Multiple DX- Celiac, SIBO, now Chronic Pancreatitis & NAFLD

I am grateful to have found someplace to read others experiences and share my own. As a librarian, I can find lots of research about all of these diagnosis, but it is harder to find someplace to process my confusion and feelings.

I was diagnosed with celiac by endoscopy back in 2006 and have been strict with my GF diet since. In 2007 I decided to have Gastric Banding surgery and lost about 100 lbs. By 2015 the band had slipped and I had erosions - they released the restrictions, I regained the weight and then it was removed, revised to a gastric bypass and they removed my gall bladder (which was filled with large stones). I continued to have pain and didn’t lose a pound. Life goes on.

In 2019 I noticed pain getting a little worse, and other things like greasy stools, more gas & bloating etc. In 2020 I saw a gastroenterologist who basically ignored my complaint about the upper abdominal pain and figured my symptoms were probably from not following a GF diet (it’s common to be blamed for my ailments by new doctors due to my obesity). Summer of 2021 I went to the ER with severe upper left quadrant pain and the CT showed normal except for a slightly enlarged liver. Gastro ordered US- which seemed odd considering CT is more sensitive. It showed normal. His NP ordered a stool test and breath test finally and I was diagnosed with SIBO and EPI. She retired and my Primary Care said he would handle those.

Last week I had my annual with my PCP and told him I STILL have ALL of the symptoms. He told me I now have diabetes which meant my pancreas now has both endocrine & exocrine problems which concerned him. He also said my liver numbers had elevated to a new level. So he ordered an MRI of my abdomen and said I need a Gastro right away, even if I go back to the one who ignored me.

The radiology report says Chronic Pancreatitis which has me terrified. The moderate liver problem and mild upper gastric inflammation aren’t as concerning, although the combination of all has me worried about Autoimmune issues.

I am looking at Pancreas centers and trying to figure out who to see and what to do. I’m turning 53 in January and have way too much life left to let this bring me down. But I am scared, I am tired, and I don’t know what to do.

Thanks for listening.

Judy