finally getting some answers!
Hello Everyone.
I have posted a few times in the forum. I am finally getting some answers and not being sent away as a crazy lady. It feels so good to finally be getting some where! Even if the answers kind of suck.
I found a new GI doctor who has taken my health concerns seriously. (Weight loss- 35-40 lbs since October, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, PAIN, random fevers, mouth sores, and erythema nodosum) He is affiliated with a nearby University Hospital and specializes in the pancreas/liver. I had an ERCP last Friday and my pancreatic duct was almost completely closed. They cut it open and put a stent in. The plan is for the stent to fall out on its own. If not I go back in a couple of weeks for another ERCP to have it removed.
He told me that I do have chronic pancreatitis and NASH (non alchoholic hepatitis). He also said he didn't feel comfortable ruling out IBD/crohns yet though either. I have had a few colonoscopies that showed no IBD/crohns but he said sometimes the inflammation is in other areas (any where from mouth to the butthole in crohns?). He was considering starting steroids but decided against it due to my diabetes which makes steroids difficult with out staying in the hospital. Right now the plan is to see if the stent helps and in three months reevaluate my symptoms and add creon (spelling) to help with the pancreatitis. He said another surgery may be needed if the stent doesn't work. The ERCP really makes me nervous because of the risks but the first one went ok without problems.
Has anyone else had pancreatitis associated with crohns? Are there alternatives to steroids that are safe for diabetics? Anyone's input on this would be great. Thanks for your support.
Sara
Hello Everyone.
I have posted a few times in the forum. I am finally getting some answers and not being sent away as a crazy lady. It feels so good to finally be getting some where! Even if the answers kind of suck.
I found a new GI doctor who has taken my health concerns seriously. (Weight loss- 35-40 lbs since October, chronic diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, PAIN, random fevers, mouth sores, and erythema nodosum) He is affiliated with a nearby University Hospital and specializes in the pancreas/liver. I had an ERCP last Friday and my pancreatic duct was almost completely closed. They cut it open and put a stent in. The plan is for the stent to fall out on its own. If not I go back in a couple of weeks for another ERCP to have it removed.
He told me that I do have chronic pancreatitis and NASH (non alchoholic hepatitis). He also said he didn't feel comfortable ruling out IBD/crohns yet though either. I have had a few colonoscopies that showed no IBD/crohns but he said sometimes the inflammation is in other areas (any where from mouth to the butthole in crohns?). He was considering starting steroids but decided against it due to my diabetes which makes steroids difficult with out staying in the hospital. Right now the plan is to see if the stent helps and in three months reevaluate my symptoms and add creon (spelling) to help with the pancreatitis. He said another surgery may be needed if the stent doesn't work. The ERCP really makes me nervous because of the risks but the first one went ok without problems.
Has anyone else had pancreatitis associated with crohns? Are there alternatives to steroids that are safe for diabetics? Anyone's input on this would be great. Thanks for your support.
Sara
