Question:
PLEASE HELP! Have you ever had pancreatitis?

I had open RNY on 4/5/02 and gallbladder removal on 5/14/02 and I'm STILL have pain in my back and lower abdomen, especially during and after meals. The surgeon says it's pancreatitis and that it has to go away on it's own. Has anyone ever had pancreatitis and how did you get it to go away? Please help. Any thoughts and experiences are welcome. Thanks!!    — Christine L. (posted on May 29, 2002)

May 29, 2002
Hi. I hate to second-guess your surgeon, but pancretitis is a very serious illness. It usually takes high-powered anitibiotics to overcome it. It is extremely painful and takes a lot of time to get over. I don't want to scare you, but the doctors thought my mom had pancretitis that was caused by an inflammed gallbladder. When they opened her up to remove the gall bladder, they found her gall bladder was fine, but her liver was almost completed disintegrated. The tests on her liver before her surgery were abnormal, but nothing that gave the doctors a clue about the severity of her diseased liver. My mom had Alzheimer's and the doctors said her problem was probably caused by severe malnutrition, or possibly by the diabetes drug Rezulin. (We are in on the lawsuit that is going on with that drug.) My mom died a week after her gall bladder was removed from cirrosis of the liver (she never drank in her life). Obviously, you don't have serious problem with your liver or pancreas or the surgeon would have diagnosed it during your surgery, so I hope I didn't panic you. I just know the whole time the doctors thought my mom had pancreatitis they kept telling us it was a very serious condition to have to treat and recover from.
   — KRISTI K.

May 30, 2002
Hi, I had pancreatitis after my gallbladder was removed. Caused by a stone left in the byle duct. I was very sick I spent 15 days in the hospital. I was on a very high dose of anitibiotics. I havent had it since. That was 3 years ago now I'm going to have surgery on July 2nd. My doctors are taking all kinds of test to be sure that everyting is ok before. I would ask the doctors to be sure to run all the blood test that would show any signs of trouble with your pancreas and liver. I would not just sit back and wait for it to go away it could get worse.I hope this helps a little. I know it how sick I was and believe me you don't want to get that sick. Good luck
   — Pam K.

May 30, 2002
Yes, I had this condition, and the DR told me it was definitely caused by my gallbladder problems. I also suffered liver injury due to the same problem. I was very ill, and my eyes turned yellow. (I had 5 to 6 stones stuck in my bile duct) However, soon after the gallbladder was removed, it started to clear up quickly with the help of antibiotics. However, my DR would not let me go home... He insisted that I stay in the hospital while I was having this problem. He said it is a far too dangerous condition to not be watched carefully.
   — ScatCat