Pancreatitis post op 6 years

Good evening,

It has been a long very long time since i came on OH. I am currently 6 years post op, hit my doctors goal of 140, and kept going. I got down to 94 pounds(keep in mind i'm 5' tall) After having my now three year old i hover around 115-120. I had my gall bladder out in Aug 2009 7 months after my RNY. For the last few years I have had Pancreatitis attacks, well the last few months i get them more and more. I know what triggers them fatty foods which i normal stay away from. I currently am having on and its hurts so bad its unreal. I am not sure if there are other's out there that suffer from Pancreatitis or what causes it. If any one have any info please share... This is no fun, sadly my PCM doesn't really "believe" it could be pancreatitis. I can not go to my surgeon that preformed my RNY and gall bladder removal. As he is retired and lives in NC, where we moved to japan, and now in Tx. I just would like some info, i have looked over the internet and not really anything on there.. Just wonder if there are others out there like me.

Thank you

I had Pancreatitis once... at the same time my gall Bladder was on the way out. I got jaundiced. They couldn't have the gall Bladder out until the Pancreas calmed down. I was on IV and in the hospital for a total of 17 days between the pancreatitis and the gall bladder... I always look at the Mayo Clinic website for medical stuff - take a look there-I find it easy to understand...I know there is both acute and chronic...

Have you considered it could be some type of Acid or Bile Reflux? I only found out about Bile reflux recently because I am having symptoms and couldn't figure out how my surgery could cause GERD when it is supposed to take it away. I don't get traditional reflux, it is more painful and even my back hurts. I take Omeprozole/Prilosec and it goes away. Turns out anyone who has a damaged or missing Pyloric Valve can get Bile reflux and the literature specifically said "including patients with gastric bypass surgery"... doesn't change the symptoms but it makes more sense to me. Maybe try going on a PPI and see if it helps. If the Doc won't order it buy Prilosec from Cost****heapest) and take a double dose. My prescription is double the over-the-counter dose. See if it makes a difference.

I don't know anything about pancreatitis, but it sounds similar to gall bladder attacks. Do you still have your gall bladder?

Ah my old friend Pancreatitis. Mine had me visiting the ER several times the more advanced it got. My journey in short form (short as I can get it anyway):

Mine started at 3 years out and finally brought me completey down just past 4 years.

I had been having pains in that area for a bit but they always stopped after 20 minutes or so. But they started getting worse and not stopping as quickly. Finally put me in ER. They kept me because my liver numbers were whacked and I was having the pancreatitis. Scans showed "inflammation" but not blockage. Liver numbers went down and they released me for follow up. Did that, surgeon says it doesn't look that bad if it doesn't stop come back but your WLS will have to do in and I'll be there. Ok. It doesn't stop but I don't call about going back. (I'm like that).

Fast forward a couple of years and after having a few attacks the night before I go on to work. It had gotten to where I might have 2 or 3 attacks that lasted 45 mins or so over and 8 hour period. That's when it flared, not all the time. At work I got hit hard. I gave it as long as I could before I let them call 911. They took me to Johns Hopkins for which I am both greatful and not so greatful. Greatful because they did the tests and found that my pancreatic duct was dialated to 5 times it's normal size. Filled with sludge. Scar tissue had developed where the duct emptied and caused near blockage. But they would fix it.

I had to be fitted with a feeding tube but not for feeding. They needed to go through my remant stomach to reach the opening to the duct. Got that and healed up for 2 weeks. Back in the hospital for what was supposed to be outpatient. Ended up over night because when they opened up the duct and cleared the blockage my pancreas got really really pissed off at them. So extreme pain post-op until the good drugs arrived. Then next day home.

According to Hopkins it's being seen more often in RNY patients. Sorry it's so long but I would encourage you to find someone who will listen before you end up in the pain I was in. Gallbladder pain X 10.

Edited to add: I have to keep my diet pretty low fat even now. Too much and I can feel the irritation. And if you have any questions feel free to message me.

I'm 6 1/2+ years post RNY and I've had pancreatitis attacks for about 18 months. I've seen a specialist at Indiana University Medical Center and "for now" he just want's me to take oral narcotics for the pain. I've only had to go to ER once.

He does not want to do the ERCP (where they put the feeding tube in and go through the remnant stomach****il the pain duration or frequency gets unbearable. The specialist told me it is a risky procedure and he doesn't want to do it unless absolutely necessary.

My last bad attack was after dipping some gluten free bread in olive oil. I stay away from fats - nothing fried, greasy, no fast food, etc. My gallbladder was removed in 1983.

It is horrible pain - very similiar to Gall Bladder attacks. Hope you are able to get some answers.

I'm staying away from all fats and crossing my fingers. I carry Vicodan with me everywhere I go!

Hope you get some answers.

Penny