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How do you know you have pancreatis?

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 6/12/2012 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
I think seeing all the responses on here has gotten me all worried medications could affect my pancreas.  How do you know you have pancreatitis? Is there a blood test you get?  I just went and got my CBC with differential and my ALT blood test today after 2 weeks on Imuran.  I've also been on Prednisone on and off since January - most recently started early May and am down to 20mg as of today.  I am having a burning pain in my left side and some indigestion but my BMs are still a little thin so how do you know if its your UC or your pancreas? 

I assume the tests the doctor ordered would check for all this - my local doctor will fax my blood test results to my GI at Mayo so I'd assume he would check for pancreatitis too?

Maybe I'm getting myself too worked up - sometimes I feel like I listen TOO much to what my body is doing!  With all these drugs it can be hard to tell what is causing what!

Posted 6/12/2012 8:24 PM (GMT 0)
heya im currently in pain in my upper abdomen. seen a GI last week and when i explained the type of pain i had she said it could be my pancreas or a problem with my oseophagus?(sp) the only way i get relief is by lying on my stomach or putting pressure on it. i feel like a big painfull ball of wind.
I had a gastrocopy yesterday and all was normal so next step is an ultrasound. i also had some blood tests done that check for an elevated enzyme that would point to an inflamed pancreas.
The burning pain sounds more like heartburn though so if an antacid relieves you'll know it is
Posted 6/12/2012 10:04 PM (GMT 0)
I just got over pancreatitis. I spent a week in the hospital from medication induced pancreatitis. You will know you have it because you will have a lot of pain in the abdomen. It will be very noticeable. Although each person can have a different type of pain, mine was in waves. I would get severe pain in the upper abdomen that would last about 30-45 seconds then ease up for a couple minutes then start all over. It was like having contractions. It got worse after I ate. It doesn't go away so you will eventually end up in the ER because you simply cant take it anymore. The Dr will run blood tests to look at your Amylase and Lipase levels. If they are very elevated, they then usually do a CT to look at your pancreas.

I hope this helped!

Take care!
Posted 6/12/2012 11:29 PM (GMT 0)
Exactly what pmedic said. I had a bout of pancreatitis a month ago. It was the most crippling pain I ever had. I could not move at all, but when I did try, it was at a slow pace.  I was in the hospital for 3 days until my enzyme levels went down to a normal level. They had me on an antibiotic IV and a clear diet. Also had an ultrasound and CT.
Posted 6/13/2012 1:51 AM (GMT 0)
Well that is all good to know, thank you!  It makes me feel a little more at ease.  I just ate and now my stomach is making noises like crazy. I have a feeling I have some serious indigestion going on, maybe from tapering the Prednisone I assume not from the Imuran.  My ALT came back normal (even on the low end of normal, a 9!) so no issue there. My CBC was mostly normal except for by WBC being slight elevated, probably from the UC and Prednisone.  I'm hoping it just starts getting more back to normal one of these days!
Posted 6/13/2012 9:02 PM (GMT 0)
oh that was helpful thanks guys. i also have pain in waves and it gets worse after i eat. im going to call my Gi 2moro cuz she did bloods and see if enzymes are elevated.

Gotta be proactive in my own health
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