Just got out of the hospital, again

Well,
After my bloodwork last week being just slightly elevated(normal lipase 115-286, I was 367) I made it thru Thanksgiving, some black friday shopping, and christmas decorations. I about killed myself with exaustion. I was miserable by Monday night 11/26. So my kids went to my mother’s by 2am(tues) and my husband took me to the ER of a different hospital, UC where the clinic is I am going to next week. We were hoping in doing so, we would get somewhere with the right docs. NOT!!! Nothing new, same tests I got 2 weeks ago. It was miserable, no private room, an eating patient as my roomate first, then a vomiting drunken patient next. I was nauseated enough without their help! I was told I was getting an ERCP this morning if the CT looked ok. I also found out that their unit of measurment in their lab was way different, anything above 71, I was an 87 so still mildly elevated for lipase. Well they came in and said I was getting an MRCP instead even thought my CT was ok, I told them I just had that and I brought those records to check my chart. Then the doc came back in and said I was being discharged with pain med patch since I struggle with anything by mouth. I am soooo frustrated. My pain is more than my lipase is reflecting. I am just so at a loss. I am praying that next weeks appt. with the pancreatic disease center is a positive experience. They make me doubt myself, like my pain is all in my head, or I am crazy. I just want to not deal with this ANY MORE!!!
Why can’t they just do the darn ERCP to get better answers? I know thw risks, I just want answers!!

Hate to say it but HANG IN FOR THE SPECIALIST. I know it seems like an eternity, even though it is next week. I was lucky in the fact that my regular GI sent me to the specialist. It seemed like forever but I had my celiac plexus neurolysis Tuesday and I feel like a new woman. The pancreatic specialists are trained in CP and know that enzymes do not tell all. They also realize that pain meds are essential but there are alternatives to narcotics. My specialist said if the CPN didn’t work, he would send me to a pain specialist. If a doc is not willing to admit his/her own limitations, FIND ANOTHER ONE. As we can all attest, there are some very qualified specialists out there who do care.

Hugs and hopes for pain free days and nights

Teresa

PS If anyone is from the Northeast, specifically Connecticut, Dr. Michael Karasik is the master of pancreatitis in this area (Hartford Hospital).

Keke:

You are not crazy. Many of us have had the exact same thing happen at the hospital. The last time I was in the er for pain the er doc gave me some med and sent me home, which was okay, but he was informed and did it because he didn’t think I had cp because my levels were normal. Someone needs to teach these doctors something about cp. This guy was young, too! I thought he should know better. Take care and hang in there.

Ellen