Hopefully The Final Chapter
Of my journey through pancreatitis. Was diagnosed about 3 years ago, hospitalized, lots of pain, ER visits. The initial MRI showed a very angry pancreas. Was put on a no more than 5% fat diet. While attacks were less, they still happened. I joined a group of pancreatitis suffers and while their symptoms were similar something did not ring true. On the 1 year follow up had a long discussion with my GI doctor who, bless him, listened carefully. He sent me on for a consult with a GI surgeon. He also listened very carefully and suggested a couple of tests, one being a nuclear medicine ejection/fraction gallbladder test. It turned out to be mildly abnormal. No imaging showed gallbladder stones. He suggested removing the gallbladder which was done with an amazingly easy recovery. Gallbladder was filled with thick sludge which when trying to pass was causing all the pain and affecting the pancreas. Next MRI showed a very normal pancreas, no longer irritated by a wonky gallbladder. My GI doc positively danced saying he rarely gets to give that type of good news.
Today I had my second follow up MRI, hopefully the last. While my health has been amazingly better since the gallbladder removal, there is always the worry in the back of my mind. A few days before I get results. I'm so ready to completely close this chapter of my life.
Next week, follow up mammogram images and possibly ultrasound - totally normal for me in the yearly screening.