HI,
I was diagnosed with pancreatitis 5 months ago. My doctor told me i had completely healed and i could go back to my old ways except limit my alcohol. At the time i had not done enoughr research to know the long terme effects of even a acute pancreatitis attack. Eventually i got back into eating junk food and pizza and occasional beer. For the past week after a big meal i started having a lot of flatulence (Gas). It usually starts mid after noon if i eat all my meals. I end up passing gas every 15-30 minutes after i eat a large meal. I have also been feeling bloated for the past 2 weeks. I have not yet experienced pain but i would like to know if this is early signs of another pancreatitis attack. Also i have been feeling abnormally hungry these past few weeks. I could eat all day if i didnt feel so bloated.
Any opinions?
the doctors told my husband he could never have another drink again. They also said his diet would have to be low fat -no junk food. But his pancreatitis was very severe all are different I think Good luck and God bless
I have chronic pancreatitis, been told can't dunk again beginning to believe my problems could be thro my arthritis medicine see specialist again Friday
So may get some answers. You would know if an attack was coming on via your stools and smell, people with pancreatitis often have constant pain varying from mild to secure
Can I just ask what stools would be like as I've had upper left pain for 6 years. Had so many tests as I'm sure it's pancreas as worse the day after alcohol but all negative. Im 33 female and all this started age 26 I did used to drink wine every night usually on an empty stomach so I am very worried I have chronic pancreatitis. MRI, bloods, ct, endoscope and colonoscopy and stool test all normal. Surely something would show after 6 years and continuing to drink occasionally? I eat fatty foods etc with no trouble it's only alcohol that seems to give me pain but only sometimes! Maybe gastritis? I've never had acute pancreas attack and never vomit or have upset stomach it's always constipated and always healthy colour (dark brown) only symptom is where pain is situated. Docs and specialists all say ibs
Natalie,very loose and the smelliest you have encountered, MRI Scan would show abnormalities in pancreas, try cutting back on Alcohol saying that I miss a tipple with mates does not seem same when I'm in there company. When I had my pancreatic attack it was the worst pain I have ever had and ended up in hospital for over a week. Not sure I out IBS daughter inlaw has this and goes to hospital every couple of months for infusion as a day patient.Which helps her loads
Good luck to you and may you get some relief in the near future
Thank you. Just hard to believe docs when I google pain in upper left after alcohol all that comes up is pancreas! I do think I would be in more pain and something would be showing after 6 years of it!
I have cut down lots I alcohol. Like you say it's so hard with friends drinking! I've tried to just stop alcohol at home as with 3 children I don't get out much anyway so it was mainly having a drink when they were in bed in the evenings! I've had to stop red wine as that causes most pain. Think must be the acid! Thanks for your reply. Sorry you have this horrible disease and hope you can keep it under control.
Thank you for your input. I had 1 attack that had me in the hospital on IV for 5 days. It was a mild one with no vomiting. My stools were not soft but rather difficult to pass. Also all my test came back positive (MRI, CAT Scan and ultra sound) so signes of inflamed pancreas. Although my blood test lipase levels were 4400. My amylase was normal according to th doctor. Do s this sound like pancreatitis for sure or could It be something else with pancreatitis like symptoms? I still occasionally get bloated but no pains since then.
Have you had your blood tested? And I have binged a few times since my first attack since I did not read up enough to know how dangerous it could be. I haven't drank since I joined this site. Also is it only when you eat that you have pains? Or are they constant?
Tristan everybody's reply seems to differ, my attack put me in hospital after collapsing with the most severe pain I have had .I also have psoriatic arthritis and take loads of medicine for both arthritis and pancreatitis. The collapse also had me with very bloody smelly stools and ulcerative colitis. Not touched alcohol for 6 months but still getting very painful right tummy and side pain. As I stated before see my pancreatic specialist Friday so may get some answers.
Sometime think all the medications for different ailments could cause other issues.
Hope some of these posts help you and good luck
Yes had blood tested more times than I can remember in last 6 years since pains started. Always come back normal. Eating doesn't really effect me it's the day after alcohol that I notice it the most but I do think a lot of that is me panicking about it. It is there on and off anyway and I cut out all alcohol for 6 weeks last year and I still had some pain. I'm wondering if it's gastritis. I do get heartburn sometimes. But when pain is bad if I press and massage area it helps and feels like it's shifting wind! Others I've spoken to said I wouldn't be able to press on the area of it was pancreas as it's too tender.
It's only in the last year that I've noticed shooting pain under left breast and left side and sometimes back. Only lasts few seconds at a time but comes often especially after drinking. Although these only started after I read it's a symptom so I do wonder if docs are right about it being anxiety and in my head! My detailed MRI of pancreas with dye was normal as was stool, bloods, ct and endo! Docs have given up on me now!
hi tristan.. the same thing was initially happened to in 2013 when i got my first acute pancreatits attack... and doctor told the same thing.. that i am healed now and no need to worry.. i would suggest you to be alert now.. stop alcohol completely.. eat anything that is cooked for you in home.. avoid food outside.. try maximum to have cooked your food in olive or coconut oil.. the sign is of early pancreatitis but you are lucky that you are aware of this.. dont wait till being hungry.. have sth always with you to eat and try to develop small meals habits.. be hydrated with water and have a time for walk.. never eat too much but take many smaller meals.. this is how you can avoid it being chronic.. and one more thing dont be worried about this because you have got the idea now to keep yourself far from this disease.. have a great life..
Hi, this was exactly what I needed to hear. This is perfect and I will have to follow this for the rest of my life. Thank you soooo much for taking the time to answer to my post. Much love
Thank you for the input I would love to hear what your pancreatic specialist has to say since there isn't one close to where I live only a gastroenterologist.
Thank you
Hi Tristan had my appointment with Specialist, have to go for another MRI Scan and then camera to have another look at pancreas
Said eat what you like but spread
Over the day also never touch alcohol again. Apparently on last scan they found small traces of calcium build up. Still have abdominal pain and taking pain killers and amytripaline to help sleep but they don't work.
Keep you updated when I have next scan
Cheers Kevin
Hi Kevin,
I appreciate the update! I hope your pain get relieved soon. It's not fun.
Tristan
Hi did they find calcium build up on MRI? I've had MRI, ct, endoscopy, colonoscopy, loads of bloods, stool samples, ultrasound and all clear yet I still get mild upper left pain and bloating and full feeling. Pain only on a scale of 10 about 3. I get short sharp stab pains in left ribs, front side and back too and all worse the day after alcohol yet specialists say it's ibs. It's been worrying me and ruining my life for 6 years now! Would something show by now if it was chronic panc? I've never had acute attack, never vomit and am always constipated, never pale or smelly stools always dark rabbit droppings that leave no mess at all.
I know this is an old thread but I wanted to share what I am dealing with. In 2009 I woke up at 4am in so much pain I was afraid to breath because it hurt so bad. All I could do was call an Ambulance and they came and got me. I was taken to the ER and was immediately diagnosed with pancreatic attack and thrown in the Hospital.They accused me of drinking which I did not drink. Since being Hospitalized I would get these horrible pains that radiated to my back and gas and my stools were loose then I would be backed up. I was told I had IBS and I am like no there is something more wrong here because the food I ate kept coming out like it went in, Not thinking about maybe it could be the pancreas. I got to a point my life over the years got more debilitating and I was losing weight. My stomach got worse that they finally sent me to a specialist in the field they did a fecal test and found that I had low pancreatic enzymes and my food was not absorbing like it was suppose to. So they put me on enzymes which has not helped me and the side affects make things worse for me. Also my blood test showed there is a problem with pancreas. So I got an MRI which did not show anything. I am going in for a ERC scop of the pancreas. There is a problem and I am hoping they get to the root of it.
Hello.
You reported that your situation developed back in 09. I read your comments about what you experienced and it sounds VERY close to mine. Including the initial attack happening in the middle of the night. I'd like to correspond with you about this. Your previous post shows to be from 3 months ago. If you still periodically check your Patient account for messages, please reply to me and I'll tell you more about my situation and we can compare notes. Also, I'd like to know how you're doing so many years later. Thank you!
Hi all I have read the comments on here with great interest and am seeing similarities with my own symptoms. To begin with I was admitted to hospital about 2 years ago, I had pain come on me after work which if first thought could be a heart attack. When the ambulance arrived they hooked me up with all sorts of electrical connections and said although I had a raised heartrate it was not a heart attack, but because of the severe pain they would like to admit me anyways. I was in about 5 days and they eventually diagnosed me with having a pancreatic attack plus it emerged I had a large stone in my gallbladder. I am still waiting to have my gallbladder removed but I have come to believe that not all the pain and discomfort I have had since has been down to the gallbladder. In recent weeks in particular I have had pain from one are on my left under the left breast top of the abdomen which can radiate to the left back or flank. Like a lot on here passing of stools has been different to the norm too. To begin with the smell is completely different to any regular passing of stools, a very unpleasant odour. Secondly my stools have varied between hard small pellet like stools to very soft messy faeces which comes out as one movement. There has been considerable strain and effort at times when passing stools. I have had and passed blood on many occasions, and as recent as last night and this morning. The doc in the past believed an internal haemorrhoid was the culprit, but it is always unnerving to see the toilet bowl completely red. In recent days there has been a major shift in feeling in my upper abdomen under the line of my left breast. I have had a bad bloated feeling, which results in a constant uncomfortable build up of gas. I don't believe I have changed my eating habits dramatically and it is worrisome to say the least. The fact that the pain is on the left side as opposed to the right where they tell me the gallbladder is makes me think that the pancreas is the culprit again.
PS I basically do not drink any more, I was a social but not heavy drinker in the past, but I find if I was to drink a beer now at all I would have severe heartburn worse than any of the heartburn I would normally be prone to
Thanks Tim
Hope your pain has become more manageable in recent times
My doctor prescibed Creon to help with gas and bloating. Maybe it would help you too. Have you had problems with fatigue or weight gain?