AboutMiranda Expertise I can answer most questions pertaining to Inflammatory Bowel Disease (Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis) as well as the medications, surgeries and tests associated with it. I am not a doctor so please don't ask questions that aren't related to this specific area or close to it because it is not my area of expertise.
Experience I have been diagnosed with Crohn's disease for over five years and have dealt with the disease since I was twelve years old. I have been through every medication, numerous exams as well as surgery. I have also worked at a camp for chronically ill children the past three summers and two of our sessions are Crohn's and Colitis so I am very familiar with both conditions.
Organizations Crohn's Colitis Foundation of America, IBD Campus Connection
Education/Credentials I will be finishing up my Bachelor of Arts in Health and Human Biology this spring and I am currently applying to nursing schools to become a nurse practitioner.
Expert: Miranda Date: 3/14/2008 Subject: Upper Abdominal pain
Question QUESTION: Hi Miranda, I am currently experiencing a pain in my upper left abdomen, it feels a bit swollen and over all I feel bloated. The pain radiates to my upper and lower back at it's worst. I've been to the Dr. just recently and she ordered blood test for a bacterial gastritis infection which came back negative. What could this possibly be, also my appetite is not what it normally is and I feel at times nauseous. Very worried! Please help
ANSWER: Although your gastritis test came back negative I would call your doc back if you are worried and ask about further testing so that you aren't leaving anything out. Since it radiates to your back that can sometimes suggest pancreatitis...but the pain tends to be very severe, and can make you quite sick. I would have your doctor order a CBC (complete blood count) and a CMP (complete metabolic panel) I'm not saying that you have pancreatitis by any means I am just suggesting that you maybe ask about this so that it can be ruled out. I would definitely call your doc since you seem to be quite worried about the pain.
Best of Luck
Miranda
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Thank you for this, so what is pancreatitis and is it a serious condition?
Answer First I want to say that I am not suggesting that you have pancreatitis...I'm not a doctor. On the other hand I am somewhat familiar with its manifestations, and it never hurts to rule conditions out. Pancreatitis is not something that you want by any means, but generally if someone has acute pancreatitis then they will spend a few nights in the hospital, get fluids, pain killers, and if they are on medications such as Imuran or 6-mp that can cause this they will be taken out. I am not comfortable providing information about a condition that I am not too familiar with so here is a website about it. http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/pancreatitis/
Again it can be many other possibilities like heartburn, GERD, blockage, indigestion, esophagitis, and many other things. I encourage you to call your doc if your concerned and not feeling well so that a proper diagnosis can be made.
