Acute pancreatitis?

hipkat23 · February 23, 2008

I am now 2 and a half weeks out from surgery. I wasn't required to do a pre-op diet, but I've been on liquids since surgery and I am about to go insane! I am supposed to start mushies on Monday and I am practically counting the minutes.

This past weekend I made 2 trips to the ER for what ended up being acute mild pancreatitis. They say 'mild' but the pain was certainly anything but! I went back on Clear Liquids for 2.5 days and haven't had any pain since Sunday. Have any of you developed acute pancreatitis due to surgery? My doctors are not sure it's related to surgery since I have had a complicated upper abdominal pain history the past 6 months (eventually thought to be caused by the large hiatal hernia fixed during surgery). I had a procedure in December (ERCP) that could have caused it and it could have been exacerbated by some of the Soups I was drinking (they contained fat and oil both of which make the pancreas unhappy).

Anyway, in better news my incisions are healing beautifully and the 'I-just-did-1000-situps' feeling has subsided. I've lost 12 pounds since surgery, but I know most of that is because of the liquid diet. I fully expect to gain some of it back once I start on mushies and solids. I know the 'real' weight loss won't really start until I'm fully healed and start getting fills (I've been scheduled for my first fill on March 25th).

Overall I am really, really happy I decided to have surgery. I feel like I'm finally starting the next chapter of my life. :thumbup:

chilipepper · February 24, 2008

I am five months out and have been dealing with acute upper abdominal pain. I had to go to ER last week for the pain and I now have a diagnosis of gallstones. Sometime with gallstones, one of the stones can block the duct to the pancreas and it causes pancreatitis. Basically what the pancreas makes has no way to get out. Gallstones can also block the duct from the liver and cause jaundice and liver problems. So I would have your gallbladder checked with an ultrasound to make sure you don't have any gallstones. Now I wish my band dr had just taken out my gallbladder during the surgery because now I have to have another surgery. My poor stomach is going to have a lot of scars :lol: