Post transplant issues: Pancreatitis, Blocked bile duct, ERCP

Gaylea1 Hang in there. I am coming up on 3 years since my transplant (June 10). I have had to have approx 12 ERCP's since transplant. I have been lucky as to not get pancreatitis but have ended up in hospital a couple times. More so because i waited to go in when I got sick. Once was in the beginning about 3rd time and once because i was camping and didn't want to come home 2 days early (dumb mistake). I went 10 months at one time without a stint and then it clogged again. You learn the signs and get in early but at that point you are normaly in for atleast 1 or 2 nights. When mine are scheduled it is usually in and out in about 3-4 hours. I will say i had a Dr. That had put seven stints in and said he was trying to get it cleaned in all areas. I came home and was violenty ill that night, ended up in ER and i thought maybe he was over zealous this time as it was more stints than usual and first time it made me that sick. He performed next one when i was sick and waited because i was camping. I was a little leary but knew it had to be done as i was in hospital and very sick. He performed on a sunday evening and Monday i felt great. He just performed my last one a month ago and said he was able to remove all stints! Fingers crossed, but i have gotten use to his work and trust his judgment. He said it was the best it has looked in all the ones he has done on me (5 out of 12). In and out 3 hrs and felt great immediately where it usually took a day to feel better

@bikermike @gaylea1 Please excuse my ignorance, I just googled ERCP and it sounds diagnostic. I presume that’s only half of the story. What causes the need for this procedure? I have had no problems since my liver transplant, except for the time I contracted legionnaires disease and of course is an indirect condition from the immunosuppressants.
JK

@contentandwell When I was having multiple attacks of pancreatitis, I had an ERCP several times. The doctor was checking to see if the duct from my pancreas to my intestines was blocked.

@marvinjsturing thanks, Marvin. So this is not something directly related to transplants. As we age we learn more about our internal organs than we ever wanted to know.
JK

@contentandwell I agree that we learn more about our internal organs. I learned a lot about my pancreas after the doctor surgically removed it.

@marvinjsturing I have had pancreatitus 3 times now each after an ERCP to place a stent in my bile duct. The most recent was this week. I had the ERCP monday morning and have been in the hospital since then. Excrutiating pain nausea etc. It puts me onto a clear fluid diet and I haven't eaten a meal for months. I keep waiting for a good recovery. My liver transplant was Nov 28 2018.

@contentandwell ERCP is a day surgery. I have had mine to open a blocked bile duct. They place a stent into the duct to open and widen it. In the process your pancreas can be "disturbed" or jostled. This can result in pancreatitis which is excrutiatingly painful. I've had it 3 times now all resulting in long hospital stays to manage the pain. Also when you try to eat it causes more pain. So clear fluids are all I can handle. I haven't had a meal since early February.

You give me hope the end may be in sight. You have endured a lot. The hospital stays really suck and I dread them. Usually I'm so hyped up on pain meds that at least most of its a blur lol..

@gaylea1 I don't think there is any pain more excruciating than the pain of pancreatitis. I have had 3 attacks and doctors never could determine a cause. My first attack put me in the hospital for 10 days. Each time I had it, the only "treatment" was not eating anything until the pancreas settled down. Now doctors have speculated that my pancreatitis and my diabetes were the first symptoms of my pancreatic cancer. Praying that the doctors can do something to relieve your pain soon.

@gaylea1 I am so sorry for you and all the others having to deal with this. What causes blocked bile ducts?

I am learning so much from people with various conditions on Connect. I think many of us can appreciate that our own problems are not as bad as they sometimes seem. Each problem that our members have is a burden for those dealing with it.

I sincerely hope that things improve for you soon and that you will be able to resume a more regular lifestyle, and eat solid foods again.

@marvinjsturing I know more about my liver than I ever thought I would. Stupidly I had no idea what an important role the liver plays, that it is our largest organ (about the size of a football!), and that it can regenerate itself!