Gastric Bypass & Chronic Pancreatitis (Page 1)

I had gastric bypass on july 30, 2002. I began with pancreatitis in sept. Of 2003. Well, that is when it was diagnosed. I have not found anyone else who has had gastric bypass who has it! I thought I was all alone in this. Do you have a cyst on your pancrea also? Have you gotten help for your pancreatitis? I cannot have the ercp done because of my gastric bypass so I may have to have the whipple procedure done to remove part of my pancreas. The docs assure me it has nothing to do with my bypass but I can't help but think it did!
Let me know how you are, I would love to know if we have similar issues!
Dixiemailman

I had gastric bypass about 3 year ago. My gallbladder was removed shortly thereafter. I've gone symptom free for about a year and a half and suddenly find myself back in a bad situation. I have been having severe upper abdominal pain = heart palpatations and bouts of nausea, vomiting and fainting. At first they said it was vertigo - but that hasn't seemed to pan out. I am tired of tests, dr visits, etc.
It seems that it is my pancreas. I can't help but think this is all somehow related. I see my Dr on Wed for the "official" diagnosis. I have days that go by and I don't feel any pain, just discomfort. On other days - its overwhelming - I find it hard to think of little else other than stopping the pain. I haven't had a good nights sleep in weeks it seems. This is all new to me, so I hope that it is in a treatable stage. I don't relish taking medicine again - since this was one of the main reasons I had the bypass done. I've been without perscription meds and it has been wonderful - until now. What a trade off????

i had a GBP in september 2006, and just in the last few months, started with the pancreatitis. never know what will set it off, tuna one day, and not the next. bread hurts. . . no booze. . . sour cream started this last one. but five guys hamburgers (ok, so half a hamburger), doesn't hurt. it's the most annoying thing in the world. mother's day sucked because i couldn't eat anything. i ended up just having a grilled burger. one taste of potato salad, and i was under the table with pain. i'm so tired, i can't work, i can't concentrate, and the fainting and other stomach issues are getting worse, vomiting and diahrrea. i could go on but i won't. good luck to all of you. . .
Judy

The M & J talk show today 7/7/09 seems to say there is a connection between gastric by pass and pancreatitis something about bands and the way the used to do the procedure

I have had Gastric Bypass surgery Jan 2004 and in Dec of 2008 had an episode of acute pancreatitis. The doctors immediately blamed it on drinking too much and didn't look any further. In my own research on the topic it does appear as if I may have triggered the bout of pancreatitis with alcohol to some extent however all the information I can find indicates that a person will have been a "heavy" drinker (more than 10 units a day; a 750 ml bottle of 12% wine has 9 units) for as much as 10 - 15 years prior to a first episode of pancreatitis. By the definitions they use, I would qualify as a heavy drinker but I have only been drinking at this level for about 2 years...I am wondering if the Gastric Bypass Surgery has in some way made me more vulnerable to pancreatitis from drinking? Obviously since December 2008 I have significantly cut back on my drinking but every time I "slip" up and drink even less than I used to drink before the first episode I have a flare up. I have not seen my doctor about subsequent episodes. If anyone has any information on the relationship of pancreatitis and gastric bypass surgery I would appreciate a reply.

I had my Bypass in 2004, my Gallbladder out in 2007, and I began having pancreatitis in 2008. I've been hospitalized twice with the pain. I've had MRI's, CAT Scans, scoped, ultrasounds (inside and out)and no cause has been found. When I start hurting it can last 5-10 minute or 1-2 hours. I just keep phenergan and lortab around for the pain. I wish I could find a treatment/cure. After an attack, it takes me 2-4 days to get over it and back to work.

I had gastric bypass surgery in 2005. Recently I was in the hospital with diverticulitus, but still didn't feel well after I got out of the hospital. After additional testing my lipase numbers are over 1000 and I have been diagnosed with pancreatitis - however the cause has yet to be determined. I am very frustrated and am tired of feeling like crap. It also bothers me that the first thing the doctors go to when everything else turns up negative is alcohol. I do drink, but not daily and not in access. I asked whether or not the gastric bypass might be a cause of the problem and was told no. Now I am starting to wonder. Has anyone's doctor ever said yes?

Lori i to just found out that i have chronic pancreatitis but it took 8 years and countless docs to tell me. Finally the University of Minnesota hospital found it. And my doc there actually said to me that him and the gastric bypass should start a clinic for women who have had gastric bypass and then get pancreatitis, he said they see it EVERY day! and that they are definetly related! I have had countless docs tell me that my "problems" were not related to the bypass which i knew was bs cause they started after it. good luck to you

I had my gallbladder removed in 2003 and had gastric bypass in 2004. Suddenly last Spring (March 09) I started having upper abdominal pain that I thought was due most likely to a tear after a violent vomiting episode (although I described the pain as exactly the same as when I had gallstones). I went to my bypass dr who prescribed prilosec and some liquid stuff used for ulcers. She said it should get better on its own in 4-6 weeks. It didn't. After 6 months of pain I went to a different doctor who didn't really have a clue what to think. They did a ct scan and said they saw a clump of what they figured was undigested fiber in my stomach and scheduled surgery immediately Oct 2009. After the surgery the dr said he didn't find anything at all. (yeah that was fun.) Even though he didn't find anything the pain disapppeared for 5 glorious pain free months. Last weekend it came back with a vengence. I haven't gotten more than 1 hour of sleep at a time this whole week because the pain wakes me over and over. I'm exhausted. Today I got a surprise, light colored yellow/gray stools and I'm sure it's nothing I ate that made it that way and I've been getting dumping syndrome (dizziness, sweating, shaking, confusion, light headedness, nausea, diarrhea and chills) even after eating protein which usually us what I eat to feel make that feeling go away. I really don't want to go back to any of the doctors I've seen. It's clear to me they don't know whats going on and their meds aren't helping. They keep telling me to take them before I get the pain but unfortunately I can't really plan for that outside of bedtime because thats the only time it consistantly happens...which by the way the meds give me at the most (and I'm being generous here) 3-5 minutes relief before the pain is back full force. I'm not like others I've read about. I don't notice anything specific I eat causing the pain, it's so random it drives be crazy. It's dibilitating. I can't sit still when it hurts and I can't think of anything else but the pain when it's hurting. I live in Minneapolis and would like to know the name of the doctor dshiffer1974 posted about at UofM hospital. Please, if anyone has the name of a doctor who can help in the twin cities area I would really appreciate it!!

mystc77 i see dr freeman and dr leslie at the u of m dr leslie is a gastric bypass doc and freeman is pancreas doc. Light colored oily stool is a sure sign of pancreatitis, let me know if you have any other questions i dont want anyone to suffer like i have

Thank you for your quick response. This has been going on so long and I frustrated at the fact that I've told the drs that I've had my gallbladder removed and the pain I feel is the same as when I had gallstones and they didn't even consider a pancreas issue. I didn't either but then I'm not a doctor. Last time I searched this stuff I didn't find anything about pancreatitis but I've done more than enough reading tonight to know this has to be whats going on. Are you familiar with Dr. Sibley? She's also with UofM. After looking at the Endocrinologists there she's the one I'm most interested in seeing (she specializes in Thyroid disfunction which I also have). A one stop shop for me! No matter what I'm going to walk in at Fairview Hospital in Maple Grove tomorrow if tonight is like every other night this week...which I have no doubt it will be...it's already started. Dr. Sibley sees patients there so I'm hoping to get a referral to her when I'm there. I honestly do think there should be a clinic for post GBP patients for this after seeing how many people have had this same problem. If not a clinic, there should at least be a risk listed to pre-op patients so they know what to look for and where to go for help if it happens. I would have appreciated it. Even in hindsight had I known this was a possibility I would still have had my GBP surgery. I still think it was the best thing I could have ever done for myself.

Debra R
I had my gall bladder removed because of many acute pancreatitus attacks. Then Dr. Berry Sanchez in Burlingame CA removed my stones in a difficult surgery because I also had a gastic bypass surgery in 2004. The acute pancreatitis is gone but I still have a burning feeling in the left side of my back and in the middle of my stomach at times. The pain is not too bad compared to the acute pancreatitus. I started juicing and I have given up all meats period! I only eat fresh fruits and veggies and tuna. I am losing a lot of weight but I wish this burning feeling goes away. Acute Pancreatitus can turn into chronic pancreatitus if one of your attacks damages or scars your pancreas. I need more than two hands to count how many attacks I had before the stones were removed and my last one was really bad. I know doctors are not perfect and there are so many things being discovered, and for that reason alone is why I am not considering sueing the Dr. the lied when he documented that there were no stones left in me when he removed my gall bladder. He told me himself that he thought he left stones. Nevertheless, I know he was not able to remove them so no hard feelings.

First, I must say thank you to all for being willing to share your experiences here. I had GBP (Roux-en-Y) in June of 2004,lost 100 lbs., and had good health for over 5 years. I was feeling really good, exercising, eating healthy and, of course, increased self esteem. At the time of my surgery, I don't know if I was informed that all I am experiencing now was a risk, and I chose to ignore that, or that I was never informed. In retrospect, given all that I am experiencing now, I don't believe I would have had the surgery. Over the last 1-1/2 years, I had put regained 17 lbs. In January of this year, I joined Weight Watchers, and lost 11 lbs. Feeling good about that too. In April of this year, I woke up to excruciating abdominal pain that radiated to my back. I immediately went to the emergency room. It was worse than labor pains, in my experience. Blood work showed acute pancreatitis, as my pancreatic (amylase) and liver (lipase) levels were extremely high. I was admitted to hospital, on IV, for several days. I don't know what caused it. I am not a drinker, although I did have 2 glasses of red wine & coffee with Bailey's Irish Cream the weekend prior to pancreatitis attack. At this time, my diagnosis was not attributed to GBP, while I had my doubts, given that 95% of the time, I eat healthy choices, and rarely drink alcohol. Then, on May 5th, I woke up to abdominal pain that also radiated to my back. Went to the Emergency Room. Wasn't pancreatitis this time; was intussusception of my intestines, plus something else involving the abdomen, (it's all on my CT scan report in medical jargon). Basically, my abdomen, where the suture site was from GBP was grossly enlarged, and my intestines where twisted and then "telescoped" into each other (that's the intussusception part). I was admitted to hospital & had emergency surgery that same afternoon. I was grateful that the Chief of Bariatric Surgery (Dr.Borao) was at the hospital when the ER surgical resident told me I needed immediate surgery. If anyone was going to operate on me, I wanted someone that knew the anatomy of a GBP patient. Dr. Borao came to see me in the ER & told me that if I didn't have the surgery, it would rupture and within 24-48 hours I could die. Of course, I had no opposition to the surgery, and Dr. Borao saved my life. Was in intensive care for several days, and after a week came home with gastric tube that has is now removed. After coming home I thought my discomfort was related to healing, but after new bloodwork and CT scan of pelvis & abdomen, there are additional challenges. Bloodwork indicates my amylase & lipase levels are elevated, and I now have what appears to be colitis, as per CT report: "wall thickening involving ascending colon. Inflammatory chgs of fat are seen surrounding the ascending colon & proximal transverse colon. This is suggestive of a long segment of colitis, suspicious for long segmentof colitis."
I have read on the web that those with pancreatitis are higher risk for pancreatic cancer. My greatest fear is pancreatic cancer and colostomy. I'm usually a very upbeat, positive person, but this persistent discomfort, bouts of pain, tests, uncertainty and insomnia have so diminished the quality of my life. I find myself regretting having the GBP at all. This is so not worth all that I'm going through. Sorry for being so lengthy in my post. I'm stressed over it, and need to focus on my healing and not my fear. Duke University Hospital was recommended for all gastro treatment as that is their specialty. I noted comments about U of Minnesota.
Feedback would be appreciated and, yes, having a facility for post-gastric by pass patients would be phenomenal.
Penina11

I must tell you that jucing has helped me a lot. I stopped eating meat and I only eat fish, low to no fat foods, and eat six really small meals a day. My body can no longer handle the big meals. I did a lot of praying and I know that this is now my lifestyle. Juicing spinach, beets, and blueberries repairs your insides. I also drink lots of water per day because Chronic Pancreatitis will allow you to get dehydrated quick. I have gone down two pant size and I am going down another. All of my clothes are too big for me (praise God for that) and I feel really good. I only have mild pain when I am hiking or doing major exercise and the pain is really mild. I stay away from foods that are harmful to me and you find out good diets for those who suffer with chronic pancreatitis all over the web. Just type in Chronic pancreatitis diets. They will pretty much tell you to juice and stay away from high fat foods. I hate that I had to give up coffee but I boldly drink about half a cut once a week. I dont get sick with that amount.

I had my Gastric Bypass in 2006, I have now been diagnosed with Chronic Pancreatitis. I was fortunate that the Doctors Discovered it early, and they did attribute it to my bypass surgery right from the start. But I still have extreme pain sometimes and have Found Gabapentin to work wonders!!! A great pain killer that leaves me with no side effects. Diet is a big part to pain control though. I have recently started taking enzymes to help with digestion so I will see how that goes. I feel for anyone who has to go through this. The one interesting thing that took them along time to figure out was through a MRI they found a fluid filled sack between my pancreas and my stomach (not attached) and if it was big enough they would have drained it, but it wasnt. They are hoping that it will go down on its own and I will be having another MRI in 4 months to check the progress. So if you are still having bouts of pain maybe ask your doctor about this. It can only be seen through an MRI. Good luck to all and here it to our health

WOW!!! Very enlightening posts!!! Thank you everyone.....sooo........I had GBP April 2009. Was fine until 4 days ago, when I had mild pain all day, right in the center of my stomach. Went to my PCP and he did bloodwork. Next day they told me the bloodwork was fine, but my pancreas was slightly irritated. (didn't contact GPB surgeon, since I went to him over Christmas for what turned out to be the flu, and he wouldn't even examine me!! Had his PA do an exam, because he didn't want to catch what I had!!! And said, he will only see me if I want something "cut out" of me!!) At any rate, I am on a bland diet through the weekend.....actually, the pain went away shortly after seeing PCP.....sooo.....now I am sooo paranoid......I know people with SERIOUS complications from pancreatitis, and don't want to get any worse.....I am hoping this isn't the start of horrible things to come.......I will speak with my pcp for an update, tomorrow.....I am going to speak w/him regarding the connection with GBP......

I am absolutely beside myself to hear that other people are suffering from pancreatitis - post gastric by-pass!
I am a 41 year old mom of 3. In Sept/2004, I had the Rioux-En-Y Gastric done in Duluth, Minnesota (USA) I live right by Thunder Bay/Kakabeka falls, Ontario Canada.(3 hrs away from Duluth) I weighed 278 lbs! I had severe bleeding complications immediately following the surgery. Following months of recovery, I returned to my job as a By-Law Enforcement Officer with Thunder Bay Animal Services. I started suffering from severe right upper quadrant abdominal pain, thinning hair, brittle nails and horrible, smelling diarrhea/watery/grey colored stools. FINALLY, 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with Acute Pancreatitis. I nearly lost my life from the complications, have had numerous, numerous tests, blood transfusions and seizures. I have been in hospital more than I have been at home. My arms are so scarred from the picc lines and IV sites and now I have developed horrible, puss/fluid filled lesions on my lower legs and forearms. I have severe pain during the height of these attacks that lasts for weeks, but my amalyase and lipase levels are not even spiking anymore. All of the doctors are telling me there is nothing more that they can do. They have tried to perform 2 ERCP's but cannot get into the area they need to because my anatomy is changed due to the gastric by pass. I have been in intensive care and our parish priest read me my last rites just last July. By the grace of God, I pulled through and here I am today, scared as hell and trying to live a life! I had a TRANSDUODENAL SPINCTEROTOMY(stent) last October and did so well for 3 months! I even returned to work, but only lasted 2 weeks before ending up in hospital again! Since February of this year, I have had 8 hospital admissions, lasting weeks at a time. My children have had to help carry me to the bathroom, watch in horror as I have had convulsive seizures.. I cannot leave my home because I MUST stay close to the bathroom at all times! I have severe diarrhea, horrible smelling gas and spontaneous vomiting. I have lost ridiculous amounts of weight (dropped down to 121 lbs) I have NEVER weighed that in my life!!and had lost most of my hair last year. What did grow back is very fine and very silver - nothing that a little color magic can't fix- AND I am very grateful to have some now! Nevertheless, I have tried to go back to the surgeons who performed the by-pass in Duluth, Minnesota, but they will not return my phone calls. The Toronto, Ontario surgeon, Dr. Gary May (bless his heart), tried to do the 1st ERCP, but the scope could not reach and I somehow went into septic shock and wound up in ICU for several days. I was medi-vac'd back to the hospital in Thunder Bay. I had another attempt under general anesthetic for the ERCP, but the surgeon could not get in the area, once again - different surgeon this time. I am currently awaiting a 3rd attempt with the double balloon scope in Toronto - hopefully soon. I have been told that there is nothing more that really could be done. I did hear that the gastric by-pass could be reversed, but really.. what good would it do now as my pancreas is now severely damaged.(air pockets have been found with my last CT/MRI) The doctors just don't know how severe it is. I am so desperate. I barely leave my bedroom anymore. I was put on OCTREOTIDE ACETATE. I do 2-1 ml injections 3 x's a day. I still have not got a straight answer as to why I am on this! The needles get very painful and I also have to have Gravol injections, daily. I am currently on 30mg's of Dilaudid/Hydromorphone every 3-4 hours. I just wained off of the Fentanyl Patch. I was on 300 mcg's of Fentanyl and 6 mls IV Dilaudid every 3 hours, last summer. I am also on Cotazyme/Maalox/high blood pressure meds/several anti-depressants/b-12 injections/Ativan-prn/Motillium - ENOUGH, Already! I just started seeing a pain specialist, but I am told I have to learn to live with this pain. HOW???? I cannot even make an appointment for a measly hair cut because I am so unpredictably sick all of the time.. It hits with no warning anymore...and then the ambulance, once again has to cart me to the emergency room where I wait for a bed for days at a time in the hallways. I have also developed a horrible problem with seeing my face so distorted in the mirror. It scares me to go through this! I am not so much afraid of dying from this.. I am so scared of leaving my husband and children without a wife and mother.. And the PAIN!! It terrifies me!!I am begging anyone to PLEASE write me and I will send more contact information to you. I am desperate to know how many others' suffer the same hell or if there is any way we can do something about this. Please - Let's not do this alone. Thanks for reading about my plight. - Maria Lichtenfeld, Murillo, Ontario Canada

I found these posts accidentally, as I was looking for information about Gastric bypass as a treatment for chronic pancreatitis. I have had CP for as long as I can remember. Anyway, I just wanted to post a little info here for those that are looking for information. There is/was a doc in Minnesota, Dr. Sutherland, not sure where exactly, but I do know that he and his team have worked miracles for people suffering with CP via the procedure called Total Pancreatectomy with Islet Cell Transplant.
There are also excellent docs at IUPUI, Indianapolis, IN. Dr. Sherman and Lehman (the latter I have heard recently retired, but he was a big help to me when no one else was.) have done extensive studies on the pancreas and diseases that affect the pancreas.
I am so sorry that you all have had to suffer the effects of chronic pancreatitis and hope that somehow, whether through your docs or others, you will find the answers you are so desperately seeking.
I can also point you in the direction of a few support groups in "Yahoo groups", if you use the yahoo/google search and type in 'yahoo groups, chronic pancreatitis' you will see that there are a few groups there. Some are more active than others, but they all offer information and support from people who, like you are suffering with this terrible affliction.
I hope that I will see you all signing up for some of these groups and that I'll see that you are finally getting answers and feeling much better.
I surely understand the frustration and hopelessness that one feels in dealing with this disease.
Take care and please all be well, {{{HUGZ}}} Denise Williams in Michigan.

don't do it if you have a gal bladder.. cause gal bladder will go bad do to weight loss. Surgens can not retrieve the stones in bile ducts. surgens have to put a feeding tube inside the grown together area of the stomach. they have to carve there way threw it and open it up. It took 4 months to get well. 10 weeks to get the stones out, after staff infection, that had to be cut out of my back. it takes 3-4 weeks after tube is inserted in stomach before they can do surgery if all goes well. plus this danger of pancreatitis begins i was lucky with that so far. sept 11 2001 till now nov 23 2010 another problem persist were the feed tube was inserted my stomach grew to my chest wall fills like my stomch is twisted in a bind all the time because it can't fall into its normal place.

best luck to you all. Write me if you like