Acute Pancreatitis

We are waiting for CT results for definitive diagnosis, but apparently I have a "textbook" case of acute pancreatitis. Ironically enough, it seems to have been caused by antibiotics. Just. my. luck.

Here's the miserable thing, though:
Eating only veggies helps some.
Fasting from food helps quite a bit more.
But the recommendation from NPF (the GI docs where I live are beyond terrible) is "nothing by mouth" -- which makes for a very interesting dilemma since that's how pain meds are administered.

I seem to do okay with Actiq. Dilaudid works better, but only after I feel like I have been punched in the gut by an angry clown and then tied on sideways to the Tilt-a-Whirl, since I have to drink it with water and then suffer until it finally kicks in. My pain is spiking to a 9 four to five times a day.

I guess that leaves a PCA, but I really hate going to the hospital. It is a miserable, creepy place to be. My pain doc has done a really great job of helping to educate the nurses so they don't make stupid accusations anymore or withhold prescribed meds; unfortunately, the GI docs at that hospital are very sub-par, so that likely means I will need to go to another hospital where it's anyone's guess whether they will be accepting of pain management or believe that at age 38 I deserve to be in pain.

Has anyone else gone through this without having to be admitted to the hospital? What did you do?

Thanks, rocckyd.

I looked on-line for good GI hospitals in my area & found a doctor that specializes in the pancreas. As luck would have it, the top rated hospital around here happens to be the 2nd hospital where my PM has privileges. I won't have my PCP there, but at least my PM could keep tabs on my pain control.

This has been going on now for 20 days & I am as miserable as can be. I haven't been able to work. I need Zofran just to keep down any food. I feel a bit like a pansy for having ever complained about my back pain because this is WAYYYYYYYYYY worse. omg, I can barely even breathe at times the pain is so severe. My PCP really wanted me to have done the CT already to confirm diagnosis, but of course my insurance company is in no rush to approve payment. Hopefully maybe the GI doc will be able to move things along a bit faster. SOOOOOO much pain!!!!!

I don't have the infection in my back any more, but I definitely have some sort of infection with a fever this high. With my back my fever never rose above 99.3F. I've only had a fever in the triple-digits once before in my entire life -- 35 years ago.

I had oral surgery in mid-May, but all the sites there look fine -- no signs of infection there. And my glands aren't swollen.

But honestly, I'd take the problem with my SCS over this any day.

Well, CT came back negative for pancreatitis.

They found a bezoar (I suppose it must be from probiotics or meds since I don't eat persimmons & don't have pica) in my stomach which maybe accounts some for the pain, but probably not for the fever. I go to see the GI tomorrow, but at least my PM got me in today & is helping manage the insanely high pain that I experience whenever I eat or drink anything.

Fingers crossed that maybe they get this sorted out sooner rather than later. PM suggested they may also need to test for appendicitis as he's had other patients with my symptoms who turned out to have that as the cause (which is somewhat important since opiates can mask or alter "typical" symptoms of some diseases). *sigh* we'll just have to keep digging. So frustrating!!!!!