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I Recently Had A Uti And Returned To Urgent Care
Question: I recently had a uti and returned to urgent care when I started having severe back & abdominal pain and nausea. Their bloodwork showed my lipase levels to be at 306 (the average was 7-60). The next day (less than 24 hours later) they told me to go to the er for pancreatitis. This time, my lipase level was at 51. They didn’t have any answers, said I don’t have pancreatitis and my back pain is probably muscular/skeletal. Why would my lipase levels jump so dramatically in less than 24 hours time? No changes in diet (like chugging a bunch of water after the urgent care visit) & I don’t drink alcohol or smoke
Brief Answer:
Likley a laboratory error!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks so much for this query.
I have reviewed this information fully. Am of the leaning that such an elevated lipase level with rapid fall in less than 24hours could only be explained by a laboratory error/artifact. Elevated lipase is pretty specific for acute pancreatitis but not quite sure that the levels fluctuate that much. If your pain hasn't resolved yet, I will recommend imaging studies such as CT scan of the abdomen to look at the pancreas just to make sure we are not missing out on anything.
In all, likely a laboratory error but should pain persist, get a CT scan of abdomen to evaluate the pancreas.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to follow up with me if need be.
Likley a laboratory error!
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks so much for this query.
I have reviewed this information fully. Am of the leaning that such an elevated lipase level with rapid fall in less than 24hours could only be explained by a laboratory error/artifact. Elevated lipase is pretty specific for acute pancreatitis but not quite sure that the levels fluctuate that much. If your pain hasn't resolved yet, I will recommend imaging studies such as CT scan of the abdomen to look at the pancreas just to make sure we are not missing out on anything.
In all, likely a laboratory error but should pain persist, get a CT scan of abdomen to evaluate the pancreas.
I hope this helps. I wish you well. Feel free to follow up with me if need be.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Kampana
Thanks so much! The symptoms are pretty much gone but I went ahead and got the bloodwork redone just in case and am awaiting the results. I just have a couple more questions. I watched my perfectly healthy aunt go to the doctor for back pain and end up with a pancreatic cancer diagnosis, killing her in a matter of weeks, so I%E2%80%99m a bit paranoid.
1. My biggest concern is why I would have such severe back pain, upper abdominal pain, nausea, etc for a few days- all of which are attributes of pancreatitis, and being that my lipase tested so high even though the accuracy of the result is in question- and then the symptoms just vanish. The doctors at urgent care seemed to be pretty baffled by this as well.
2. I just don%E2%80%99t know if I should be expecting this to come back. If I feel okay again is it alright to go back to my normal diet and have caffeine again?
3. Is it possible that there is some sort of underlying condition that could cause random pancreatic episodes that I should be concerned about?
1. My biggest concern is why I would have such severe back pain, upper abdominal pain, nausea, etc for a few days- all of which are attributes of pancreatitis, and being that my lipase tested so high even though the accuracy of the result is in question- and then the symptoms just vanish. The doctors at urgent care seemed to be pretty baffled by this as well.
2. I just don%E2%80%99t know if I should be expecting this to come back. If I feel okay again is it alright to go back to my normal diet and have caffeine again?
3. Is it possible that there is some sort of underlying condition that could cause random pancreatic episodes that I should be concerned about?
Brief Answer:
Return to all your previous ways. Report any other abnormal occurrences
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up.
I will encourage you to return to your normal ways. However, if similar symptoms should recur, there would be need to review any possible associations with diet, drugs, etc. I think this would rather be unlikely. I also understand the added burden of family history of cancer of the pancreas to this heightened concern but then your age and absence of other risk factors as well as typical symptoms makes it very very unlikely. I also encourage you to stay away from alcohol, smoking and advise regular exercise a measures to reduce risk factors associated with cancer of the pancreas.
I hope this helps and guides. Follow up with me as you deem necessary for more details.
Return to all your previous ways. Report any other abnormal occurrences
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thanks for this follow up.
I will encourage you to return to your normal ways. However, if similar symptoms should recur, there would be need to review any possible associations with diet, drugs, etc. I think this would rather be unlikely. I also understand the added burden of family history of cancer of the pancreas to this heightened concern but then your age and absence of other risk factors as well as typical symptoms makes it very very unlikely. I also encourage you to stay away from alcohol, smoking and advise regular exercise a measures to reduce risk factors associated with cancer of the pancreas.
I hope this helps and guides. Follow up with me as you deem necessary for more details.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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