Pancreatitis Support Group

Chronic pancreatitis can present as episodes of acute inflammation in a previously injured pancreas, or as chronic damage with persistent pain or malabsorption. Patients with chronic pancreatitis can present with persistent abdominal pain or steatorrhea, as well as severe nausea. Some patients with chronic pancreatitis often look very sick, while others don't appear to be...

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tarabunnyears 01/31/2011

I was wondering what an attack meant for you.

I have not really been diagnosed properly yet. I have had pancreatitis for 19 years. Last year, I finally went during an actual attack to the ER... and they ran tests and yup I had it. So, I have a diagnosis, but they just sent me home with no follow up care and so no action or guidance given.

I am seeing a GI on Thursday.

When I was 20, I had attacks daily... went to the dr, it was my gallbladder, I had stones. The gallbladder was greatly inflamed and he removed it.

After that, I still had attacks, but not daily. I am now down to about 3-6 a year.

Here is what an attack is for me.

Often times brought on by steak, fatty foods, ice cream, chocolate and anything with codien.

My attacks come in waves. I can feel it coming on, first in my back. It starts hurting, then the aching in my stomach.. Within 10 minutes, I am doubled over in screaming pain. Often curled up on the floor. It is excruciating for about 15 minutes. Then it starts easing up. Then I get a 5-10 minute break. During this time, it aches... seems irritated but not an actual attack. Then after a 10 minute break, it starts back up to the screaming pain for another 15/20 minutes.

I do not vomit. .

I can only have one major attack... or it can go on for 2 hours or as long as 10 hours. One attack after another.

After these attacks stop, I am left with a very sore tummy. It feels like a war zone. Then it eases up to feeling like I ate glass.

I had an attack last Thursday. I was lucky, it was only one wave of attacks. I was sick the days before. Vomiting and very very yellow stools. Then on Thursday I had an attack Just one. But since I have had I suppose minor attacks, but I don't classify them as actual attacks unless I scream in pain and am doubled over.

At no time since last Wednesday have I been without pain.

This is what an attack does to me. The times it lasts for hours are mind numbing. The reason I never went to the dr for 19 years was, I did, they removed the gall bladder. I still had pain... and went back, the did an ERCP, said nothing was wrong, it was just irritable bowl syndrome. I read up on that and I had NONE of the symptoms, so I got frustrated and just dealt with it. I was tired of paying money for no answers.

But finally went to the ER last year and my enzymes were extremely elevated.

So, what does your attack feel like?

deleted_user 02/01/2011

My attacks are sudden, usually in the middle of the night when my body is digesting and after I have eaten something with a lot of fat or grease. They start in the middle of my abdomen right below my sternum and right above my belly button, then they radiate into my back. I cant brief, I cant move. The pain is severe. I am nauseous. The pain subsides after I take some pain medication, but the back achiness dosent go away for days and after being on liquid diets the pain in the abdomen resolves, but every now and then I still feel a tightness when I eat. I also get really bloated after and during digestion and then it goes away.

Have you ever asked your GI doc about getting on an enzyme supplement? I've heard with chronic attacks you may need aid in your digestion with enzymes that your pancreas may be having a hard time creating. I am meeting with a GI doctor soon and haven't had the chance to ask anyone about it yet.

Its the worst pain ever. Its the not knowing and the constant fear I may have to return to the hospital that I hate.

Hang in there and never ever feel like its not important enough to bother your doctor about.

Paula1960 02/01/2011

Your description is very similar to how the episodes of Pancreatitis are for me, except I don't throw up. I've only ever experienced 2 episodes that I've ever actually vomitted. (I'm not complaining). Both were so severe that I wound up having surgery. Typically though, it starts in my back, on the right side, and is just uncomfortable. No matter how I sit or turn, my back hurts. Then I realize what is about to happen. At least that is how they start if its not the middle of the night. During the night, I just wake up in pain. Other symptoms include tunnel vision, dizziness, increased heart rate, shallow breathing and of course the pain. It can last for a few hours or for days. Have you ever seen the movie "The Thing"... where the alien bursts out the guys stomach? That's pretty much what I think if feels like. Then the greasy, yellow stools usually follow for the next few days along with my stomach feeling like someone punched it a hundred times. However, the episodes have changed over the years. They are not as frequent or as long anymore. The information provided on the Cleveland Clinic website describes this as pancreatic burnout. I've been doing this for over 40 years now, since I was a child -- it's part of my earliest memories.

tarabunnyears 02/01/2011

Thanks for sharing. I would love to hear more peoples experiences. Makes me feel less alone and less of a whiny butt. :P

I got in an argument with an ER doc, when I told him it was my pancreas and asked him to check my enzymes. He said I was not vomiting and thus not a pancreatic attack, but he begrudgingly did the tests and came back with his head hung in embarrassment. And after saying my levels were extremely elevated he said, "But you did not present properly." Like it was my fault. :P

mkgirl 02/02/2011

Pancreas attack for me is like theirs a little man inside my gut punching my pancreas over and over again and then the stabbing pain comes like someone is stabbing me with a knife goes clear through my back can last for many hours. Projectile vomiting since I was a baby earliest memories of my brother having to clean up the mess and then I did when I was old enough around 5yrs. old the pediatrician said I had food allergies. I was born with a pancreas defect that I didnt find out until a few years ago. Fortunately, found an awesome G.P. who ran all the right tests.Not in as much pain now that I am on a feeding tube. My pancreas is on it's way to burn out.

deleted_user 02/02/2011

When I try to explain to people how painful it truley is they look at my like Im begging for attention like there is no way that could posibly be painful or even be as bad as you say. arg!!

deleted_user 02/03/2011

My attacks are also sudden and usually at night
just like reply# 1, I so agree the backache hurts for weeks and i have non stop vomiting always resulting in a long hospital stay.
so glad I am not alone.

deleted_user 02/04/2011

My attacks start like I'm getting a tummy bug, with a yukky feeling in the middle of my tummy . The pain comes on slowly, starting across my abdomen then going into my back. When I start to double over in pain and writhe on the floor, it's time to call the ambulance. By the time it arrives (30 minutes) I am curled up in a ball on the floor crying and screaming uncontrollably. I have to be wheeled by chair to the ambulance where they but a line straight in and start on the morphine which continues all the way to the hospital. I go straight through to triage then admitted straight to a ward and put on a PCA and fluid and Nil By Mouth for the next five days or so. Fun.

deleted_user 02/09/2011

Mine strike with in 15 minutes of eating something it jut flad does not like. For years I would sit and listen to my mom and sister talk about their IBS and hay thats what I thought I had. They said that at times they felt like a duck.

My pain begin to the left side and goes down the side to the lower abd. it is a jabbing pain, then when it finally feels like its letting up then the dull pain begins. I head to the bathroom and only once have I ever thrown up. I usually spend some time on the toilet, then the pain leaves for the most part.

My triggers are milk, cheese, egg yokes, and lattes. I have done a complete diatery change. I do up natural juices, and am on a 90% fat free diet. I have learned to enjoy vegaterian meals again.

I feel personally that my gall bladder was the culprit and just took the pancreas with it as time went on.

I just had my trigliseroids done and they are not elevated. it is 142 and the high is 150. I have been on this diet now for 4 months along with pancreaze I am sure its gone down. My cholesterol is about or was 300 am hoping the change in the diet it goes down to.

I have about 5 attacks a year. And yes it has increased as I have gotten older. So the change in my eating is a good thing. Also with having MS I am feeling much better, pain level is way down. I am no longer on any MS meds, that alone has helped with the pancreatitis.

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