Shoulder Pain...chest pain & Back ache

Digestive health
1

Hi

The title really says it all......was in hospital for about 3 months after being diagnosed with severe pancreatitis...after being released from hospital, weeks later i started experiencing severe back aches & now i can barely stand for 20 mins after that i have to sit down...

But the worst pain of all is in my left shoulder traveling down to my chest.....its a dull constant pain, but at times it becomes worse & the dull pain becomes a sharp stabbing pain.....i can't laugh, yawn or take a deep breath without making the dull pain transition into the sharper stabing pain....

Has anyone else experienced this.....sad

2

3 months wow that unbelievable.  If you were diagnosed with pancreatitis then you haven’t been properly treated.  It is a daily challenge but you should not be in that kind of pain.  

Are you going to a pancreatic institute or a true pancreatic physician.  If not you should be.  3 months is unreal. I was in ICU for 3.5 weeks and an additional week after that.  3 more times in the following months.  I had necrotizing pancreatitis andcalmost lost my life. 8 mos later I still have a dull pain in my left rib cage.  However I lost 50% of my pancreas and I can tolerate the daily inconvenience of this pain.  I’m just very thankful to be alive. 

I’m sorry for your suffering.  I would be seeking additional help. Good luck and pray for your recovery. 

3

I agree with kay regarding the importance of seeking help from a pancreas specialist.  Without knowing what treatment you received whilst in hospital for all that time it's impossible to know whether something else entirely might be causing your symptoms which are not usual for pancreatitis, acute or chronic.  

Whilst the pain can be severe and impact on one's ease of mobility for the duration of a pancreatitis attack, it's not common to be unable to remain upright for longer than 15 minutes ongoing.  The shoulder pain may be referred from your pancreas, or it could be as a result of something else entirely.  

What you're experiencing, especially the severity over such a long period is not normal for anyone, with or without pancreatitis.  You should see a pancreas specialist asap.  Your GP can do some tests as well as organise a specialist appointment for you, or you can return to the hospital to report what's happening to you and arrange a specialist appointment. 

You say nothing about your diet or medications, in fact anything about preventative measures so I'll list them, forgive me if you're fully aware.

It's very important to adopt a low fat diet, there's no getting around that, you have to, it's not a choice.

In a general sense eat 4-6 small meals throughout the day rather than 3 large meals a day to help your pancreas. 

Ensure you take your digestive enzymes immediately before any food at all, even snacks.  They last for 30 minutes, so if having a long meal take more enzymes after 30 minutes.   

You have to give up alcohol entirely.  And same for cigarettes, your pancreas hates smoking.

It's important, especially when attack coming on or during attacks that you reduce food, even stop eating entirely for a couple of days to rest your pancreas.  Have clear broth if you can cope and keep up your fluids, frequent sips.  If having a severe attack you need to be in hospital where you will be on an IV for as long as necessary to ensure nutrition and fluids are kept up as well as pain management.  I wish you well.

4

I'm confused - when is it best to take the enzymes?

I have one prescription which says "after" another which says "with" and my dietitian sad immediately "before"

I am a 77 year old man - had two thirds of my stomach removed at the age of 17 in 1959 and have just been diagnosed with "an under-performing pancreas"

5

Hi Clive, you take them immediately before you eat.  My pancreas specialist emphasised the importance of the timing.  He also told me that the amount is what works, so it's not a strict "take 40,000 before food" deal at all.  I take Creon btw.  I keep mine on the dining table so I don't forget them.

Sometimes I take 80,000 and feel uncomfortable so I take more, other times 80,000 is fine.  He also told me that the enzymes only work for 30 minutes, they won't aid your digestion if you're still grazing over a long lunch after 30 minutes for example, so take more then.  If only a dessert or something small is left on the menu take half your usual dose, the same amount you take when having a snack.

Hope that helps.

6

Thanks for clearing up the controversy as how and when to take the enzymes.  I too take Creon - 10,000 for a snack (evening) and 25,000 for meals (four a day) as with my reduced stomach and diabetes and P.A. I eat "little and often".

This all new to me and I don't know the difference between the reason I'm taking them and the people on here with other pancreatic problems. 

Thank you again for your help ans wisdom.

7

i myself was also in icu for over a month......& was only given a 40% chance of surviving.....

Once i was discharged after 3months i was told i will get a appointment through the post.....At no point i was told to go & visit Pancreatic physician.....how would go about getting to see one?

 

8

i take creon before eating anything....alchohol i've totally given up....smoking i stopped a long time ago & now i just vape....i only have 3 meals a day.....& i need to work on that low fat diet as it isn't really low fat..

within the 3 months i was given alot of medication.....magnesium, ketamine & blood transfusion...is to list a few......but i thank god that i survived......(did i mention the docs found i have irregular heart rate so i have to have a op on that as well)

9

No problem Clive we're mostly here to learn and help others I think.

I didnt want to over-complicate my answer but will add that you can also take your enzymes after food.  Having said that what I mean is this; if after eating (and taking your enzymes prior to eating) you feel uncomfortable you can take more enzymes.  I sometimes get a feeling that my food is stuck after I've eaten and it's an awful feeling.  My specialist told me to take my snack dose to help.  It doesn't happen often.  Our food stays in our stomach for an hour and half usually and whilst taking enzymes immediately prior to eating helps digestion for 30 minutes if we eat something that's a bit tougher to digest we might need more enzymes.  I guess it depends on the level of efficiency in our individual situations.  You won't overdose on Creon, it's not like a pain med, but neither should you take a hand full for the heck of it, find the amount that works for you and be guided by that.

Creon aids digestion.  You may not have classic pancreatitis or fit with the descriptions you've read here however you have been told your pancreas isn't working as efficiently as it should, it's not doing it's job well and needs help therefore you are in the right place for support. 

The pancreas has very important functions.  It secretes hormones including insulin into the blood stream.  It also secretes digestive juices (enzymes) into the small intestine where food is further broken down and nutrients dispersed.  When the pancreas isn't working efficiently it doesn't do that well.  What that means for us with a dodgy pancreas is that our food isn't broken down properly so we don't get the nutrients and hormones we need for our body to work as it should so we need digestive enzyme supplements like Creon.

I don't know how closely you're monitored by your doctor but it's worth noting that a regular blood test to check your nutrient levels is important as are blood sugar tests.  Once or twice a year usually for me currently.  You're a bit older than me and it's very important that you're checked for Vit D deficiency which impacts on your bone density because as we all know bones can get a tad fragile as we age even without a dodgy pancreas.  And blood sugar as well as a dodgy pancreas can lead to diabetes.

I hope that helps explain why you you're here Clive.  Best regards.

 

10

You are dealing with a lot kuv and sound a little overwhelmed, understandably, and yes I agree that it's great that you're still here.  You should be monitored closely, and I wonder if you are given you're posting here for help?

Your body should be in the best shape it can be prior to any surgery so I'd suggest getting your pancreatitis settled might be a good place to start.

You have to start modifying your diet.  It would be helpful to know what your usual diet is now, whether it's basically healthy or not.  If on the healthy side it won't be too difficult to transition to a low fat diet.

Many think low fat means no 'real' food or it's just rabbit fodder and that's so untrue.  I love food (after most of my life being unable to eat much at all as a result of something else).  I love experimenting with food and search online for low fat recipes.  I prepare food for family who have no clue they're eating low fat many times.  It's not that hard to do so mark a start day on your calendar and begin. 

Once you start getting your diet on track your pain may decrease or go away altogether, especially if you eat small meals often and take your enzyme supplements.  

Once your pancreas is rested and settled  (after all the drugs and attack and it can take months) I'm sure your doc's will feel much happier about proceeding with your cardiac procedure.  You appreciate that you've survived so do all you can to ensure you're healthy.  Good luck

11

Thanks again for your clear explanation - I've "lived with" eating and tummy troubles since my peptic ulcer burst at the age of 17 and had gastric surgery nearly 60 years ago which 15 years later led to a diagnosis of Pernicious Anaemia. So I've had P,A for 46 years and was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes in 2015.

It was only a few months ago because my BMI was a bit low (I'm 12 atones and six feet four inches) I was referred to a dietitian who took one look at my necessarily restricted diet who suggested the "Faecal Elasrase" test on 6th March which came back at 175ug/g <200.00 - 1000.00ug/g> and was started on the Creon.

It was my confusion over what my doctor prescribed  (take With and After) meals and the dietitian's (take Before) meals that led me here.

I realise that it's been only a couple of months but my dietitian's aim of "fattening me up" has so far achieved nothing as I am still bang on 12 stones despite having slightly increased my daily food intake.

Anyway it's breakfast time - Creon here I come.

I wish you well and thanks again.

12

Hi Kuv12522,

I’ve suffered with chronic pancreatitis since 2005 and on discharge from my hospital if it hadn’t of been for the morphine, which I’m still on now btw, my quality of life would of been non existent!!

I still suffer with severe upper back pain, have acute flare ups where I’m sick, constant diaoreah and yes chest pain on flare ups. I don’t even bother going to the hospital anymore unless i know it’s time to go so mainly it’s manages at home through controlled drugs as they call them and my great GP.

But I can’t stand up for long on occasions can’t breathe properly because frankly it bloody well hurts to breathe so I have suffered similar symptoms for years since it was properly diagnosed in 2007..... so sorry to say you may continue to experience some of those symptoms for a lifetime. It all depends on the patient as each one is different but most do suffer from at least one of what you mention if you do go on to become chronic which I did through misdiagnosis and slipping through the system for years as after each hospital discharge I was never followed up!!

13

So sorry to hear your suffering from chronic pancreatitis Firestar.......i'm surprised your suffering from diarrhea if your on morphine...how long you've been on that if you dont mind me asking?.....

Are you taking creon as that helps with the diarrhea.....

At the moment i'm on oxydone tabs and pregrablin for the pain......