Hey guys,
Another question, in the hospital last night my blood amylase came back quite low. It is weird because I was definately having a pancreatic attack. The last time I was admitted to hospital the GI doc said that low amylase could mean severe chronic pancreatitis at a later stage but I have been unable to find anything online that says this. Everything says that the amylase should be high. Has anyone else had low amylase? If so, what does it mean?
Steph
Hi Steph:
My niece, at 14, was diagnosed with hereditary pancreatitis. Her doctors in Austin were really on top of things. They did not treat her as a kid with a stomach ache. First enzymes test came back normal so they checked it once a week and the enzymes tested high a week after her symptoms of pain. I showed up 5 days after my major attack. My mom was misdiagnosed 20 years ago because her blood work came out negative and a low reading.
Enzymes count should be high if you have pancreatitis but at what time it shows up is the question.You must realize most of the doctors confidently say nothing is wrong because they know only what they have been taught and what they experience over the years. So listen to the people who have this disease and be confident about your symptoms and find another doctor if necessary. If you tell your doctor of others with this disease have been diagnosed and treated in others ways than he knows about, he may feel uncomfortable. I have a local gastro doctor that has been treating me for 3 years now and I realize how much he does not know. I like him and he is sweet to me but I know he is not knowledgeable.
My doctor in Houston, Dr. William Fisher, director of the Elkins Pancreas Center & Dept. of the DeBakey Dept of Surgery rolls his eyes when I tell him the things my local tells me about my pancreas. Save yourself some time and go to a Pancreas specialist. The arguments will stop and you will be able to get treatment quickly. They have seen and heard it all. You will need a doctor for the rest of your life with this condition.
I am having the Frye/Puewstow procedure Oct 22 and I am scared to death. He laughed at me and said,“I do 3 a week and did one on a 70 year woman, so relax” My local doctor thinks it is extremely rare to even consider this procedure. Good luck to you and enzyme count is NOT the center of diagnosis. It may show up when you are not going for a test that day. I will be thinking of you and again, use this group to keep your confidence and spirit up. Keep me posted and if I learn anything else from my families experience, I will let you know.
Candice
Hi Candice,
I read in your note to Steph that you are going to have a Peustow procedure. As the doctor said, there is really nothing to worry. For me when I had the procedure I was in very critical condition and they had to do within days after I had Symphecterectomy and it didn’t work out.
I’ll keep you in my prayers and thoughts and hope everything goes well with your procedure. Don’t worry about the surgery until you go to hospital. Try to divert your mind doing something you like or something you have to take care of things before you go for surgery(only if you have strength). You can try watching your favorite movies, mostly comedy, read light books, listen to good music and it helps me a lot. It has the miracle effect. I keep music running most of the time and it really gives me peace of mind and makes me calm down.
Good luck dear and wholeheartedly hope that everything is going to be alright.
Love and hugs.
Durga.
hey Candice,
thanks for your quick reply, i have already been diagnosed and i have had a peustow procedure in the past. i had alot of luck with it and ended up having 3 years completely pain free. i hope it goes even better for you 
with the low amylase, i know that you dont have to have high amylase to be diagnosed, but what i am curious about is… what does it mean when it is low? or maybe there isnt anything that it means. who knows… good luck with your peustow, keep in touch if you would like as i have also had a peustow and would be happy to answer any questions.
love steph
If a doc knows his stuff, he will know that in a CHRONIC pancreatitis case, amylase and lipase will most likely be normal or low. Remember, we all take enzymes to REPLACE what is not being produced. We do not supplement with enzymes during an acute phase because the levels are high.
Steph,
I have had “low” amylase even during my worst attacks since I had my
Whipple in May, 1995. This is a great bone of contention between me
and physicians in the ER. They do not believe that I am in so much
pain because of the low amylase and lipase and because I take it all
with a large grain of salt, so to speak. So. I can joke about and
appear “normal” when the pain is so high. This is. for me. a coping
mechanism as I really don’t want to sit about wailing and pissing and
moaning over it all. I just want the pain to go away and to get down
to a manageable level for a week or so.
Also, I have information from the American National Gastrointestinal
Association that recount again and again that low amylase levels are
to be “expected” over time with chronic pancreatitis patients. So, it
is everywhere on the internet that this is so, even from other
places. Try to find “chronic pancreatitis and amylase levels” in your
Google search line.
Anyse
Very interesting posts from all and great statements from Macbeth regarding amylase…sometimes it can be difficult to put it all together when you are the patient. My most recent visit to the ER resulted in the resident MD stating to me “if you have chronic pancreatitis, they why are you coming to the ER?”. It was a good thing that I did, potassium was very low, other lab work abnormal and the amylase was not low, but was only slightly elevated - all the other liver tests, etc were extremely elevated. I do try to avoid the ER at all costs, which can lead to an undesireable outcome. My physician has orders ready for me, if necessary, and I am direct admit - but you know these things never happen when it is convenient. Usually, a weekend, a holiday, MD on vacation, etc., etc.,… Hope you all are having a tolerable day and still have HOPE. “THERE IS ALWAYS A BETTER WAY” Thanks for the info from Anyse too!!