Mesenteric Panniculitis or Sclerosing Mesenteritis

Posted by BillyMac65 @billymac65, Dec 6, 2012

I thought I would start a discussion for patients with Mesenteric Panniculitis. From what I know, this auto-immune disorder has three stages to it, each with differing names (Mesenteric Panniculitis, Schlerosing Mesenteritis, Retractile Mesenteritis). Typically, this appears to be in older individuals with some other under-lying problem (Lymphoma, tumor, diverticulitis).

I have an atypical presentation because I do not have an underlying cause. The doctors seem to be hoping for Lymphoma to appear so they can treat it and have the auto-immune go away. I am interested in hearing from others with this. I had this diagnosed in 2011, so I am interested in hearing more about what this is like to live with. I want to hear from others who also have an atypical presentation. Did is come back? Also interested in hearing from those with Lymphoma. How was the treatment? Did it address the auto-immune?

Pretty much, I am interested in hearing from anyone who has had this, so i can better understand it, and not feel so alone with this!!

Bill

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

@angel11

I was also just diagnosed with Mensenteric Panniculitis. I am 38, female with a history of abdominal pain and issues. Mine was also found accidently on a catscan with Iv Contrast. My doctor was also looking for an Inguinal Hernia that was found during a lapro procedure 4 years ago. I am very fatigued, wake up with hot red face, blood in stool, nausea, most of all, abdominal pain. My doctor started me on 40 mg of steroids and I am to see a GI specialist in a few days. Nothing ever showed in my bloodwork prior to the catscan. As this is such a rare condition, I am very concerned about underlying diseases. How do you even know what stage your in? What other conditions will they check for? Is this an auto immune disease?

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That would be so great!! I really appreciate it! Please let me know and thank you!!!

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@angel11

I was also just diagnosed with Mensenteric Panniculitis. I am 38, female with a history of abdominal pain and issues. Mine was also found accidently on a catscan with Iv Contrast. My doctor was also looking for an Inguinal Hernia that was found during a lapro procedure 4 years ago. I am very fatigued, wake up with hot red face, blood in stool, nausea, most of all, abdominal pain. My doctor started me on 40 mg of steroids and I am to see a GI specialist in a few days. Nothing ever showed in my bloodwork prior to the catscan. As this is such a rare condition, I am very concerned about underlying diseases. How do you even know what stage your in? What other conditions will they check for? Is this an auto immune disease?

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Im very sorry to hear that. I pray your child gets better.

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Hi JimmyMac -

We have 58 people in there now as Erin from this Mayo site joined up with us last week and I added her to it. We are on Facebook and a SM/MP medical group. It's a closed/secret group so we can all talk and discuss freely about meds, pain, bowel issues, support, venting, laughter, etc. One of my daughter's docs is in our group as well. My kiddo is currently back in patient on Saturday and still in unfortunately. My name is Lisa Schwart and I am on Facebook, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. If you give me your full name as well and City I can find you and add you as a friend. You aren't able to "search" the SM group as we have it locked down specifically for everyone's privacy. I've been putting together a database for each person with their doc names in each state etc as a resource for everyone as well! 🙂

Lisa

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is there a cure for Mesenteric Panniculitis? someone I know has just been diagnosed with this disease after so many years of episodic abdominal pain and apparently wrong diagnosis. she is in her late seventies, is it normal at this age?

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I'm new to the board, so here is my story...I've been struggling with acid reflux since Aug 2011 and my doctor was running out of treatment options so he ordered a CT. The CT showed Sclerosing Mesenteritis and also found out that I had slow gastric emptying aka Gastroparesis. Just heard yesterday that I have igG4 labs that are elevated to 163. I have suspected that I may have acquired H Pylori in 2011 but I have been tested 3 times and they were all negative. I'm also having MRI about every six months to monitor the condition and check for lymphoma, etc, so far so good. Anyone have elevated igG4 levels or share similar combination of diagnosis?

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@camih00

Hi Bill. While you wait for some conversation to build here, I thought I'd share a Mayo Clinic patient story that might be of interest to you: http://www.mayoclinic.org/patientstories/story-441.html

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How long did you have to be on steroids?

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I am very interested in joining your group. I just had a CT scan that showed this disease. After three months of awful pain and nausea...losing 25 pounds and having many tests...I might finally gave a diagnosis.

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@angel11

I was also just diagnosed with Mensenteric Panniculitis. I am 38, female with a history of abdominal pain and issues. Mine was also found accidently on a catscan with Iv Contrast. My doctor was also looking for an Inguinal Hernia that was found during a lapro procedure 4 years ago. I am very fatigued, wake up with hot red face, blood in stool, nausea, most of all, abdominal pain. My doctor started me on 40 mg of steroids and I am to see a GI specialist in a few days. Nothing ever showed in my bloodwork prior to the catscan. As this is such a rare condition, I am very concerned about underlying diseases. How do you even know what stage your in? What other conditions will they check for? Is this an auto immune disease?

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How do I join the support group?

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@angel11

I was also just diagnosed with Mensenteric Panniculitis. I am 38, female with a history of abdominal pain and issues. Mine was also found accidently on a catscan with Iv Contrast. My doctor was also looking for an Inguinal Hernia that was found during a lapro procedure 4 years ago. I am very fatigued, wake up with hot red face, blood in stool, nausea, most of all, abdominal pain. My doctor started me on 40 mg of steroids and I am to see a GI specialist in a few days. Nothing ever showed in my bloodwork prior to the catscan. As this is such a rare condition, I am very concerned about underlying diseases. How do you even know what stage your in? What other conditions will they check for? Is this an auto immune disease?

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peggy, please Private message me. we have over 80 people now 🙂 look foeward to heaing from you 

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Hard to believe it has already been three years since I posted this first comment in an effort to connect others out there with this terrible disease to help each other.

I have found this group tough to follow at times, as I worked through my own issues. Hardest part for me was getting off prednisone. I ended up taking it for ~18 months. It took another 18 months for me to begin to feel like my old self again.

But I think my story so far has been very fortunate. No relapse yet and hope that takes a long time to happen. I have been hesitant to add this, even though it is positive, because I know others are still struggling with getting this into remission and keeping it there. My experience was so acute that one doctor speculated that it could go away just as fast as it came because it was so acute.

So all I can do is thank God for giving me the strength to march on and I pray for the rest of you to likewise find the strength you need to persevere and all get healthy again.

Thanks to LS4 for leading the charge on creating a support group. I trust that those that participate find it meaningful and helpful!!

My wife recently began working at 23andme.com. They are working with pharma companies to help find cures for corner case diseases. The big issue for them has always been getting a patient population for study and test. 23andme helps them do that, dramatically reducing the costs of research. Let's hope this innovative approach to genetic testing finds its way to our group one of these days!!

Best to all of you,

Bill

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