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Diagnosed Gastritis. Having Pain In Upper Abdomen. Taking Tylenol And Mallox. Have Two Stents Due To Pancreatitis. Help?
Question: I have been diagnosed with gastritis in august 2012. I did not have much pain until recently and had to go to ER. CT scan showed nothing except radiologist detected two stents that looked like they were coming out. These were put in in December 2010 after a month in hospital with pancreatitis. Still waiting to find out if the stents have any thing to do with gastritis attacks. Meantime, what can help with this pain...mostly in upper abdomen under ribs. Clothing feels tight, like it's cutting into my gut but it's not. I have on very loose lounge pants. I have taken only Tylenol and mallox so far today but pain seems worse. Help!!
Dear XXXXX,
Thanks for contacting Healthcare Magic.
Most likely stents were placed in CBD (common bile duct) for stones in CBD at the time of pancreatitis. It is possible that one of the stents may be in pancreatic duct(PD). After gall bladder removal these stents should have been removed.
Your pain is probably related to these stents. These must have got blocked and caused cholangitis, which can present with pain. You need to see a Gastroenterologist urgently who can assess and remove these stents, and treat you with antibiotics if needed. Just taking Tylenol will probably not help.
Best wishes. You can get back to me if you have any other query.
Dr Dinesh Singal
Thanks for contacting Healthcare Magic.
Most likely stents were placed in CBD (common bile duct) for stones in CBD at the time of pancreatitis. It is possible that one of the stents may be in pancreatic duct(PD). After gall bladder removal these stents should have been removed.
Your pain is probably related to these stents. These must have got blocked and caused cholangitis, which can present with pain. You need to see a Gastroenterologist urgently who can assess and remove these stents, and treat you with antibiotics if needed. Just taking Tylenol will probably not help.
Best wishes. You can get back to me if you have any other query.
Dr Dinesh Singal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you. Does 'cholangitis' cause pain that will suddenly go away. I went to the ER last night because of a persistent gnawing pain. After about 3 hours it just quit. Confusing. My doctor has now put me on sucralfate until I can get back to the U of Mn where the stents were originally put in. How urgent is this? My biggest fear is pancreatitis again.
Your answer was very helpful.
XXXXX
Your answer was very helpful.
XXXXX
Dear XXXXX,
If the pain has gone, then probably it is not cholangitis, because with cholangitis I will expect some amount of pain to continue. Though sometimes intermittent pain can occur. Other symptoms of cholangits associated with pain are jaundice and fever. It is possible that the pain is because of some other reason.
Pancreatitis also causes persistent pain, it does not go away in 3 hours.
Nonetheless I understand that you should contact the doctor who had placed the stents.
Best wishes, hope you recover soon.
Dr Dinesh Singal
If the pain has gone, then probably it is not cholangitis, because with cholangitis I will expect some amount of pain to continue. Though sometimes intermittent pain can occur. Other symptoms of cholangits associated with pain are jaundice and fever. It is possible that the pain is because of some other reason.
Pancreatitis also causes persistent pain, it does not go away in 3 hours.
Nonetheless I understand that you should contact the doctor who had placed the stents.
Best wishes, hope you recover soon.
Dr Dinesh Singal
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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