i have been told I may have Chronic Pancreatitis but was he Doctors are not doing anything. I have been told an MRCP Scan would tell me if it was Pancreatitis. My GP here in Scotland said they can not refer me for the scan only a surgeon can do it. Can anyone tell me if this is correct or can my GP or Gastro consultant refer me?
A GP definitely cannot help you. You need either a GI that specializes in the or a pancreas specialist. It took the doctors over a year to diagnose me. My GP was very honest and advised me it was out of her expertise. However I live in the US and health care is very different. Usually there’s other tests before a MRCP. Not all tests will show pancreatitis but if it’s chronic then a CT should show something. If you’ve had a number of tests then I suggest you look into a GI specialist. I had blood, ultrasound and endoscopy all come back normal. Then I had a CT Enterography show atrophy of my pancreas. Once the atrophy was found then the MRCP was ordered. After that I was diagnosed with Pancreas Divisum (rare condition where you’re born with two pancreatic ducts that never fused together). I was referred to a pancreas specialist who performed an ERCP (they don’t use these for diagnostic purposes because it can cause a pancreatitis attack). Once the ERCP was done I was diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. CP is one of the hardest conditions to diagnose especially because of its location. If it’s chronic then it’s even harder because your blood work won’t show it. I was stumping the doctors because I didn’t have all the symptoms and my blood work wasn’t showing anything. Luckily for me once the Pancreas Divisum was found, my doctor explained I was suffering from pancreatitis symptoms but not getting full blown attacks. Unfortunately due to the one condition it had caused CP. A lot of doctors know about CP but don’t understand it. Stay strong and be your own advocate. I would not be receiving treatment if I didn’t insist on more tests.
My GP ordered an abdo CT which showed calcifications on my pancreas. I was then referred to a gastroenterologist who specialises in the pancreas who performed an ERCP which confirmed I have Chronic Pancreatitis. I've never had an MRCP and seeing a surgeon would be furthest from my mind.
Your GP should be able to order a CT, your health system is similar to ours in Australia I think where ordering CT's are pretty mundane events.
Sometimes diagnosing can be tricky as Shortie79 mentions, so even if a CT came back clear I'd seek a referral to a gastro who specialises in the pancreas. It's most important to specify you want to see someone who specialises in the pancreas, most important. Good luck
Only an MRCP here in Kenya caught my Chronic Pancreatitis. I would advise getting that test and not wasting time and money on the other "lower" tests. Nothing from them is really conclusive.