Hi team,
Like many of you, I am still struggling to get a definitive diagnosis of chronic pancreatitis. As you know, I’ve had every test possible, and still can’t get an explanation for my chronic pain and other symptoms related to pancreatitis. One area where I am struggling with my doctors is getting them to tell me if the pain that I experience is similar to other patients with CP. One doctor says “pancreatitis pain is felt around the belly button”–another says, “Pancreatitis pain is felt in the upper abdomen, central, just below the xiphoid process (just below center rib cage).” Yet another tells me that it is felt on the upper left side, just under the ribs–while still another says it is felt on the right!
So…I would like to ask the community where they feel their pain, and to describe it as specifically as possible. Since none of my doctors actually has CP, my assumption is this group can better tell me if the pain that I experience is indeed from CP, or somtething else.
Here is a detailed account of my pain: I experience pain everyday. On the “good” days, I experience moderate pain on the left side, just under the rib cage. Every morning I wake up with minor nausea. On the “bad” days, the pain increases to very severe, and remains mostly on the left side, although it also seems to migrate to the lower abdomen, still on the left side but nearer to my belly button. It also extends to my mid back on the left side. Whenever I eat, I feel incredibly full (even though I have only eaten a little bit) and have a lot of gas. Also on bad days, I sweat alot for no reason, have diarrhea, and eating is really the last thing I want to do.
Does this sound like you? does this feel like the pain of CP that you feel? or do you experience pain differently or in another area? what side, where, when?
For those of you who know me, I’ve being doing pretty bad lately, lots of pain. Been to the GI and he has basically given up on me–I’m sure you’ve heard it before.
Thanks folks, I really appreciate your help and love the fact that this group exists.
Archer