I don't mean mentally, what I do mean is do you have stomach ailments like I do that can mimic heart problems or anything else. I have chronic pancreatitis (etiology unknown) but it's full blown & flares many times a year, I have grown to opt not to go to the ER every single time because they will keep me, give me an IV, which is hairy now because of the CHF, and keep me NPO (nothing by mouth until the flare up subsides. And find something else wrong ;)
I'm telling you the pancreas can be one of the most painful medical maladies than anyone can ever imagine. It's like a stomach ache magnified by 100 or more. My whole body aches for days & I vomit bile and the other end is just as bad.
The problem is it mimics heart disease in some ways and the pain can radiate to what is referred to as no mans land. Luckily labs are done and if your amylase & lipase go up then it's pacreatitis, but as time goes by your body gets so used to this "going on" that the lab values do not always reflect the severity of the belly. It's a tricky sticky situation. I have an indwelling morphine pump for the chronic pain, but I find that medical personal are reluctant to adequately give me the extra that I need when the pancreas flares, they think the pump should take care of it, but I assure you this is just one more hurdle that I deal with while battling heart failure.. I'm probably alone in this situation, but thought I would throw it out there in case anyone else has it or something like it
be well... denise
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Has anyone been dual diagnosed?
- By denisePA
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 9:36 am · 9 replies
- In My heart disease - diagnosis and symptoms
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
Heart failure Lipitor Irritable bowel syndrome Chronic pain Acid reflux Nexium Prevacid Morphine Quinapril Coreg Asthma Heart disease Pain Heart attack Mental health Prilosec Diarrhea Percocet Ranitidine
9 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By martzj
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 9:58 am
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Hi Denise,
I'm so sorry to hear you are dealing with this painful chronic condition. I found a video below that may offer you some new info. This is a very serious condition your doctors need to be watching closely and keeping you as comfortable as possible.
take care and hang in there,
Jaynie
Univ. of Wisconsin School of Medicine
Chronic Pancreatitis: Recent Advances and Ongoing Challenges
http://videos.med.wisc.edu/videoInfo.php?videoid=247
- By denisePA
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 1:36 pm
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Thank You Jaynie, this is why I weigh 88lbs this AM, and have eaten very little this week, it far exceeds gastritis but does have that as one of it's symptoms, no one eats much more than rice when they have a bad belly & most folks go without. I also read in the CHF book that serves as my bible that many CHFers feel bloated because of the fluid build up in the liver which pushes against the bely causing one to feel satiety. It's an illusion to be sure because one is not full by any means. Adequate nutrition has become one of the goals for my cardio as well as my GP, but I just can't seem to get ahead. I gain a few & lose a few.
I sure wish only had one ailment to deal with, I can't help but be down over this, I want to eat like a normal person even if it's low in salt!!
I will watch the video, thank you..
- By martzj
- Posted November 1, 2009 at 4:34 pm
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88 pounds!! My heart goes out to you Denise. Are you able to keep down something like Ensure Lite? I lived on that stuff most of the first year after massive heart attack. No fat in it. Something very strange happened to me during the prolonged heart attack and I emerged from a week in intensive care with extreme gag reflex to all foods except certain liquids.
You take good care,
Jaynie
- By LadyLisa
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 12:06 am
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Hi Denise,
I've been told that acid reflux is common for some with heart failure. Unfortunately mine has grown much worse and I'm on medicine three times as strong as Prilosec. I think this is different from your disease, but acid is an issue in many I think.
Lisa
- By denisePA
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 7:03 am
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Lisa I oftem wonder if my acid reflux is from my pancreas thingie or my heart thingie, I have been reading more and more about stomachs acting up in woman after being diagnosed.
Jaynie,I did not know there was an ensure lite. I thought they were all laden with fat. And fat is an enemy of the pancreas as you must know, are you an RN as well?
be well everyone,denise
- By denisePA
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 7:07 am
- Report post
BTW: I'm lucky I'm only 5ft tall, but you can imagine how hard it is to find a pair of pants for a 56 yr old without a flower on the back pocket if they are jeans, or the word angel written across my entire derriere...
Clothing is a huge issue once I find something I buy it in every color,shade..
Thanks for the input girls, Be well, denise
- By playsmart
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 2:43 pm
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Denise , thanx for bringing this topic to our attention. I feel so bad for you -a friend of mine has panceratitis & suffers great pain. You seem to have a positive spirit & you made me laugh about finding clothing. If you were younger , you would make a great jockey!!. I would put you on my horse.
Seriously, there is a definite connection betwewen GI problems & HF. I suffered from what I was told was acid reflx for 14 months. The GP gave me Nexium -did not work,& then oemprazole which did not work. She blamed the Coreg & the Quinapril. The cardio blamed the Lipitor. Meanwhile my EF dropped to 25 and I was getting strange sensations in my abdomen. In June I had to have an ICD. The EP doctor put me on Prevacid which I thought was working. However, when I ran out of it, I noticed that my acid reflux was not bothering me. I don't take anything except an occasional Tums now. The ICD must have done something. I am still angry though that nobody caught the HF considering I had a problem 5 years ago and the acid reflux meds were not working. I might not have needed the ICD. I love this site for all the positive people who exchange great info . Feel better, Playsmart
- By martzj
- Posted November 2, 2009 at 9:51 pm
- Report post
"BTW: I'm lucky I'm only 5ft tall, but you can imagine how hard it is to find a pair of pants for a 56 yr old without a flower on the back pocket if they are jeans, or the word angel written across my entire derriere..."
LOL Denise....If I ever come across a 5 ft, 88 pound lady wearing flower pocket jeans (or 'juicy' on the butt) and drinking Ensure Lite I'll know its you!! : )
Jaynie
- By hipmama42
- Posted November 3, 2009 at 5:54 am
- Report post
Denise, I had no idea you suffered so horribly from pancreatitis on top of the HF - either one of those conditions is more than enough for anyone to have to live with! You are the expert on your own body, there is no doubt about it - after all you have been through, having a nursing degree and years of experience as a nurse, and the strong, determined temperament to keep pushing for answers, you know way more than any doc could about your particular combination of symptoms, and how you respond to meds, tests, diet and nutrition. I'll bet the ER docs want to throw up their hands when they see you, because they don't begin to know how to handle a case as challenging and complicated as yours! And on top of that, you have the fiestiness, wit, and dry sense of humor to help you survive more than most people could even imagine.
I know you didn't ask for these dual diagnosis, but you have inspired me with your determination to find answers and your strong will to overcome.
I have a number of chronic conditions including acid reflux and irritible bowel, and I was once hospitalized for acid reflux and esophagitis many years ago.
I have had to take so many meds, and many of them cause gastric upset and could cause ulcers - not to mention mess up the gut flora and all of that - so I take OTC Ranitidine at least once a day, usually with my morning pills for everything else - the heart meds, asthma, and fibro and mental health meds. A pill for every ill and then some that cause more ills....
I was on a morphine pump after my C-section years ago, and it did not provide adequate pain relief post-op - I actually was relieved to have it D/C'ed and be put on oral Percocet, which did a much better job.
For some reason when people hear morphine pump, they think junkie on heroin - a drug-seeker's nirvana or something, when nothing could be further from the truth!
I hope you find some relief soon from the pancreatitis.
I have an aunt who only weighs a bit less than you do, at 5' 4", and has some kind of chronic diarrhea and gastritis - never properly diagnosed, but she doesn't have to deal with heart failure on top of it.
I do believe that in general, acid reflux, acid indigestion, and possible irritable bowel syndrome are related in some way to HF and maybe some day they will figure out the connection and tie it all together.
Wish I had more to offer - hang in there - I love your strong will and sense of humor! Helps me get through some rough days!
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