How likely is this to be pancreatitis out of ten, folks?

From personal experience I would say a 3 or a 4. The pain you describe is somehwat similar to what I have experienced, bit I felt it predominantly on the right side of my body. It basically felt as though there was something on fire deep inside my body.

Apart from this pain, which never subsided and did not respond to paracetamol by the way, I had a major fever. I also vomited a lot. Since you have none of these symptoms I would say your chances of having pancreatitis are not too high.

I am however by no means a doctor and if you start feeling worse or if you remain concerned I would definitely advise you to go visit one ASAP.

I wish you all the best and hope that this thing, whatever it is, does not return.

Well, going by the time I had it. There was no settling it down for me. I could take a pain pill, I could move positions, the pain remained and was severe. I really don't know if I had fever or not, I definitely had vomiting. But that would start once things progressed after having a LOT of pain for a while.

My pain was also more in the middle then off to the left or right. Dead center upper pain. So it really doesn't sound like it to me, but I agree if it continues it's better to get it checked then to wait until it IS that bad.

Hi folks. The pain came back again this evening, almost as bad as the pain which woke me up this morning and in the same place. Took some more paracetamol and codeine, which once again has knocked it on the head. Did some googling; I have to say the pain sounds very much like pancreatitis. I'm inclined to think it's most likely to be that, despite the lack of fever and vomiting. From what I have read, vomiting is a common symptom with pancreatitis but it isn't always present.

Also found out that 80% of people with acute pancreatitis have a mild form which passes after a few days. I reckon I'll save the NHS a bit of cash and just hit the painkillers for a few more days until it passes. If it gets worse, I'll get myself to A&E obvs.

Thanks folks for your stories :p

@Sugarmarie - Well apparently gallstones and alcohol account for the majority of cases of pancreatitis, so it could be my gallbladder. But I really don't want to have that removed unless absolutely necessary - I have enough trouble with acid diarrhoea and butt burn as it is :-/

Ouch, yeah, that does hurt quite a bit actually. It also hurts under the left ribs! ;_;

When I had my second operation in 2015, we had an alcoholic woman in her late 30s on the ward - she was only a year younger than me. She was an absolute whirlwhind of self-destruction. It was mildly amusing to hear the middle class patients tut tut at her effing and blinding, but that was about it. Otherwise she was one of the most tragic cases I've seen. She was literally drinking herself to death and seemed haunted by stuff in her past - dunno what, another patient reckoned she had been in prison for 12 years but apparently didn't think to ask what for. Anyway, she kept on trying to escape and cadge cigarettes from people. After nearly setting her bed alight with an illicit cigarette in the middle of the night, she then escaped from the hospital the next morning to go and buy some dreadful cheap cider from the shop across the road. She collapsed, and was brought back into hospital with her large bottle of cider which she refused to give up. A young doctor came and sat with her for absolutely ages, just speaking to her and trying to warn her she wouldn't make 40 if she didn't stop drinking. It was like something out of Casualty or Holby City, except this was real life and there was no happy resolution after 5 minutes of chatting.

This story is getting a bit long, but to wrap it up she was taken into a sideroom later on and I never saw her again. Hope she managed to stop drinking, but I have to say I think it was incredibly unlikely that she did.

So er anyway, thanks beave! I hope so too.

Good luck. Sounds like the thing to do.

take care.

Good luck, I hope you can get in soon and get this figured out.

Not so far, no :-/

Stomach does feel a lot better now, but then I thought that yesterday afternoon as well, so... Still hope I haven't overreacted though.

Edit: Feel even better after a bacon bagel >_>. I know. But I had some bacon which was at its use by date today and it feels like a crime to chuck decent bacon away. I was also starving. Weird how not even pain keeps me from being hungry, I hardly ever lose my appetite really.

Post Edited (NiceCupOfTea) : 2/20/2017 5:38:11 AM (GMT-7)

Yeah, I definitely think you need to go to the A&E. Especially if something feels wrong. Trust your gut. (haha)

Thanks scifigal and Jen :p

Nothing too much to report. Popped out to my local supermarket, where I got my free pot of tea (thanks MyWaitrose card!) and bumped into my awkward aspie chum and an elderly woman in the cafe. Sat down with them. The old woman kindly offered to buy me and my aspie chum a hot drink - so I selected a spiced chai latte (not spicy at all; the only spice it has is a bit of cinnamon). I properly enjoyed my spiced chai latte, but the old lady kept saying how it was too sweet for her - I feel like I have a mad sweet tooth compared to everyone else I know.

Stomach was hurting throughout. Eventually it got so bad I had to get up and walk around the aisles like a zombie for 15 minutes, trying to decide what to have for dinner. The one downside to Waitrose being a 'posh' (it isn't really) supermarket is that it adds piles of healthy veggies, pulses, etc. into most of its ready meals and fresh soups. So I picked a small ham and cheese pizza. I know.

Ate the pizza about 10 minutes ago. It had the smallest amount of cheese possible, but I enjoyed it anyway. I absolutely guarantee the pain will be at its worst at 4am

With pancreatitis, the more fatty the foods, the more pain you'll have. I still have aches when I eat fast food (but I just can't help myself), and I haven't had active pancreatitis in close to three years.

Hey guys, did I overreact just now? I'm still upset.

My IBD nurse (not the usual one, the one I wanted to speak to) sent this reply today.

Morning Miranda
Have you tried peppermint tea, warm drinks to relieve the gas like sypmtoms. and capsule results not back yet but i will chase them for you and get copy sent to yourself and GP.
Regards

I replied in a fit of anger.

Hi [name]

It is *not* gas and peppermint tea is frankly a patronising suggestion. I know what gas, acid reflux and heartburn feel like.

I've had Crohn's for 17 years. Don't people think I don't know my own body by now and when something is wrong, particularly when it comes to anything gastrointestinal. Sorry if I sound so annoyed but I had a GP make exactly the same suggestion to me yesterday: yeah, like I'd waste anyone's time trying to chase up gas pain.

I don't need to be treated like I've got IBS or was only diagnosed yesterday.

I think it's pancreatitis personally but I'm still waiting to see if it goes away of its own accord.

I'll probably regret it later, but right now I'm still seething. I've been through 3 days of hell and they suggest peppermint tea. **** these idiots, clueless IBD nurses.

Well, that worked. The nurse is taking me more seriously now. She asked if the GP had offered any blood tests and if I had mentioned I thought I had pancreatitis to them (the answer to both was no), and is sending me out a blood test form. I apologised for losing my temper, but added that I was on my 4th gruelling day of this.

I'll feel a right muppet if everything is normal now. Almost wish I had just gone to A&E, where if everything does show up as normal, it's still hideously embarrassing but at least you'll never have to see that particular doc/nurse again.