need some advice please

[shazzax]

hi all,

I have some worrying symptons and having checked them online i have convinced myself i have PC.

I am not usually anxious or worry about symptons i just see if i feel better in a few weeks. But i dont feel right, i have had stomach acid on and off for a year or so, this is usually relieved by ranitidine. About 2 weeks i had 2 days of vomiting and tummy pain but as a stomach bug was going around i though thats what it was.I continued to feel very sick for the next week. I have diarrhea on and off and my stools are smelly and a tan colour, i have constant upper abdo pain that goes through to my back. I have had acid systems before but this feels different not so much heartburn but a dull constant ache. I have been taking omeprazole for a week but this hasnt helped.The other thing that is worrying me is im so tired some days have no energy to do anything i just dont feel right.my eyes sometimes look slightly yellows in the evenings. i thought this was just a tummy bug but i still feel the same 2 weeks later. i have an appointment with my GP tomorrow. Please can anyone give me some advice and does anyone recognise these symptons from their own experience. Sorry to sound dramatic im not usually like this but pancreatic cancer kept popping up on my facebook feed and twitter so thats why i looked into it.

Thank you for reading, and my thoughts are with you all and your families.xx

[RLF]

It's good you are going to your Dr! Express your concern and he should take it very seriously especially with the pale stools and hopefully send you for some blood tests and some form of imaging ie. an ultrasound/CT or MRI. Now before you freak out more a lot of the symptoms you have described are also related to other conditions namely gallstones, cysts, an infection etc. We were always taught at university that medically, common things are common, so PC is not the first and most likely cause of your symptoms, but if it is then hopefully you are catching it early and something can be done asap.

Hope it goes well tomorrow,

Rob

[J_T]

Rob is correct. Hope your meeting with the doctor was able to put your mind at rest.

Julia x

[shazzax]

just a quick update, I have been to the drs and explained my symptoms she felt my stomach and did a blood test which was clear. She diagnosed gastritis and said to keep taking omeprazole, even though it doesn't work. Still got upper abdo pain some days its worse than others sometimes it feels ok. I'm glad I went to drs just to put my mind at rest. anyone know how long gastritis can last?

[J_T]

Hi has she diagnosed gastritis without any investigation? I'm not saying it isn't that but my husband underwent an ultrasound scan and an endoscopy before they diagnosed his gastritis. Omeprazole didn't work for him either that's why he got those procedures. As it turned out for him he also had PC which was diagnosed as a result of him getting jaundice.

Do go back to your GP if your symptoms persist.

Julia x

[Didge]

Please please, get CT scan of your pancreas. Make a fuss, demand it, ask for second opinion, go to A and E with 'terrible pain' and list all your other symptoms too. Go to a second A and E if that doesn't work, until someone does the scan. It is the only way to rule out PC. Of course it could be something else and I am aware that all of us here had the experience that it wasn't something else which could cloud our judgment. But your story is so familiar to us and time of diagnosis is SO important with PC in the outcome. I can't think that gastritis could cause yellowing of the eyes (I'm not medically trained though)and with the other symptoms you need to get that CT scan to hopefully really put your mind at rest (rather than just putting the GP's mind at rest for the time being). Please let us know how you get on.

Didge x

[shazzax]

thank you Julia and Didge for your replys. i do feel better in myself and my eyes dont seem jaundice now only when im tired they are slighty. Like i said i do feel better but i do still have pain and discomfort in my upper abdomen thats goes through to my back.I have suffered a lot with acid reflux over the past year i would say. The pain is sometimes just ache but im always aware it there, its like a full, heavy feeling.I havent asked for more tests as i feel better, if it was PC i would still feel tired and unwell wouldnt i?

sharon x

[J_T]

I really don't know Sharon. If it were me and just for peace of mind I'd want pc ruled out but I know its hard to get a CT from your GP without good evidence so A&E is probably your best bet if you are worried.

[Annie14]

My husband almost made the mistake of thinking he was better and not going back to the doctor. Thankfully the ball had started rolling with Bupa. He was diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer which has spread. Of course I hope you are getting better and it is just a minor illness but please don't ignore the pain in your back as this was my husbands main symptom and it did go away. It never came back - but the tumour is still here! Leave no stone unturned - it will give you peace of mind.xxx

[PCUK Nurse Dianne]

Hi Shazzaz,

I am sorry to hear you are having a difficult time with your symptoms. I would be happy to have a discussion with you if you feel up to emailing us on the support line (support@pancreaticcancer.org.uk) or phoning (020 35357099) and we could talk through your symptoms, and also a potential way forward. Jeni and I are always happy to talk to anyone in a similar situation if you are concerned about symptoms, or lack of progress through the medical system, this is what we are here for so we can guide you and perhaps move things along a bit quicker.

Please feel free to be in contact.

Kind regards,

Dianne

Pancreatic Cancer Specialist Nurse

Support Team

[Pete12]

Hi Sazzaz.

When you had your blood test did they check your Lipase levels as this could be an indication of Pancreatitis. I suffered with Pancreatitis for several years until I had my Gall Bladder removed. The pain symptomns you describe are very familiar too me.

Cheers

Pete

[knutsford4]

Hi shazza

Please, please demand a scan, before my husband was diagnosed, the GP told him his blood test for cancer in his body came back clear, he was admitted that day a week later the CT showed a small tumour in his Bile Duct, now he has terminal cancer

I pray your is what the GP said, is true but for your peace of mind get it done xxx