Rising lipase and disappearing symptoms, what to do?
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi guys, I've been stuck in a hospital since Sunday afternoon with acute pancreatitis. The doctors are unsure what caused it as I don't drink much or often, but I believe it's from issues with anorexia. I've been getting IV fluids and have had an ultrasound and x ray, and now feel almost back to normal. Eating is not painful, nausea is gone, even the diarrhea has improved significantly. My issue is that my lipase keeps rising, but the doctors have not tried any other tests to figure out why and are keeping me on a clear fluid diet because of it. I'm starving and it doesn't help the pain and nausea, which goes away with food. I guess I'm wondering if this is normal or if they should be trying to figure out why it keeps going up-they seem confused and unsure of what the problem is but have not done further tests. I feel basically ready to go home at this point, the continuously rising lipase is my only problem and I'm feeling very neglected.
0 likes, 6 replies
glenn06752 Megan95
Posted
Hi Megan - I had the same issues. High Lipase and amylase count, nausea, severe upper stomach pain and my pancreatitis was due to "sludge in my gall bladder." Once the gallbladder was removed, all the numbers came back down to normal.
I'm hoping yours is that simple. Keep us posted.
Wishing you well -
Glenn
Shortie79 Megan95
Posted
There's a lot of doctors who know about pancreatitis but don't understand it. There's also hospitals that aren't equipped to treat pancreatic issues. There could be a stone or bile backed up in a duct. They should have a pancreas specialist looking over your file. They can order a MRCP to make sure your pancreas doesn't have a stone stuck. Also as the other comment advised, it might be another organ. If you still have your gallbladder, they should be looking at it as well. There's many causes to pancreatitis, not just alcohol. I was born with Pancreas Divisum (rare congential anomaly where you're born with two pancreatic ducts that never fuse together). In my case the two ducts caused chronic pancreatitis. Due to my age the doctors were quick to dismiss the pancreas until a MRCP was ordered. As for the liquid diet, sometimes you cannot have anything in your system for certain tests, maybe they're going to order tests. Ask to talk to a pancreas specialist.
Megan95 Shortie79
Posted
I haven't gotten any of this treatment. I've spoken to a gastroenterologist, once, after being admitted for 4 days. Doctors wont give me a reason for the liquid diet other than that it increases the pain when I eat. Except even that symptom is gone now and the liquid diet didn't help with the pain in the first place. They're leaving me in this room and retesting the lipase every 24 hours while keeping me hydrated and not doing anymore tests. Its seeming neglectful to me, especially considering I haven't even felt the need to accept pain meds for the last 2 days. I'm feeling like I could have gone to work at my outdoor, physical job today, but I'm not even able to eat for a reason they wont tell me. Thanks for the reply, I may leave and go somewhere else since they seem unable to help.
Shortie79 Megan95
Posted
Depending on the hospital you're not really going to get answers. You're better off looking for a pancreas specialist, not a GI (not even GI specialists have the knowledge regarding the pancreas) and request the pancreas specialist to run the necessary tests. It will take awhile going through private doctors but you will get better results/answers.
gary03901 Megan95
Posted
Are you sure its not a stone in the Bile duct? They left me for 7 years until one day my pancreas split with a 10mm stone stuck in my bile duct!
Up until then every time I had an attack they told me it was my back!!!!
That was severe acute pancrititus and then developed into chronic pancrititus
Sammie1965 Megan95
Posted
Hi, I was the same last year, rushed into hospital with acute pancreatitis, spent 4 days in hospital, I was also born with a divisum, even though the consultant said that wasn't a reason for my attack. I had every check going and they couldn't find a reason for it, I have just had my gallbladder out more as a precautionary measure again they cant guareentee that I wont have another attack. Since last year I have been on a low fat diet, I can count on one hand how many drinks I've had since then, and
I feel that I now have it under control. I came off painkillers as soon as I could as it was hiding the pain and I wanted to know what foods made it flare, it won't go away over night took me a good 6 months to start feeling better. Be patient you will get there.