Re: Diagnosis of CP

[Guest guest]

Hi !

Ahhhh...the frustrations of a normal CT scan! I know the feeling very well.

I had normal ultrasounds, CT's, lab work all the time. It wasn't until I had

surgery to remove a cyst from my pancreas that the surgeon saw that my

pancreas was hard and inflamed. I was told a million times prior to the surgery

that my pancreas was totally healthy besides the cyst and that it could not be

my

pancreas causing my abdominal pain. Even after the surgeon saw the

inflammation AND removed the tail of my pancreas it still took me a little over

2 YEARS

to get my CP diagnosis. I blame it all on my amylase & lipase for not

elevating high enough. Finally I went to a GI who understood that a & l do not

have

to elevate. Even he took about 5 or 6 months to give me an official

diagnosis. Hang in there! I know its tough and you want to give up but do not,

your

health care is something you need to stay on top of. Please let me know if

you have any specific questions I may be able to answer. Oh, why do you suspect

pancreas problems?

Sending lots of happy thoughts your way.....

Marisa~San Diego, CA

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

All my Ct scans, MRI's, MRCP, have all been normal. The only way it was

determined was when I had an ERCP. That test showed significant damage. The

test

itself is risky because you have a chance of having a pancreatitis attack.

The only reason they GI decided to do it was because after my " Acute Attack " I

still had considerable pain and discomfort. Now I am a year and a half past

the first attack. I have done very well. I did have another attack maybe two,

( I was admitted twice in one week) but since then I was put on a low fat

diet 40-50grams of fat per day. For someone who loves to eat (that's me) I had

to give quite a few of my favorite things to eat. (Chocolate, pastries,

doughnuts, about everything)

There is also another test called Endoscopic ultrasound that is less risky. I

am scheduled for one on the 14th to see if I need stents. I hope this is of

some help to you. Take Care

Patty Jensen

[Guest guest]

Hello ,

I have dx of CP, done by my doctor despite normal CT Scan, that only

reported a lot of gas in my bowel.

As I have bouts of diarrhea, abdominal pain, low weight and nausea, he said

that is enough.

To complete my dx I also have had on and off high levels of amylase blood

test and bilirrubins, and fecal fat positive.

I never done ERCP neither MRI ou MRCP.

I also have a positive (various) sweat test for CF, that sometimes causes

pancreas troubles.

All the best,

Liane

you wrote:

I would like to hear from those of you who have been diagnosed with

chronic pancreatitis but do have " normal " CT scans. If your CT scans

do not show any damage to the pancreas, how did your doctors diagnose

you with chronic pancreatitis? Based on what tests?

I've had 3 CT scans during the past 2 years showing everything is

normal. I also had normal MRCP. Now I am waiting for the pancreatic

function test (secretin test).

Thank you very much!