said it was a success. 7 months later pancreatitus again, any one out there with some insight on this. Any help would be a help. Thank you.
0 likes, 4 replies
We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.
Reefsider phillip_96935
Posted
Hi Phillip, it can take a long time for the pancreas to settle down so discomfort can be prolonged even if a corrective procedure has been done.
Was your gallbladder removed when they discovered the sludge? Is your doctor a gastroenterologist who specialises in the pancreas? I encourage everyone to find such a specialist as few doctors, including gastroenterologists, know a whole lot about the pancreas.
I'm assuming you are on a low fat diet and don't take alcohol but I'm wondering if, post surgery, you felt so much better that you started to eat pre-pancreatitis sized meals or horror of horrors, consumed alcohol?
Having pancreatitis means much smaller low fat meals more often rather than 3 normal sized meals a day even if you're not experiencing symptoms. One has to be conscious of it all the time. I'm assuming you have Chronic Pancreatitis?
What does your doctor say about the latest attack? If you still have your gallbladder I'd be asking questions like could the attack be as a result of more sludge build up and what does he think should happen now, like removing the gallbladder maybe.
We're all different Phillip, taking bits and pieces of info from the internet doesn't replace personal knowledge but it can help one ask the right questions.
phillip_96935 Reefsider
Posted
Had gallbladder removed 10 years ago,that's when I realized any thing about my pancreas. It was inflamed from a bad gallbladder, took a year to get it back to normal. But still having digestive problems. Done ok most of this time until 2 years ago, had a real bad spell , few months later another. Had an ERCP done that when then said they found my duct stopped up with sludge, got that opened back up and that evening had to back to hospital to iCU bleeding real bad.2 days later they go back in and said all was good and it was a success, 7 months now back with the same problem. I did notice that when they proformed the ERCP that for 4 months I had 3 or 4 spasms per day very intense scary. Almost felt like my pancease was flipping in my body. I never been a big drinker maybe on special accasion 1 or 2 max. I'm seeing a doctor at Tulane in New Orleans, been to see him three times seems to me I'm getting no we're. I been sick 2 weeks now and they seem to be not that alarmed. This seems to be very odd to me.
Reefsider
Posted
Find another doctor, one who specialises in the pancreas. I don't know how you'd do that over there, call a few teaching hospitals and ask if they have any working there, it's important you find a good doctor Phillip.
You can't have any alcohol, ever! You must stick to a low fat diet. When having issues go on a liquid diet for a couple/few days to relieve stress on you pancreas, to give it a rest.
Are you taking digestive enzymes like Creon? They can help.
pam64432 phillip_96935
Posted
If they found sludge in there once it is likely that could be the culprit again or maybe there are gallstones. Sometimes they just remove the gall bladder altogether. When you had pancreatitis before did they tell you not to drink alcohol and follow a strict low fat diet? If not, that could be the culprit too. It is a horrible disease sometimes without answers if why it happened. I have had 3 occurrences of acute pancreatitis with the last one being acute necrotizing pancreatitis and they haven't yet been able to tell me why I get it. Do yourself a favor though and Find yourself a great GI that specializes in pancreatic disease because most GI docs really haven't a clue! Good luck to you, I hope you don't have to go through it again!