Pancreatitis is a digestive disease that affects the pancreas and its ducts. It is a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the pancreas becomes inflamed. The pancreas is a small gland that produces digestive enzymes. It also produces hormones that help control the body’s metabolism and blood sugar levels. East Setauket pancreatitis is a condition that can affect anyone at any age. Still, it is more common in people with diabetes or those who have had chronic pancreatitis in the past.
There are several causes of pancreatitis, but most often, it results from cystic fibrosis. In addition, pancreatitis may occur after gallstones have been removed from the bile ducts.
Symptoms of pancreatitis include:
Nausea and vomiting
Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of pancreatitis, mainly when they occur together. These symptoms can be so severe that they make it difficult to eat or drink anything (and even sip water). That also makes it difficult to keep down your food without vomiting it back up again or becoming dehydrated due to loss of fluids through vomiting.
Nausea may be accompanied by bloating and abdominal pain that may be worse in the early morning hours. Vomiting can occur from irritation of the stomach lining due to the leaking bile.
Jaundice
This symptom occurs when bile ducts become blocked by cholesterol crystals that have formed in the ducts during an attack of pancreatitis. The bile ducts become swollen due to inflammation and pressure from swollen tissues surrounding them, which leads to the blockage of these ducts. This blockage can lead to yellowing of the skin due to excess bilirubin (a yellow pigment) passing through these blocked ducts into your body tissues, where it causes jaundice (yellow skin or yellow eyes).
Abdominal pain that may be mild or severe
Acute pancreatitis is a rare but severe condition. It develops when the pancreas becomes inflamed and produces large amounts of digestive enzymes, breaking down the pancreas. When this happens, it causes abdominal pain.
The abdominal pain of pancreatitis is usually described as being in the lower part of the abdomen, but you can also feel it anywhere in any part of the abdomen. The pain may be sharp, stabbing, or cramping. It is often radiating to the back.
Fever
Fever is another common symptom of pancreatitis. It may not occur immediately, but it can develop over some time. The fever occurs because the pancreas is inflamed, increasing the body’s temperature. You might have a fever for several reasons, and it is not always due to pancreatitis.
Unintentional weight loss
Pancreatitis can cause unintentional weight loss. In some cases, this may be a symptom of cystic fibrosis. Some people with cystic fibrosis have a pancreatic enzyme deficiency that can lead to weight loss. You may not realize you are losing weight because you feel well and look fine. However, if you are experiencing unexplained weight loss, it is crucial to get your doctor’s attention so that you can be diagnosed and begin treatment for pancreatitis.
Pancreatitis symptoms can vary from person to person and from time to time. If you are unsure whether your symptoms are due to pancreatitis, check with your doctor. Your doctor will tell if the symptoms match those that occur with this condition. Contact Digestive Disease Care (DDC) and book an appointment with a specialist to learn more about pancreatitis.
