Signs of Pancreatitis

2. Abdominal Pain

The main symptom of pancreatitis (both acute and chronic) is pain in the upper abdomen. This pain might also spread into the back. According to NIDDK, the abdominal pain in acute and chronic pancreatitis is felt differently.

When it comes to acute pancreatitis, the pain begins in the upper abdomen and then sometimes spreads into the back. It can be mild or severe, and may last for several days, says NIH.

With chronic pancreatitis, the pain also begins in the upper abdomen, but some patients report not feeling any pain at all. If they do have pain, the source notes that it can also spread to their back, be “constant and severe, worse after eating,” and go away as the condition gets worse.

3. The Pain Gets Worse…

As we just mentioned, pain in the upper abdomen, right underneath the ribs, is common in pancreatitis. This pain can be mild at first but will become worse after eating and drinking, says Everyday Health.

The source also states that the pain tends to get worse when “lying down on the back and lessen while leaning forward in a sitting position.” Also, this pain begins to travel and radiate in the back, but is not aggravated by movement. The pain can also differ depending on what is causing the pancreatitis, explains Everyday Health.

4. Fever and Heart Rate

Among the most common symptoms of acute pancreatitis, both the Mayo Clinic and WebMD list fever and an increased heart rate.

Dr. Axe also notes that the body might begin to feel weak as it tries to battle against the inflammation. Also, a patient might experience difficulty breathing and shock.

5. Weight Loss

Weight loss is more common in chronic pancreatitis and according to Very Well Health, and it can happen even when the person with this condition is eating normally. Even though we’d all probably enjoy losing a few pounds here and there without trying, weight loss without any logical explanation is often a huge red flag.

When weight loss occurs due to pancreatitis is because the pancreas is not functioning properly. “This occurs because the body does not secrete enough pancreatic enzymes to break down food, so nutrients are not absorbed normally,” writes the source. “Poor digestion leads to loss of fat, protein, and sugar into the stool.”

6. Nausea

When it comes to problems with the pancreas, pancreatitis is the most common condition to cause nausea and vomiting. This type of beahvior tends to happen more often with fatty foods because the pancreas is having trouble producing enzymes that are supposed to help the digestive system break down fat.

Certain foods are more likely to make you feel nauseated, writes Prevention after talking with Andrew Hendifar, MD, codirector of pancreas oncology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. “Hamburgers are often nausea triggers, and so are avocados and nuts, which are all high in fat,” says Hendifar. “Pizza is another one that’s really tough for patients with a compromised pancreas.”

7. Vomiting

In addition to nausea, vomiting is another unfortunate symptom of pancreatitis. When it comes to treatment, “Sometimes a patient cannot control vomiting and needs to have a tube through the nose to the stomach to remove fluid and air,” writes Very Well Health when talking about acute pancreatitis. “In mild cases, the patient may not have food for three or four days but is given fluids and pain relievers by vein.”

8. Bloating

While pain in the abdomen is the most common sign of pancreatitis, a patient can also experience bloating with a swollen or distended abdomen, says Healthline.

9. Oily, Smelly Stools

This one sounds strange, we know, and it kind of is, but it’s true. Healthline explains this symptom is known as steatorrhea, which is fatty stools that have a strange odor. “Steatorrhea can be a sign of malabsorption. This means you’re not getting all of your essential nutrients from your diet because your pancreas doesn’t produce and secrete enough digestive enzymes to break down your food,” writes the source.

In addition to the strange smell, your stools might appear oily. “The toilet water will have a film that looks like oil,” says Andrew Hendifar, MD, codirector of pancreas oncology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles to Prevention. The oil is all the dietary fat that the pancreas wasn’t able to break down, he adds.

10. Diarrhea

After pain in the abdomen and back, diarrhea is another symptom of chronic pancreatitis and the NIDDK notes that people with chronic pancreatitis might not have any symptoms until their symptoms become complications.

11. At Risk for Developing Diabetes

Since the pancreas is responsible for producing hormones that help control our body’s regulation of glucose in the blood, it also affects our blood sugar levels. When the pancreas isn’t working properly, it can put a person at risk for diabetes.

Dr. Axe explains that chronic pancreatitis is typically responsible for this symptom, or rather, side effect. “With chronic pancreatitis, there is physical scarring of the pancreas that can put you at a greater risk for developing diabetes, digestive disorders, and even pancreatic cancer,” says the source.

12. Symptoms of Severe Pancreatitis

We’ve talked about how there are two types of pancreatitis — acute and chronic, but the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also lists a number of symptoms that could indicate a person is suffering from severe pancreatitis. If this is the case, you should seek out medical attention right away.

The following are all signs of severe pancreatitis: “pain or tenderness in the abdomen that is severe or becomes worse, nausea and vomiting, fever or chills, fast heartbeat, shortness of breath,” as well as any yellowing of the skin or eyes, also known as jaundice.

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