Pancreatitis Support Group

I do not think you can tell by what you said. You should go to the doc and find out but you would know if you had acute pancreatitis it is very painful and hurts in the upper rt part of stomach and back. Very painful - but you should go to the doc. chronic panc. is another story. I hope you are feeling better.

thank you. I am going for an ultrasound on monday and hopefully some other tests.i've got some investigating to do

Hi, there. I am a Nurse Practitioner and a chronic pancreatitis patient. I think you have something going on with your Gallbladder; especially since you mentioned the relation of pain to meals. People with inflammation of the Gallbladder (cholecystitis) will get abdominal pain (usually upper right side) after eating. Pain is especially bad after a fatty meal. The pain can be gnawing, dull, achy, throbbing and go on for quite some time before someone seeks help. On the other hand, pancreatitis usually lands a person in the hospital within 24 hours of onset. Someone with acute pancreatitis is very, very ill and cannot function. Very different from gallbladder disease.
You should definitely have the abdominal ultrasound. Check for gallstones etc. Cut down your fat intake and see if that helps the pain at all. If the ultrasound is normal - maybe a trial of an acid blocker will help. If this helps your pain is likely acid reflux.
Anyway, keep me posted. I have been hospitalized 15 times in the last 18 months with abdominal pain from Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and chronic pancreatitis. Never thought I would be 'the patient' - and now that's all I do. Cannot work anymore due to pain. God bless you and I pray that you get an answer and relief from your symptoms!

Tome it souds like gallbladder problems. I have had chronic pancreatitis and gallbladder problems. Mine was due to a duoble stricture in my bile duct that cut off my liver and pancreas to my stomach. The bile had no where else to go but the Gallbladder and poof it ruptured during surgery. I had the whipples procedure since then and so far no more pancreas pain. and anyone who know chronic pancreatitis knows exactly what it feels like. It debilitating at the very least. I have been out of work for over two months dealing with this problem and I still see no end in sight. They keep telling me that it comming though :) good luck to you and I hope it all goes well for you.

It is really difficult to tell if you have AP or CP from what you write. I can say, what you are saying is not what I had or what others I know have had with either type of Pancreatitis. The pain of pancreatitis is by far the absolute worst pain you will ever have (My MD told me you take the pain of labor and multiply that by 100 and you still do not reach the level of pain pancreatitis causes). I was not able to sit, stand, walk, talk, breathe, etc., without the most intense pain of my life. I honestly have never had pain as bad as pancreatitis before or after and probably never will!!!!

I had Pancreatitis for 9 1/2 years. I had several surgeries with the final being the complete removal of the remaining portion of my pancreas (had a Whipple Procedure which is a partial pancreatectomy) removed along with an islet cell transplant. I am now cured of Pancreatitis!! Removal of the organ is the only cure.

Good luck with your tests. The best thing to do is when you are having pain, get to an ER so they can check your blood for various levels of enzymes, white count, liver function, etc. All of these things will help in the diagnosis.

Good luck to you!!