Thanks to W

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I just wanted to say thanks for the information that you wrote to

me earlier this week. I think that you answered my questions

concerning the relationship of elevated liver enzymes with

pancreatitis.

I have a positive ANA but mine is non-specific and related to my

job (most everyone who does the job that I do eventually develop

auto-antibodies. The researches are not sure why, they just

know that it happens). I am glad that your lupus and AIH is being

managed well - it must be hard to have those things going on

along with the CP. Your explanation of the interaction of the bile

duct blockage and hepatitis / pancreatitis is probably relevant to

me. I think maybe that is why the new doctor said that my liver

enzymes are not related to my problem at the current time

(maybe I misunderstood him at first). He may be thinking that

now that my SOD has been taken care of from the first ERCP that

the pain that I am still feeling is not from the blockage. Ergo, the

liver enzymes should be normal and have no correlation to

pancreatitis flares, or any diagnostic value for what he is

investigating. My thinking is that if the enzymes remain elevated

over time or spike with pain episodes, he may want to do a

biopsy. Interestingly, no one has tested to see if the enzymes are

still high - no " official " labs have been run since my first ERCP

(other than the post procedure lipase / amylase). And I have

been too chicken to do it myself - I fear that if they are still high, I

will be too depressed. Maybe tomorrow, before they do the

second ERCP they will check these. Curiously, this hospital has

not required me to do any pre-procedure labs. Funny how each

hospital has their unique procedures / requirements for a

seemingly similar " operation " ! I guess it is the same thing as

each case of CP / AP being unique.

Thanks again for the information that you shared with me. I

mulled it over these last few days, trying to make sense of what

he said versus your experience. I hope you and your daughter

continue to keep your titer down so the disease remains in

remission.

Laurie