The main symptom of acute pancreatitis is a severe, dull pain around the top of your stomach that develops suddenly. This aching pain often gets steadily worse and can travel along your back or below your left shoulder blade. Eating or drinking may also make you feel worse very quickly, especially fatty foods.
Eventually, a constant dull pain can develop in your tummy, between episodes of severe pain. This is most common in people who continue to drink alcohol after being diagnosed with chronic pancreatitis. Some people who stop drinking alcohol and stop smoking may find the pain is less severe.
Most people with acute pancreatitis will recover completely in a few days with supportive care: rest, hydration and pain relief. However, a very severe case of acute pancreatitis can cause serious health complications, some of them life-threatening.
The differential diagnosis for pancreatitis includes an ulcer of the stomach or duodenum, liver inflammation, small bowel obstruction, functional bowel disorders, abdominal aortic aneurysm, an obstruction of the intestine and pancreatic cancer.
The main symptom of pancreatitis is pain felt in the upper left side or middle of the abdomen.
What are the complications of pancreatitis? Acute pancreatitis usually gets better on its own over time. Most people recover without any problems.
It's been described as a burning or shooting pain which comes and goes, but can last for several hours or days, in some cases. Some people also experience symptoms of nausea and vomiting during the pain. As chronic pancreatitis progresses, the painful episodes may become more frequent and severe.
Acute pancreatitis usually begins with pain in the upper abdomen that may last for a few days. The pain may be severe and may become constant – just in the abdomen – or it may reach to the back and other areas. It may be sudden and intense, or begin as a mild pain that gets worse when food is eaten.
Pancreatic cancer can cause a dull pain in your upper tummy (abdomen), which may spread to your back. To begin with, the pain may come and go, but as the tumour becomes larger and more advanced, the pain may be more constant and last longer. The pain is often worse when you lie down or after you've eaten.
Your gallbladder, liver and spleen surround your pancreas. The right side of your body contains the head of your pancreas. This narrow organ lies along the first segment of your small intestine, called the duodenum. The left side of your body houses the tail of your pancreas.
Emotional stress can excite the vagus nerve (connects the brain with the stomach) and causes the stomach to be stimulated to produce excessive amounts of acid. As noted, this increase in acid stimulates an increase in pancreatic secretion production. This can exacerbate pancreatitis once it has been established.
Tests and procedures used to diagnose pancreatitis include: Blood tests to look for elevated levels of pancreatic enzymes, along with white blood cells, kidney function and liver enzymes. Abdominal ultrasound to look for gallstones and pancreas inflammation.
Pancreatic enzyme insufficiency causes pale, fatty, greasy, often foul-smelling stools, which don't easily flush away in the toilet. In terms of colour, the stool could be light green, pale brown, orange, yellowish, or even white. They tend to be frequent, loose, sloppy, and large in volume.
Limit fats and oils, such as butter, margarine, mayonnaise, and salad dressing, to no more than 1 tablespoon a meal. Avoid high-fat foods, such as: Chocolate, whole milk, ice cream, processed cheese, and egg yolks. Fried, deep fried, or buttered foods.
The best food choices for those suffering from chronic pancreatitis are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nonfat/low fat dairy, and lean cuts of meat. Healthy fats such as avocado, olive oil, fatty fish, nuts, and seeds, may be consumed with careful portion control.
People with mild acute pancreatitis usually start to get better within a week and experience either no further problems, or problems that get better within 48 hours. Many people are well enough to leave hospital after a few days.
Abdominal pain — Abdominal pain is the most common clinical symptom in chronic pancreatitis. The pain is most commonly felt in the epigastric region and often radiates to the back. It may be worse when recumbent and patients may experience postprandial exacerbation.
Mild acute pancreatitis usually goes away in a few days with rest and treatment. If your pancreatitis is more severe, your treatment may also include: Surgery. Your doctor may recommend surgery to remove the gallbladder, called cholecystectomy, if gallstones cause your pancreatitis.
Pain in the stomach, burning of the stomach, feeling of Nausea, vomiting loss of appetite are some of the symptoms of Gastritis. Abdominal pain (most common), fast heartbeat, fever, fast breathing, and low blood pressure are some symptoms of pancreatitis.