How can I tell if I have IBS or chronic pancreatitis?

Do you have any recommendations for gasetro doc in Charleston?

I am diagnosed with both chronic idiopathic pancreatitis and IBS. I can tell the difference when I have a bad flare up of pancreatitis, but I have acute on chronic every few months. The last acute attack was in April and I was hospitalized 3 days. I cannot walk or sit down stand lay down nothing helps with acute pancreatitis for me until I have fluids and some pain relief. However, especially since that last bout, I think I can finally differentiate between chronic pancreatitis and IBS when I am not having an acute attack. The chronic pancreatitis is across just my entire upper abdomen and doesn't resolve. Sharp like being stabbed especially in the left upper right under my ribs. I also have a great deal of gas, bloating belching nausea that is different from IBS nausea and I often end up vomiting. Now with IBS I have bloating in my whole abdomen I can feel food moving as it is making me nauseated and uncomfortable the pain moves with my food as it either creates constipation or severe diarrhea. Also with chronic pancreatitis my stools are orange or very pale. Food tolerance is not the same either. When it is the pancreatitis I am either too nauseated to get an appetite or I am very hungry but cannot stomach anything past a few bites. With IBS I get nauseated but am hungry and I can eat. I know we are all different so it is always best to bring your concerns to your gastroenterologist. My chronic pancreatitis was discovered by CT SCAN. Showing damage to the pancreas. I had been trying to solve what it was since 1998 to 2021 when they finally after so many horrible things and then still being told it was in my head, I ended up with a CT that showed I wasn't just crazy. Like I said, keep bringing it to your doctor. We are all different. Praying you get answers soon.

I have been struggling for the past 8-10 months, not being able to eat without pain and nausea. I have had so many tests and the doctors can't seem to figure it out. I asked about chronic pancreatitis but my numbers when they have been checked actually show low numbers not high. My liver enzymes were elevated now back to normal but that seems to be the pattern. They elevate stay there a while then go back down then elevate again. The doctors have not been very helpful and have kind of been throwing their hands up and say drink smoothies. I have lost almost 35 lbs and my protein levels are very low and I am anemic and no one seems to be overly concerned except for me. I am at a loss about what to try next.

I'm just gonna throw out some ideas here. I've always had a fatty liver and my liver enzymes used to be elevated a lot and I never could tolerate a lot of fat in my food, especially fried food. I used to eat pretty healthy, but there was a period of my life when I was too tired to cook and I started eating out and I know I got some hydrogenated fats which I think blew out my gallbladder and that really screwed everything up. Anyway, would it help to keep a food diary to see if it's something you're eating that's making your liver enzymes go up? Or do you eat the same thing all the time? I'm positive it was the restaurant food that wrecked my gallbladder. Except for those couple of years, I only ate healthy fats, like avocados, coconut oil, and olive oil. Also, if I remember correctly there's are some herbs that will help your liver. You can Google it, but I think I used to take milk thistle - I'm sorry I can't remember the other thing. Also, I've been an almost lifelong vegetarian (I now have to eat some salmon because I became allergic to eggs, dairy, and soy and it's difficult for me to get enough protein), but I think animal fats are hard on your liver. These are just some ideas that came to mind. Good luck!

Thanks, I have been very limited in what I have been eating the last 8-10 months. I only have bland chicken, rice, potatoes, chicken broth and cream of wheat. If I venture beyond this the pain is even worse. I have started a food diary to see as I try occasionally to venture out. We have not been to a restaurant since this started. Just at a loss of what to try next.

You're welcome. I know it's no fun to have an extremely limited diet and I hope you can find out what's going on. The woman I know referred me to a gastroenterology clinic, but I wasn't very impressed when I arrived because the nurse practitioner didn't even really listen to me, but just automatically ordered a CAT scan and a colonoscopy/endoscopy. It's probably not a bad idea since colon cancer runs in my family, but I felt like I wasn't even listened to. I was scheduled six weeks out and in the meantime begin to eat better, so I canceled the procedure because I need to put some pounds on before I mess things up again. I have read that if you have SIBO, which is what I think I might have, it can be triggered by the colonoscopy prep and the trauma of having the scope. The person who told me about the clinic had good luck though and found out she had some rare stomach ailment and they have been able to help her, so perhaps a good doctor would be useful. I don't trust doctors much because they've never been very useful for me. Have you heard of ever heard of SIBO? Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth. My problem was triggered (I've had lifelong IBS) from some coconut milk yogurt and I can no longer take probiotics without getting sick, so I think that might be part of my issue. That plus stress. Anyway, I'm just throwing ideas out there. I really feel for you because if your stomach hurts and you can't eat properly, the rest of your health suffers, of course. I hope you can figure out what's going on. 💕