I'm still lurking frequently, keeping up with evrybody, but haven't had much to post. Hubby has
Recurrent Idiopathic Acute Pancreatitis....an attack almost every year. The rest of the time he is pain free. We never know what triggers these flares. We watch diet, stress, etc. very carefully. Until this year, his last attack of AP was two years ago when his doctor did an ERCP and placed a stent to open up the duct. Two or three weeks later he did another ERCP to take it out, with no complications.
The duct has what they at first thought was a pseudo-cyst but later decided it was scar tissue. He is now hospitalized (6th day) with another AP attack and doctor is talking about doing a Sphincterotomy later after he recovers from this. I know some of you have had this procedure.
Does it really help....stop the acute attacks, etc? And does this last for a long time or does it become stopped up with scar tissue again?
We are considering going to Mayo for a second opinion and for diagnostic testing if possible. This attack came on more quickly with more severity than those he has had previously and the pain is still there 6 days later, though the enzymes have gone down. There is much CA in his immediate family, but no PanCan, and I worry because of the difficulty in diagnosis.
Any suggestions?