Pancreatitis Symptoms: Upper Belly Pain, Causes and Urgent Care

What it involves

MedlinePlus explains that pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, the gland behind the stomach that makes digestive juices and the hormones insulin and glucagon. It happens when digestive enzymes begin digesting the pancreas itself. It can be acute, coming on suddenly and usually passing in a few days with treatment, or chronic, which gets worse over time and causes permanent damage.

Who this is for

• Adults who have had gallstones or gallbladder pain and want to understand their risk of pancreatitis
• Patients who drink alcohol regularly and have upper belly pain, nausea or unexplained weight loss
• People with very high triglycerides, a known risk factor that blood work can measure
• Anyone recovering from an episode of pancreatitis who needs follow-up after leaving the hospital

What to expect

• Questions about where the pain is, whether eating or lying flat changes it, and how much alcohol you drink
• An exam of the abdomen, along with your temperature, heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate
• Blood work, which can include a complete blood count, a metabolic panel and the enzyme levels MedlinePlus lists
• A same-day plan: hospital care if the pain is severe, or a referral for imaging or a specialist when it is not

How pancreatitis usually feels

MedlinePlus says the main symptom of acute pancreatitis is pain in the upper left side or middle of the abdomen. At first it may get worse within minutes of eating or drinking, more often after high-fat foods, and then becomes constant and more severe over several days. It may be worse lying flat on the back and can spread to the back or below the left shoulder blade. People often look ill, with fever, nausea, vomiting and sweating. The abdominal pain guide covers the many other causes of belly pain.

Causes MedlinePlus lists

Gallstones are the most common cause of acute pancreatitis. A stone that leaves the gallbladder can block the duct that drains bile and enzymes, which then back up into the pancreas. Heavy alcohol use, roughly four to five drinks a day for five or more years, is another cause. Others include very high blood triglycerides, usually above 1,000 mg/dL, some medicines, injury, surgery, infections such as mumps, and genetics. The gallbladder pain guide and the alcohol screening guide cover two common starting points.

Acute versus chronic

MedlinePlus says most cases of acute pancreatitis go away in a week or less, but some become life-threatening, and repeat episodes can lead to chronic pancreatitis. Chronic pancreatitis is most often caused by many years of alcohol use. It brings upper belly pain that may be felt in the back, weight loss even when eating normally, nausea, and oily, foul-smelling stools. Because scarring can damage the cells that make insulin, it can lead to diabetes, and the diabetes management page describes how the practice follows blood sugar.

How a provider looks for it

The encyclopedia lists a physical exam, blood levels of the enzymes lipase and amylase, and often a complete blood count and a comprehensive metabolic panel. Imaging such as an abdominal CT scan, MRI or ultrasound can show swelling but is not always needed to make the diagnosis. Serenity By A Dr. Sareen lists blood work among its services, and the liver function tests guide and complete blood count guide explain two of the usual tests. Imaging and endoscopic tests are arranged by referral.

Treatment happens mostly in the hospital

MedlinePlus says acute pancreatitis often needs a hospital stay for intravenous fluids, pain medicine and a plan for feeding that lets the pancreas rest. Treating the cause, such as removing gallstones or clearing a blocked duct, can prevent repeat attacks, and the most severe cases may need surgery to remove damaged tissue. After the attack improves, the encyclopedia advises avoiding smoking, alcoholic drinks and fatty foods. The sick visit, urgent care or ER guide helps you decide where to go when you are unsure.

Lowering the risk at a routine visit

A primary care visit is the place to work on the risks MedlinePlus names. High triglycerides show up on a lipid panel, which the lipid panel guide explains, and the practice lists high cholesterol management among its services. Cutting back on alcohol, quitting tobacco with help from the quitting smoking guide and following up on gallstones all lower the odds of another episode. Your provider can also review any medicines that have been linked to pancreatitis. Adults who want ongoing follow-up for digestive and metabolic problems can see an internist, and internal medicine in Loxahatchee with Dr. Sareen can review your medicines and order blood work.

Sources

• MedlinePlus: Pancreatitis (health topic)
• MedlinePlus: Acute pancreatitis (medical encyclopedia)
• MedlinePlus: Chronic pancreatitis (medical encyclopedia)