Are you also experiencing severe stomach pain? Could this be pancreatitis?

Imagine that you suddenly start to feel a sharp pain in your upper abdomen, like a knife stabbing you. The pain gradually spreads to your back. You feel nauseous and vomit. No matter what you do, it doesn't get better. Have you ever had an experience like this? Many people think that they have gastritis at times like this. But sometimes this can be a little more serious. That's the kind of condition we're talking about today, called pancreatitis.

Simply put, what is pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis is when a gland in our body called the pancreas becomes inflamed or infected. Okay, now you may be asking what this pancreas is.

The pancreas is an important organ located behind our stomach, near the small intestine. It performs two main functions:

1. Aiding digestion: It produces some very powerful enzymes that are needed to digest the food we eat and sends them through a small tube to our small intestine.

2. Blood sugar control: The production and release of two hormones called insulin and glucagon into the blood, which are needed to control the sugar levels in our body.

Now imagine, what happens if these powerful enzymes that are trying to digest food start working inside the pancreas before they reach the small intestine? Then those enzymes start damaging the pancreas itself. That is, the pancreas starts digesting itself. That is what we call pancreatitis.

There are two main types of this.

This situation can be mainly divided into two types.

• Acute Pancreatitis: This is a sudden, severe condition that usually resolves within a few days with medical treatment. However, in some cases, it can be severe enough to be life-threatening.
• Chronic Pancreatitis: This is a condition that lasts for a long time. Sometimes, this chronic condition can occur due to repeated episodes of acute inflammation. This causes permanent damage to the pancreas.

What are the symptoms of this?

Symptoms can vary depending on what type of inflammation you have. Let's take a look at what these are.

When to seek immediate medical advice

If you have any of the symptoms below, go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department (ETU) immediately.

• An unbearable stomach pain.
• Vomiting that doesn't stop.
• Excessively fast heartbeat.
• Difficulty breathing.
• Yellowing of the eyes and skin (jaundice).
• Fever.

Why does this happen?

There are several main causes of pancreatitis. The two most common causes in Sri Lanka are gallstones and excessive alcohol consumption.

• Gallstones: Gallstones can break loose from the gallbladder and block the duct that carries pancreatic enzymes. The enzymes then become trapped inside the pancreas, causing inflammation.
• Heavy Alcohol Use: Heavy alcohol consumption over a long period of time is a major cause of chronic pancreatitis.
• Elevated blood fat levels: Another cause is a very high level of triglycerides (more than 1000 mg/dL) in the blood.
• Certain medications: This condition can also occur as a side effect of certain medications.
• Genetic causes: If someone in your family has this disease, you have a certain risk of developing it too.
• Other causes: This condition can also be caused by certain surgeries, infections, and autoimmune diseases.

How do you find this, Doctor?

When you go to the hospital, the doctor will do several tests to diagnose the exact disease.

1. Asking you about your symptoms, the nature of your pain, and your alcohol use.

2. Physical examination: The abdomen is palpated to check for pain and its nature.

3. Blood tests: This is very important. The levels of enzymes called amylase and lipase, which are released into the blood when the pancreas is damaged, are checked. If these are very high, it is a major symptom of pancreatitis. In addition, tests are also done to check the condition of the liver and fat levels.

4. Scans:

• Ultrasound Scan: This is very important to check for gallstones.
• CT Scan: This helps to clearly see how swollen the pancreas is and what the damage is.
• MRI Scan: This may also be necessary in some cases.

What are the treatments for this?

Treatment depends on the severity of your condition. Most of the time, you will be admitted to the hospital for treatment.

• Giving the pancreas a rest: The first thing to do is to stop eating and drinking completely and give the pancreas a rest. This is called fasting .
• IV Fluids: Since you are not eating or drinking, saline is given through a vein to prevent dehydration.
• Painkillers: Strong painkillers are given to control severe pain.
• Treating the cause:
• If this condition is caused by gallstones, a procedure called ERCP (Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography) or surgery may be required to remove the stones.
• If there is an infection, antibiotics are given.
• Treatment of chronic conditions: People with chronic inflammation may need to take digestive enzyme pills, pain medication, and diabetes treatment. It is also essential to completely stop drinking alcohol and smoking.

How can we protect ourselves from this?

Although we cannot control some of the causes, we can reduce this risk by changing our lifestyle.

• Stop drinking alcohol: If you are a drinker, it is very important to stop drinking alcohol completely or reduce it significantly. If necessary, seek medical advice for this.
• Avoid smoking: Smoking is also a risk factor for this disease.
• Healthy diet: Reduce foods high in oil and fat and adopt a balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, and whole grains.
• Maintain a healthy weight: It is also important to control obesity.

If this condition is diagnosed early and treated properly, serious complications can be prevented and recovery can be rapid. Therefore, if you experience unusual, severe stomach pain, do not assume it is just gastritis, but see a doctor immediately.

Pancreas, Pancreatitis, Abdominal pain, Gallstones, Alcohol, Acute Pancreatitis, Chronic Pancreatitis