Acute pancreatitis and NO gallbladder?

I had some fun this weekend.......
Wound up in the ER due to severe stomach pain (the doubled over kind), cold sweats and trembling.  Felt nauseous while the cold sweats were happening, but not at any other time.  Never threw up.  No diarrhea.  And, I'd never experienced anything like this before.

Actually, by the time I got to the ER, I wasn't in terrible pain, just pretty good discomfort.  I was feeling pretty stupid by then, and the only reason I went on in to the ER is because I was afraid it was a small bowel obstruction.  The CT scan (with contrast {thanks, Nicolle}) showed nothing in the way of an obstruction, but it did show a LOT of inflammation of my pancreas.  So much so, that they really couldn't get a good look at it.
Also, my lipid level was over 3000 (whatever that means).
So, they admitted me and started me on saline solution.  Over the next 16 hours, I received 2 big bags full.  The blood draw after the saline showed a lipid level of 133.  So, I was very pleased about that.  And, the pain was entirely gone.

Two important things to know:
1.  I'm not a heavy drinker.  I did have a margarita 2 weeks ago.  Before that, I would say that I average one mixed drink a month.  Not that I abstain, but it just isn't something that's important to me, so I really don't drink much.
2. I don't have my gallbladder.  So, it can't be gallstones exactly, right?

I've done a brief search back through our forum and didn't see much, so my question is:  Is this pretty uncommon for DSers?
Oh, another question: Other than drinking lots of water, and avoiding coffee, any words of wisdom on suggested diet?  I was given instructions from the hospital to follow a low-fat diet and I just smiled and nodded.  I ain't giving up fat, thankyouverymuch.

So, anything you want to throw out there, I'd appreciate.

 I just wanted to say how sorry I am that you had to go through that!  YUCK!!!!  I hope it never, ever, ever, ever happens again. 

Were they able to give you ANY insight as to why this happens???

Thanks for your kind thoughts.
No, they kept quizzing me about my drinking habits.  Not sure they believed me, but, whatever...
A surgeon was recommending surgery (exploratory, I suppose), but, since they didn't know what they were looking for, I wasn't having any of it.

Hi Caprice,

It could have been a obstruction in your bilopancreatic limb that corrected its self. Yes it is possible, not common at all but possible!

I had 2 boughts of exactly as you describe before it twisted for the final time. Which led to hospital stay of 3 weeks cause since I had 2 previous boughts that went away. I basically waited to long.The twist became herniated, the bowel was dying/dead. My lipase levels were off the charts (over 10,000) they wondered how I was still alive and functioning. Extreme Pancreatits, I wasn't allowed to eat for 2.5 weeks and was on TPN for weeks afterwards. And had 18" of the Bilo limb removed.

Don't know what caused it. I had no adhesions, no herias, no real explanation as to why it would happen but it did.

It's good to have that information.  Thank you.

Dang, though, that sounds painful!  Glad you got through it.

Thanks for sharing!

Yeah that hospital stay is the reason I canno****ch House. When you wake at 2 am and there is nothing on but House while you've been locked in the hospital that long,lol.

That was the shortened version of it all. If you want more info just let me know. Painful- yeah thats a problem it never felt more than a bad stomach ache to me. I have an extreme tolerance to pain. Yup a Drs worst nightmare, high pain thresh hold, high pain med tolerance and super stoic. My surgeon at one point when I was in the hospital said, flat out Damn You. Because he asked how I was feeling and I said "Eh OK". Which atleast he knew was my way of saying miserable but more mentally than physically. 

But on a good note have not had an issue since. And that was almost 5 years ago. 

There are also medications that can cause pancreatitis, so hopefully the docs reviewed all your meds. And sometimes the cause remains unknown forever.

I'm just glad you're better!

Larra

Thank you, Larra!
Actually, I don't take any meds.  Just vitamins.
They did say that 20-30% of the cases remained mysteries (as to the cause).
Guess I'll just be a mystery.

 I had two different intestinal twists, they were tough...( years, in the past..)..but no pancreatitis. I think  if I had this I'd be looking about natural supports  for pancreatic function. ....things that support Diabestes would be a good place to start.  
       I am not diabetic, but have had reactive hypoglycemia 30 years.   so about a year ago I started I take  cinnamon  and american ginseng,  and chromimum...they have  limited my  hypoglycemic episodes..and limited my    high glucose spikes..

There actually have been a few DSers with this.  I remember their stories when I was researching getting a DS around 4-5 years ago.  At least one died from it.  I don't remember the details though.  But I know this can be an issue for DSers.  These other DSers were not drinkers either.  If I recall, one of them developed it very quickly while she was on vacation visiting her mother.  It happened while driving back home... she died.  Maybe others will remember.  But this is one of the reasons I avoid alcohol as much as I can.  I do think something is happening with the pancreas in DSers... just don't know the whats and whys yet.