Pancreatitis

Overview

Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach. Normally, enzymes released by the pancreas become active when they reach the small intestine, but when the pancreas is inflamed, the enzymes inside the pancreas attack and damage the tissues that produce them.

Pancreatitis is serious and can lead to complications.

Acute pancreatitis usually requires hospitalization, and will resolve in a few days with treatment. Patients will be advised not to smoke, drink alcohol, or eat fatty foods. Sometimes more tests are needed to determine the cause of pancreatitis.

If narrowing of the pancreatic or bile ducts is suspected, a specialized technique called endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is used to view and inspect the pancreas, gallbladder, and bile ducts.

Applicable Procedures

Colonoscopy
ERCP

What causes pancreatitis?

Medications, alcohol abuse, abdominal surgery, cystic fibrosis, obesity, high blood triglycerides, gallstones, infection, abdominal injury, high calcium levels in the blood, and pancreatic cancer can all lead to pancreatitis. In general, heavy alcohol use, cigarette smoking, obesity, and family history can increase your risk of pancreatitis.

What are the dangers of pancreatitis?

Pancreatitis can lead to a range of complications. It may cause malnutrition and weight loss, and it can increase your risk of diabetes if it damages the cells that produce insulin. Other problems associated with pancreatitis include kidney failure, as well as breathing problems and dangerously low oxygen levels. Pancreatitis can also cause a pseudocyst to form, which can lead to internal bleeding and infection if it ruptures. Infection from pancreatitis is serious and may require surgery. Chronic pancreatitis leads to long term inflammation, which increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.

How is pancreatitis treated?

If you have ongoing abdominal pain, it is important to contact your doctor to determine if you need treatment for pancreatitis. If pain is so severe that you cannot get comfortable, you should seek immediate medical care. Initial treatment in the hospital will likely involve fasting to allow your pancreas to recover. After it has begun to heal, you can consume clear liquids and bland foods and then slowly return to your normal diet. A feeding tube may be necessary if you have continued pain with eating. You will also probably take pain medications and receive intravenous fluids while recovering in the hospital. After symptoms are under control, your medical team will treat the underlying cause of pancreatitis, by removing bile duct blockages, removing the gallbladder, or draining fluid from the pancreas. If your pancreatitis is linked to alcohol abuse, treatment for alcoholism may be warranted.

Common Symptoms

“I started to experience stomach pain right after eating, and my belly was tender to the touch. The pain was pretty severe and radiated to my back.”
“I had upper abdominal pain, as well as a fever accompanied by nausea and vomiting.”
“I had ongoing stomach pain, and I was losing weight without dieting. It turns out that I had chronic pancreatitis.”

Find a Location in Your Area

Find a Location

Request an Appointment

What They Are Saying



Excellent

Center For Digestive Health, Rochester Hills4.8

Based on 6233 reviews

See all reviews

review us on

Kelly P.

Great experience from the front desk to the discharge nurse. Everyone was super friendly and the procedure was quick and easy, I will for sure be returning for my next scope.

Becky R.

DR WILLI AND HIS STAFF MADE ME FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE DURING MY OFFICE VISIT.

Christine G.

happy people... I felt comfortable and I didn't wait long... thank goodness... 5 min in waiting room... 5 min to get ready... 5 min for iv.. 5 min for someone to wheel me in surgery... 6:20am arrival... in my car at 7:45am... I think... I was so glad to be done and out of there

L K.

Dr. Anezi Bakken is excellent. Wonderful bedside manner. Consistent communication throughout the procedural process.I was referred to her and will be referring others.

Denise A.

Very clean and efficient offices and all appointments are in a timely matter

Lori L.

Everything and everyone was terrific!

Kathy O.

I highly recommend Dr Richard Willi at the Center for Digestive Health. My recent endoscopy went smoothly and very professionally. They are timely, patient focused and very courteous. I have also had my colonoscopies there with Dr Richard Willi.

Chimene A.

Excellent experience with Dr. Bologna!! Appreciate receiving prep info via text with videos messages from my Patient Advisor, Emily! Staff were very professional. Made me very comfortable. And to top it all off, I received a follow up call from the office a few days after my procedure. It was very timely because I had a question, which was answered clearly and without judgement. Thank you Center for Digestive Health —Dr. Bologna and staff.

Todd S.

Having my second procedure, the staff was just as good as the first one, if not better. Thanks!

Lucille B.

Dr. WILLIE is fantastic and soooo caring! He is really helping to resolve o going stomach issues for me. Nurse and staff so pleasant. Would highly recommend him! Claudia T

John M.

Great!

Marsha J.

It was going to take me 3 months to see the doctor I had in the hospital, I was able to have a tele-call with Dr Nandi he was very concerned and made an appointment within 10 days to do a scope and found out what my problem was he was very nice and efficient.

Kristopher D.

A very professional and caring staff.

Emeel A.

Professionally and efficient. Whole procedure with checkin and checkout lasted 1 hour and 15 minutes

Ann G.

EVERYONE of the staff were absolutely wonderful and that goes from the receptionist all the way up to the Dr.,the anesthesiologist and surgical staff. The atmosphere of really caring showed through each person,they all made sure the procedure process was smooth sailing all the way through to discharge.

Tania B.

I received a call 5 days prior to my appointment that I was responsible for 800 dollars for EGD procedure that was due the next day. I had this appointment for over a month before. This gave me little time to research the procedure with my insurance and personal doctor..My actual visit to the office was great. Staff was kind and helpful. Dr. Donat is a great Dr. Disappointed in the billing information.

Marci A.

I was treated so well by everyone from the check in to the check out. It's not fun to have a colonoscopy but, everyone was so kind and made the procedure easy. I love Dr. Donat, he has such a kind demeanor and bedside manner. This was my third colonoscopy at this location. Thank you

Chuck

Dr. Tocco explained both the procedure and results very clearly. He let me know the results the same day of my test. Very pleased.

Jeff M.

The entire staff and Dr. Nandi were polite, answered all questions, and did a good job making the whole process go well.

James W.

Office was packed with patients at 7:30 am. I was 10 minutes early. Patients were called and moving. My appointment was smooth the whole time from start to finish. Extremely efficient office. I saw 6 different people and all 6 were friendly, smiling, competent, and kept me comfortable and at ease. Pre-office procedures and calls were 100% the best. I love this office!

Carol M.

Very friendly staff.

Ralph P.

Well organized office. No wait and taken care of quickly . All members of the team were professional and caring. Exceeded expectations in all areas.

Rita R.

I had a telehealth visit with Dr. Bakken this week. She was excellent. Prior to our conversation, she reviewed my records, and it was obvious that she was fully aware of my previous visit to the ER and the results of tests administered there. She scheduled me for a necessary Endoscopy, and I am confident that I will receive quality, competent care. As a teacher, I would give her an A! Sister Rita Rinaldi, IHM

Richard K.

Never have i been to a more professional medical office! Outstanding staff!

Marcia L.

My appointment was for 3:30 . At 3:33 my name was called. Dr. Willie and his staff are the best.

The Center for Digestive Health4.8

Based on 6238 reviews

See all reviews

review us on

Michele D.

Staff are all so nice.

Mark

Entire staff was kind and informative about the process/procedure.

Douglas K.

I have been a patient for some years now, both in person and virtual visits as well. My experiences with Dr Donat have been very good. The office staff is polite and on top of things as well.

Mary Lou R.

Always friendly greeted at the desk, check in is quick.

Our Doctors

We’re proud of our team here at Digestive Health Institute. Our health care providers include some of the very best colorectal surgeons, gastroenterologists and physician assistants. To learn more about our qualified team of specialists, please visit our providers page.

Amir Abadir MD, FRCPC

Anezi E. Bakken MD, MS

Sante D. Bologna MD, FACP

M. Emin Donat MD, FRCPC

Partha S. Nandi

Jack Tocco DO

John R. Weber MD

Richard T. Wille MD

Tusar Desai MD

Aalia Saeed, MD

FAQs

What happens during my first visit?

If you are a new patient, you can expect to have a complete physical exam. You will also be asked detailed questions about your current problems and your past medical history, your current medications, allergies, your family history and other pertinent medical information. If you are taking medications, please bring a completed medical history form with you to your appointment. Once the physician has reviewed your medical information and completed the physical examination, a plan of care will be developed. You may need to be seen again in the office, be referred back to your family physician for follow-up care, or require additional testing. If additional tests are needed, we will assist you in scheduling these tests.

What if I need to schedule an endoscopic procedure?

An endoscopic procedure allows the physician to visualize a part of your gastrointestinal tract with a special instrument called an endoscope. If your family physician has ordered testing, you will be contacted by telephone by one of our staff members. If a physician orders testing and you are in the office, the procedure can generally be scheduled during the course of your visit. You will be given a date, time, and location for the test, as well as written instructions telling you how to prepare for the test. If you have any questions about the procedure, please feel free to ask one of our staff members or the physician.

How do I get test results?

We ask that you wait 10 to 14 days before contacting us for results. Often results come from several different sources. This information needs to be compiled and reviewed by your physician before you can be appropriately advised.

What insurances do you accept?

We accept payment from most insurance companies including Medicare, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, Blue Care Network, Physicians Health Plan, Cofinity, Sparrow Professional Health Network, Medicaid, McLaren, Health Plus, and several others. Accepted insurances are subject to change at any time without notice.

If your insurance requires an authorization from your primary care physician, you may be asked to assist us in obtaining this authorization.

All patients are responsible for all copays and deductibles at the time of service.

If you have any questions regarding your benefits or insurance coverage, please contact our Billing Department at 248-844-9710.

What if I need to contact the doctor?

To contact your doctor during business hours please call our main number 248-844-9710. If you have an urgent need to speak with the doctor after hours, you will be rerouted to our after hours answering service, and your doctor will be paged. In the case of a medical emergency please proceed directly to the nearest hospital emergency room.

3 reasons to see a gastrointestinal specialist when you turn 45

A gastrointestinal specialist is someone who specializes in the gastrointestinal tract. The gastrointestinal tract involves a pathway that starts at the mouth and ends at the anus. The organs within the gastrointestinal tract are those that function mostly for...

The Benefits of Water for Digestion

Digestion is a process that, when running smoothly, can help keep the rest of your body in good condition too. It’s an important component of your overall health. There are several different ways that the digestive system can be well maintained, and this can be helped...

Do I Need an Endoscopy for Acid Reflux?

An endoscopy is a procedure that is typically used to examine an individual’s digestive tract. It is a non-surgical procedure that involves a tube with a video camera attached to it, called an endoscope, that is used to examine the inside of a cavity in the body. An...