Your doctor will ask you questions about your medical history and do a physical exam before diagnosing pancreatitis.

Medical history

Your doctor will ask you about your symptoms, overall health, behaviors, and medical history.

• Where is the pain, and what does it feel like?
• Have you been vomiting or feeling nauseated?
• Do the symptoms occur after drinking alcohol or eating?
• Does sitting up or leaning forward reduce the pain?
• Have you had similar symptoms before?
• What antibiotics or other medicines are you taking?
• Do you have a family history of gallstone problems?
• Have you ever had peptic ulcer disease?
• Do you drink large amounts of alcohol frequently?
• Do you have cystic fibrosis?

Physical exam

Your doctor will examine you for the following signs of pancreatitis.

• Your upper abdomen may be tender.
• You may look very ill. (This may be a sign of severe pancreatitis. In mild disease, people may not appear sick.)
• Your pulse may be fast (100 to 150 beats per minute).
• Your breathing may be shallow.
• Your skin may be yellow (jaundice), indicating possible blockage of the bile duct.
• Purple patches may appear on your abdomen or low back, a sign that fluid has leaked from pancreatic tissues because of inflammation.
• Your liver may be enlarged if pancreatitis is caused by alcohol abuse.