What it is
Other causes include smoking, gallstones, some inherited conditions and autoimmune problems. Stopping drinking and smoking is the most important step.
Treatment includes pain relief, enzyme capsules taken with meals to help digestion, diet advice, and treatment for diabetes if it develops. Some people need endoscopic procedures or surgery.
Common signs
- Repeated or constant pain in the upper tummy, often spreading to the back
- Pale, oily, smelly stools that are hard to flush
- Weight loss
- Signs of diabetes, such as thirst and peeing more
How it is usually diagnosed
- CT or MRI scan
- Endoscopic ultrasound
- Stool test for pancreatic enzymes (faecal elastase)
- Blood sugar tests
Records worth keeping
Keeping these together makes each appointment easier, especially when you see a new doctor:
- Scan reports
- Faecal elastase and blood sugar results
- Your enzyme dose and diet plan
- Pain management plan
Questions to ask your doctor
- How much damage is there, and what caused it?
- Am I taking the right enzyme dose?
- Should I be screened for diabetes regularly?
When to get help right away
Call 112 or go to the nearest emergency department if you have:
- Sudden severe tummy pain, vomiting that will not stop, or yellowing of the skin and eyes
This page is general information. It is not a diagnosis and does not replace a doctor who knows your history. Medfold keeps your records organised; it does not interpret them.