A&e says not pancreatitis, the pain is getting worse in my back and stomach

[Laks19]

Hoping maybe someone medical on here as seen comments before! I’ve already been to doctor and a&e but now feel caught.

On Monday I started getting sudden severe back pain, dull going right across back dull ache not long after food. That lasted hours and around stomach back was the worst area. This persisted most of the night but managed to sleep through it. I described the pain as dull horrible crampy, but also like when I had gallstones. Following day woke and much better but still felt in background (faded niggling pain) Today Thursday I phoned doctor as had just hoped it would’ve passed. It hadn’t got any worse but thought just after having gallbladder removed this year then having complications after that resulted in blocked bile duct, thought no now need to as hadn’t shifted 100%

I went to GP and explained what had been happening, also made them aware I am taking mounjaro as worried it could be potentially pancreatitis but no doctor, (I know if people want to judge mounjaro use but taking it from a recognised supplier know risks, and can’t even say its the med! Also know media coverage at moment - very mixed) had no serious side effects and nearly finished the 2.5 course. (constipation only) I was
hoping she would do a blood test even if it meant results next week, instead she done my temp blood pressure and said everything was good. Done an examination which stomach fine, the worst area to touch was back. Both sides. She sadvised go to a&e to get bloods for same day result as if pancreatitis didn’t want to risk weekend delays. As couldn’t rule out a stone or pancreatitis.
a&e again same temp all fine and urine, and examination, bloods done which I’ve spent all day there. So exhausted. They said my bloods all fine ie if pancreatitis it would’ve showed and liver all fine. To go home. I’ve came home and the pain is very bad tonight, had food on the way home. And its sudden again spreading through back and stomach. Dull. Horrible pain. Like gallstones but not even got a gallbladder.
I now feel do I just accept the bloods are fine and i’ll get nowhere anyway as a&e and gp seen me but the pain is worsening!

(i know a forum cannot replace but I guess I feel caught because i’ve already been through circles and left without answers)

a&e doc also said that if there was any issue with mounjaro it wouldn’t be their problem to treat as its not on nhs! (Bought through trusted pharmacy incase anyone)🫣

Could it be sphincter of oddi dysfunction? Same pain as a stuck gallstone

That’s so weird as was just googling that currently as I remember seeing it on gallbladder forum. I hope I’ve not brought this on from mounjaro as been fine for months since removal (well once I had ercp) ie foods have been fine to eat and no pains! Its horrible this :(

That simply isn't true that they wouldn't treat you because you bought mounjaro privately, what utter rubbish. I bought fake valium and had a horrible reaction to it, the consultant was lovely and reassuring. Didn't ask or care where I got it, that's not what urgent healthcare is for.

She’s never said the doctor refused to treat her ?

What have you been eating? You say you ate on the way home- was it a takeaway type meal?

1. Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction

- Common post-cholecystectomy - Explains post-prandial pain - Can occur despite normal bloods - Matches pain pattern

1. Common Bile Duct Stone/Sludge

- History of previous blockage - Can occur post-cholecystectomy - May have normal initial bloods - Explains food relationship

1. Early/Mild Pancreatitis

- Normal bloods don't completely exclude early presentation - Post-prandial exacerbation - Mounjaro risk factor - Back pain typical

1. Chronic Mesenteric Ischemia

- Post-prandial pain - Progressive pattern - Can have normal initial investigations

Specific Requests at A&E:

• Serial blood tests (trends may be more important than single results)
• Consider CT abdomen
• Specific assessment for Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction
• Ultrasound to check bile duct

Sounds exactly like what i had a few weeks ago. The GP diagnosed gastritis and prescribed pantoprazole and gaviscon. It worked really well and very quickly as well.

h pylori? ask if you can do a stool sample

I hope you feel better soon OP x

I’m wishing they had done more than blood tests, now feel left in pain. As if I go back to my GP they’ll probably be like bloods all fine!🥺

also thanks for this detailed :)

It could be anything. Covid that I had recently had lower back pain and very sharp stomach pains. Please call 111 now and go back to the drs OP.

A Gall stones. I had one and the pain was something else. They did an ultrasound and found it and a lot of sludge. No idea where it came from or how I got it. They gave me a dose of morphine and made me stay in hospital overnight. I had tablets to dissolve it. I can't really eat blue cheese now as I'd been eating it before the pain started.

Sounds like gastritis. That’s the main symptom I had, although mine started off as heartburn which quickly turned into that, felt like I was having a hear attack at some points. I got given omeprozole, which didn’t actually help too much, actually made me feel worse some days, finally after a month the symptoms subsided. Mine stemed from norovirus I had the week before.

Was it definitely an actual doctor who saw you in A&E? One hospital local to me is rife with 'physician associates' in A&E. They know less than my year 7 kid studying biology.

Id want to be sure you were seen by an actual real doctor...

It was an advanced nurse practitioner

I’ve woken up feeling more nauseous today, not had this on the medicine since starting. Still feeling as if I go a&e they’ll just see yesterdays outcome, I could go to a different one but as soon as I say about the bloods being normal

I would suggest it could be start of kidney stones and ask for a ct scan. Don’t be fobbed off with ultrasound as this can miss them.

At the end of the OP she said they'd said if it was related to the MJ it wasn't their problem to treat. Obviously that wouldn't happen!

But you need to see a doctor?

The advanced nurse practitioner has no training in medicine (though they are a highly trained nurse)

In your shoes I would return to A&E if still symptomatic and insist on seeing a doctor

Are you still taking it? Stop taking it until you get to the bottom of this. It sounds awful and scary. Hope you find answers soon. Go back to A & E.

You need a scan. Theres no specific blood test that will rule in or out pancreatitis, and the main ones that would suggest it will often spike and then drop down again after a few days of initial symptoms. I would certainly say go back. And refuse to leave until you see a Dr and have some further investigation.

Did they do extended lfts? Your body can make gallstones even if you don’t have a gallbladder anymore. If this is suggested from your liver function tests they should do an mrcp (mri specifically looking at the bile duct/pancreas area). You really need to see someone on the hospital gastro team to check this. (Speaking from experience)

Mine came from Norovirus as well.

My SOD was a diagnosis of exclusion. The only thing that helps is avoiding triggers which can include certain high fat foods, some medications and stress.

The Mounjaro may be triggering it unfortunately.

It's very painful but my attacks never last more than 2 hours. If you have pain all the time you might have gastritis or something?