EXTREMELY high Lipase and Amylase levels???

[amarie89]

I am a 20 y/o otherwise healthy female. I have been experiencing diarrhea almost every other day for a few months (with an awful cramping and pain in my lower abdomin) and have been essentially living off immodium. I went to my doctor and they did some blood tests and found high level of Lipas (1660) and Amylase (2045). She said something is wrong with my pancreas and I went back in for the cystic fibrosis gene test and a lipids test today and I have a CT scan scheduled for Friday. I dont drink and my liver, thyroid,electrolytes,blood sugar, kidney and blood cell counts were all normal. Anyone have any idea what this could be?

[JRoyboy12]

I bet it’s pancreatitis....in April of this year, I learned the term Lipase. Lipase and “just shy of 48,000” went hand in hand. I too, thought I could “stomach” the pain and “suck it up” like I was taught in a lifetime of football, boxing, baseball, & basketball, few surgeries, and countless broken bones. When I finally agreed to go the hospital, almost 5 hours after it first started, I thought I was dying. On the way there, I told my older sister, who is taking me at 5am, thank you, and I felt like I was dying. Come to find out, I was.  Not only was my pancreas like an over soaked sponge oozing toxins into my abdomen, my gallbladder was shot, packed to the brim with stones. I was told when two of a tripod’s legs are cut off, it falls. How long do I think my liver could have survived on its own? I was put on IV for 3 days with no food or drink, with only a few ice chips here and there, to lower my lipase enough in order to remove my gallbladder. All in all, I ended up spending a week in the hospital. Before this, beer was life....since, I haven’t touched it. Yes, this pain is that severe. Yes, this can be fatal. I read 10% of pancreatitis patients won’t survive. 1 our of 10. I’ve had my one. Why try it again? I was told if alcohol did cause this and I continue to drink, it would happen again, and if it did happen again, it would be to this extreme again. Another hit of this magnitude would scar my pancreas. This scarred pancreas would pretty much put me on Dialysis, and from there, it’s pancreatic cancer, cirrhosis, liver failure, kidney failure, or liver cancer. I haven’t had a drop since. Take care of yourselves and yes, this pain is for real!!

[Shrink_Nettie]

I've been going through the same thing. My lipase level came back as 900 and I've been sicker than a dog. I've lost over 90 lbs (which now I am at 80 lbs) was overweight due to meds that I was taking. I throw up bail everyday, or whenever I eat, I have bad back pain with it, my stomach hurts severely on daily bases. I've gone through this once before as well- went away for about year and now it's back. My doctor order more test. Which he said "if it comes back just as high- you're going to be sent to the hospital" my question is. What do they do for the test? Seeing I've have had a CT, the blood work, what else would they do?  

[michell221]

You are a healthy young  adult and most people your age will not have high amylase and lipsase levels .  These high levels indicate problems with your pancreas or pancreatitis.  The symptoms you are having are all symptoms of a pancreas issue.   I am suprised she did not admit you to the hospital with high levels.  Eat a very lowfat diet with no smoking or alcohol .  These things aggrevate your pancreas.


Pancreatitis in a young adult is not very common so they are looking into what is causing it.  


A lot of times pancreatitis is caused by  drinking excessively for a long time.  Since you probably do not fit that criteria they have to see what is causing it.

The second thing that can cause pancreatitis is gallstones.  Usually gallbladder issues do not start appearing until middle age so they are probably going to test for this as well but they probably do not expect this to be the problem.  They can perform an ultrasound or CT scan to look for gallstones.  The CT can also show other things such as tumor, hereditary pancreas disorders etc that could be causing it.

Third  cause of pancreatits is hereditary.  The first episode of pancreatits usually will show up by the twenties. You can have genetic testing done for this and that is probably one of the tests they are going to give you.   Ask you Dr if they will test you for this and if not get it done so you can start managing this if you have it. Hereditary pancreatitis usually will have some acute episodes and will progress into chronic pancreatitis.  They can give you enzymes to help digest food if this is what you have.

Other reasons for pancreatitis are high fats ( hyperlipidemia)  in the blood and high calcium in the blood ( hypercalcemia).  You should get blood tests checking for this and if this is found they can start you on medicines and a diet  to help this disease.  I think you mentioned they were checking your lipids

There is also a link between cystic fibrosis and pancreatits so that is why they are testing you for that.  This is another disease that often leads to chronic pancreatitis after a while and will show up earlier in life.  

I hope they can find your problem quickly and  you get feeling better.

[tummytrouble613]

I also experenced vomiting, dibilitating upper abdominal pain, high levels of amalase and lipase levels but had a normal looking pancreas. has anyone else had this happen?

[KATPAR]

I'm sorry to hear that. I don't know what happened to my comment with those 39s...? But I got my point across. 30,000 is high...I'm pretty sure I was at deaths door.

[Matticyn]

I'm in the hospital now. Been here since June 27 and my lipase level was over 11000. I was vomiting and direah for 2 days. I drove myself to the hospital, which was 4 miles away st midnight. I thought I was dying. I didn't want to die at home. I am a veteran and the closest VA facility was 180 miles and I knew I couldn't make it. I'm trying to figure out how to get the VA to help with the Dr bill
I'm 70% disabled. I'm still in the hospital as of July 2.. My lipase keep fluctuating between 1100 and 2000.

[Nevets123]

Your situation sounds very similar  . . .  I anxiously wait on board responses ....
I came here looking for info and help for my 18 yo son.  He has had bloody diarrhea for about 6 weeks and colonoscopy last Monday confirmed uclerative colitus throughout large and into the small intestine.  Dr. ordered Lipase test to get a baseline because one of the meds he may use sometimes can trigger pancreatitus.  Test came back -- they were expecting level at 230 but came in at 1126.  Retested today to rule out a bad test -- came in at 1140.   He's doing an MRI now and we should get some answers later tonight.  His Dr. said it is very unusual to have Lipase level that high without having debilitating pain and vomiting.  He has some soreness achiness but nothing severe and no vomiting.    

[KATPAR]

I had a major attack of the pancreas and had to be taken to the hospital by the ambulance. I have never had pain like that before, even after having abdominal surgery. My lip was 30,000, can't remember what the other was but it was high. I thought I was going to die. I was in the hospital for 11 days. This was last May. I go to the VA, however, the ambulance couldn't take me there so I went to the Methodist hospital in Richardson, Texas. The pain started in lower abdomen and then it was all over the abdomen, rib cages, in my whole back. They're still testing me at the VA. Don't mess around and think it'll go away, because if you have these symptoms, go to the hospital as fast a you can. And again, you'll never experience pain like this. And it came out of nowhere.

[KATPAR]

I had a major attack of the pancreas and had to be taken to the hospital by the ambulance. I have never had pain like that before, even after having abdominal surgery. My lip was 30,000, can't remember what the other was but it was high. I thought I was going to die. I was in the hospital for 11 days. This was last May. I go to the VA, however, the ambulance couldn't take me there so I went to the Methodist hospital in Richardson, Texas. The pain started in lower abdomen and then it was all over the abdomen, rib cages, in my whole back. They're still testing me at the VA. Don't mess around and think it'll go away, because if you have these symptoms, go to the hospital as fast a you can. And again, you'll never experience pain like this. And it came out of nowhere.