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...
I've been working with a team of docs at mayo clinic after not getting very much better alter my last acute attack in January of this year. When I first got to mayo they did a contrasting MRI which shows all waS ok. When the problems persisted and the weight continued to fall off I decided to come to mayo to get to the bottom of my problem. I wrote earlier that they diagnosed me with MALS (median arcuate ligament syndrome) but the surgery is too dangerous and the surgery doesn't guarantee the pain will go away because the pain could obviously be from my cp. It's impossible to discern the difference at this time.
The vascular surgeon ordered an ultrasound to check on the velocity of flow and my celiac is compressed by 70% and it also showed that my flow was about 80% compromised at my mesenteric artery which mens that my intestines, colon and pancreas aren't getting enough blood flow. I've not yet spoken with my GI about this because it was just discovered last Thursday and they only talked bout my celiac being compressed...no mention of the mesenteric ischemia...anyone else deal with this? I found out about the mesenteric compression by reading the radiology report myself which just came online ( one really helpful tool at mayo is having online access to my entire medical record.)
I started out a MAYO so that they would rule out pancreatic cancer and I feel like they've run every test in the book but no one will tell me it's not cancer. And now that I've got so many docs involved looking at so many new things they discovered I feel like maybe they forgot the real reason I'm here.
The surgeons and docs all agree that my gallbladder should come out but they're in no hurry to do so. I've had some tests that show sludge and one small stone "immobilized" in the duct. I'm a time bomb right?
The endoscopy that I spoke of in my last post also wa an internal ultrasound which did show what they concluded was moderate to severe cp even though the Mri Looked fine. My lipase is down and I'm scared that the pancreas is dying either way with this lack of flow in my mesenteric artery. I need help knowing what questions to ask my docs.
What do they need to do to me to rule out pancreatic cancer?
Peace!
The vascular surgeon ordered an ultrasound to check on the velocity of flow and my celiac is compressed by 70% and it also showed that my flow was about 80% compromised at my mesenteric artery which mens that my intestines, colon and pancreas aren't getting enough blood flow. I've not yet spoken with my GI about this because it was just discovered last Thursday and they only talked bout my celiac being compressed...no mention of the mesenteric ischemia...anyone else deal with this? I found out about the mesenteric compression by reading the radiology report myself which just came online ( one really helpful tool at mayo is having online access to my entire medical record.)
I started out a MAYO so that they would rule out pancreatic cancer and I feel like they've run every test in the book but no one will tell me it's not cancer. And now that I've got so many docs involved looking at so many new things they discovered I feel like maybe they forgot the real reason I'm here.
The surgeons and docs all agree that my gallbladder should come out but they're in no hurry to do so. I've had some tests that show sludge and one small stone "immobilized" in the duct. I'm a time bomb right?
The endoscopy that I spoke of in my last post also wa an internal ultrasound which did show what they concluded was moderate to severe cp even though the Mri Looked fine. My lipase is down and I'm scared that the pancreas is dying either way with this lack of flow in my mesenteric artery. I need help knowing what questions to ask my docs.
What do they need to do to me to rule out pancreatic cancer?
Peace!
My foster son has superior mesenteric artery syndrome. It is not exactly the same as what you are describing, but you are the only other person who has ever even mentioned the mesenteric artery.........
His mesenteric artery isn't compressed, but if he loses weight - the fat on top of the duodenum goes away and then the mesenteric artery drops and wraps around the duodenum - which causes an acute pancreatic attack.
I am so sorry you are going through this. I wish the doctors clarity as they work with you to figure out (and solve) what is causing you so much pain.
K