I have had chronic pancreatitis for 12years and also suffered spontaneous pneumothorax can there be a link in these two?
215090
Chronic Pancreatitis\nIf injury to the pancreas continues, chronic pancreatitis may develop. Chronic pancreatitis occurs when digestive enzymes attack and destroy the pancreas and nearby tissues, causing scarring and pain. The usual cause of chronic pancreatitis is many years of alcohol abuse, but the chronic form may also be triggered by only one acute attack, especially if the pancreatic ducts are damaged. The damaged ducts cause the pancreas to become inflamed, tissue to be destroyed, and scar tissue to develop.\n\nWhile common, alcoholism is not the only cause of chronic pancreatitis. The main causes of chronic pancreatitis are\n\nalcoholism \nblocked or narrowed pancreatic duct because of trauma or pseudocysts have formed \nheredity \nunknown cause (idiopathic) \nDamage from alcohol abuse may not appear for many years, and then a person may have a sudden attack of pancreatitis. In up to 70 percent of adult patients, chronic pancreatitis appears to be caused by alcoholism. This form is more common in men than in women and often develops between the ages of 30 and 40.\n\nHereditary pancreatitis usually begins in childhood but may not be diagnosed for several years. A person with hereditary pancreatitis usually has the typical symptoms that come and go over time. Episodes last from 2 days to 2 weeks. A determining factor in the diagnosis of hereditary pancreatitis is two or more family members with pancreatitis in more than one generation. Treatment for individual attacks is usually the same as it is for acute pancreatitis. Any pain or nutrition problems are treated just as they are for acute pancreatitis. Surgery can often ease pain and help manage complications.\n\nOther causes of chronic pancreatitis are\n\ncongenital conditions such as pancreas divisum \ncystic fibrosis \nhigh levels of calcium in the blood (hypercalcemia) \nhigh levels of blood fats (hyperlipidemia or hypertriglyceridemia) \nsome drugs \ncertain autoimmune conditions \nSymptoms\nMost people with chronic pancreatitis have abdominal pain, although some people have no pain at all. The pain may get worse when eating or drinking, spread to the back, or become constant and disabling. In certain cases, abdominal pain goes away as the condition advances, probably because the pancreas is no longer making digestive enzymes. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and fatty stools.\n\nPeople with chronic disease often lose weight, even when their appetite and eating habits are normal. The weight loss occurs because the body does not secrete enough pancreatic enzymes to break down food, so nutrients are not absorbed normally. Poor digestion leads to excretion of fat, protein, and sugar into the stool. If the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas (islet cells) have been damaged, diabetes may also develop at this stage.\nSpontaneous pneumothorax is a sudden collection of air or gas in the chest that causes the lung to collapse in the absence of a traumatic injury to the chest or lung.  Usually, a distinction is made between a spontaneous (primary) pneumothorax, and secondary (complicated) pneumothorax.\nSpontaneous pneumothorax occurs in individuals with no known lung disease.  It affects close to 9,000 persons in the United States each year- most often among tall, thin men between 20 and 40 years old.  The cause of this type of pneumothorax is the rupture of a bleb or cyst in the lung. \n\nSymptoms include:\n\nChest pain on affected side  \nDyspnea (shortness of breath) \nCough \nAbnormal breathing movement \nRapid respiratory rate \nSpontaneous pneumothorax is diagnosed by chest radiographs. \n\ni really dont see a conection between the 2..
607014
Wow! I have never heard of such a thing. I would really really really recommend her seeing a doctor. It could be simply two different problems; Severe simus infection and gas/indigestion. I'm no doctor so I am sorry I cannot diagnose her for ya. Take her to a doctor, it could possibly be a serious condition. Good luck to you and tell your aunt I hope she finds out what this is and gets better!
1887
Yes, I would advise you to visit a doctor. If nothing else it will give you more information and piece of mind on your condition.
340384
Catamenial pneumothorax is a condition of collapsed lung occurring in conjunction with menstrual periods (catamenial refers to menstruation), believed to be caused primarily by endometriosis of the pleura (the membrane surrounding the lung). Catamenial Pneumothorax is the most common form of thoracic endometriosis syndrome, which also includes catamenial hemothorax, catamenial hemoptysis and endometriosis lung nodules, as well as some exceptional presentations.
55226
It sounds to me like what I had late last year. Walking pnemonia was the culprit and I had a very bad cough and was sore around my lungs (front and back) from coughing for days on end. I contacted my physician and he prescribed an antibiotic (I cannot remember which one) which helped fight the infection, and also prescribed cough syrup with codine to help supress the cough and enabled me to sleep at night. \n\nI hope this helps you out and most importantly - get well soon!\n\nOh, and I'm not a doctor - but I play one on Yahoo!
360460
So sorry you have been feeling unwell.  Based on your primary symptoms, it may be something like:\n\nGallstones \nPancreatitis \nCholecystitis \n\nBut you really need to follow up with a specialist to be sure.\nMy guess as a nurse would be more likely leaning towards Pancreatitis.\n\nRead about it here:\nhttp://www.mamashealth.com/pancreatitis.asp\n\nIf pain is getting worse or you have any signs of hypovolemia (loss of blood - bleeding, racing pulse, thirst, etc.)  PLEASE don't wait for your appointment to come, go to the Emergency Department of your local hospital.
115069
*gasp* thanks for your details.  you are the first one I encountered to give his case with good details.\ndon't worry mister. 120/94 AIN'T that alarming. \nquestion: have you eaten any foods high in (bad) cholesterol?? fatty pork chops?? seafoods?? chicken skin?? JUST BEFORE THE PHYSICAL EXAMINATION??\n\nthat is all I can say viewing that your "latest check-up" is PAST 1 YEAR.  I think you should do it again, this time.\n\nTIP: GO SEE DOC.  AVOID FATTY FOODS BEFORE EXAMINATION. THAT BE IT. \n\nJOMAR S.T. NDGM '96\nEDIT: i saw your addition of details today.  you are not suffering from hypertension. you are just within the normal limits, however, that chest should be checked for further data.  might be just stress or rib cage "deflation/inflation" after hours of steadiness.
431540
Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease, Acid Reflux Desease, GERD are the same thing. My symptoms started five years ago. Extreme pain in the middle of my chest but no other symptoms I've tried not to pay  much attention until one day suddenly I couldn't breathe. Just the tiniest amount of air came through my throat. Well, I've had to calm myself down fast. It probably lasted a little over two minutes but in my mind I felt I will suffocate.This incident occured approx. 8-9 times including at night. I never regurgitated anything, it did not happen after I ate my meal, so my doctor thaught it's probably psychosomatic/ crazy/ on my part. I went to see another one. Prescribed Losec 20 mg daily and in five years never had one recurrance. Perhaps my story does not fit the criteria for GERD but it's a true story and there are always  exceptions.
47172
I would be very skeptical of someone discovering CF at such a relatively late age.  The disease almost smacks you in the face very early in life, and there are no mild forms to my knowledge.  I'm not sure what your doctor noticed to steer him towards CF, but if he's really serious, there is a chloride sweat test that can be done to rule it out.  Also, if you have no family history of CF, I would refrain from worrying about it.  Bronchiectasis can be associated with so many things.  Consider being tested for Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency.  I know it's a mouthful, but it's a highly under-diagnosed condition affecting the lungs.  Good luck to you :)
612514
Hiya Yes My mum recently had the very same thing and the doc gave her antibiotics because she had a chest infection brought on by the virus that caused the symptoms you described also she has now been given potassium tablets as she is low in potassium caused by the illness and the doc said it could take up to six months to recover fully .I hope you feel better soon.
562476
could be something with your lungs, your pecs, or it could be heartburn, or your heart.  if you don't trust your doctor get a second opinion
87950
Apart from the obvious, go see the Doctor.  It sounds like you have had a throat infection which has moved to your chest.  The antibiotics you took were probably the wrong spectrum as they woundn't be having an effect if you stopped taking them over a week ago.  It may already be neumonia.  GO AND SEE YOUR DOCTOR! As it could be loads of things
477944
I was discharged from the Navy with a condition that they never fully determined.  They ran a few tests and ruled out a lot of things but they could never find anything that included all of my symptoms.  I looked up the symptoms of Sarcoidosis and I have almost all of them.  I am going to go to my specialist ASAP and see if that could be the mystery disease.
528721
My husband gets this all the time.  He was actually hospitalized at one point because they thought that he was having a heart attack.  They said it is something air getting between the lining of his lungs and his chest wall.   It is called pleurisy.   I would suggested wearing a mask when you go outside.  This way the cold air doesn't go right into your mouth.\n\nHere is something I found about Pleurisy on a website.  Hope this helps.\n\n:One of the most characteristic and easy to diagnose types of chest pain is pleurisy from inflammation or irritation of the parietal pleura, which is innervated by branches of nearby intercostal nerves and, over the center of each hemidiaphragm, by the phrenic nerves. In contrast, the visceral pleura is not innervated by nociceptive (pain) receptors, but owing to the contiguity of the visceral and parietal pleural surfaces, inflammatory processes in the periphery of the lungs often cause the pain of pleurisy by extension across the membranes.\n\nBecause most intrapulmonary disorders are apt to be localized within a single lung, pleuritic pain is usually sharply restricted to the ipsilateral chest wall or shoulder, cutaneous areas supplied by the involved intercostal or phrenic nerves, respectively. But perhaps the most singular feature of pleurisy is its unmistakable relationship to breathing movements. The pain may be variously described as “sharp,” “dull,” “achey,” sometimes “burning,” or simply a “catch,” but whatever its designation, it is worsened by taking a deep breath, and either coughing or sneezing causes intense distress. The aggravation by breathing causes patients to seek, find, and remain in the body position that most restricts movement of the affected region.
462577
HI BARB\n\nHere is the cause and a remedy for you.\n\nCause \nThis is often caused by a stomach disorder that comes from overloading the system with food, wherein fermentation in the stomach causes phlegm. It may also be induced by inflammation in the bronchial tubes due to a neglected cold. Worms may be the cause. Many coughs are from a nervous condition, where coughing may eventually become habitual. Coughs are highly misunderstood. Usually a sore throat and coughing are caused by the sinuses draining the eustachian tubes, which is like pouring acid down the throat. A cough usually comes from a lowered vitality in the system from improper diet, loss of sleep, lack of exercise, and fresh air, improper breathing, poor elimination, or improper night clothing and bedding. \n\nHerbal Aids \n1. Acute coughs can often be relieved with a little honey and onion syrup. When it is the result of an old acute condition, clear out the morbid condition as rapidly as possible without causing irritation. In old cough conditions, comfrey with vervain or mullein are very good. The antispasmodic tincture is also excellent, and it is good to massage the chest area across the back with an antispasmodic tincture during attacks of spasms. Antispasmodic tincture may be used both internally and externally as a liniment on the throat. If this is due to a neglected cold, any of the diaphoretic herbs are excellent. To relieve the coughing spasms, use horehounds, comfrey, or a small amount of lobelia. High enemas of herbal laxatives will relieve congestion of the bowels, and if the cough is severe (asthma, whooping cough) load the stomach with liquids and induce vomiting. \n\nBest of health to you\n\nCheers
355262
With all the adenopathy and atelectasis (collapsed parts of the lung) I would be very concerned about the findings.  Have you lost weight?  Are you more tired than usual?  Are you coughing?  Did they do any lab work also?  \nI am sure your doctor is going to refer you for more tests.  You may need biopsies (tissue samples) also.  \nMake a list of your questions & concerns before you go to the doctor and bring the list w/ you.  If at all possible, have a friend or family member got to the vist with you.  When we are anxious, we tend to forget what was said.  \nGood luck to you!
30735
See a doctor right away, you have a problem with your lungs.  Could be simple, could be more serious but the sooner you start to fix it the better.