Pancreatitis is swelling of the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach. The main sign is severe pain in the upper belly that goes through to the back, often with vomiting. In Punjab the two common causes are gallstones and alcohol. It needs same-day hospital care. Dr Raman Garg treats it at Bombay Gastro & Cancer Institute, Bathinda, Punjab, India.
What the pancreas does
The pancreas sits deep in the upper belly, behind the stomach. It makes two things you cannot live without: digestive juices that break down fat and protein, and insulin that controls blood sugar. In pancreatitis, those juices start working inside the gland itself, and the pancreas begins to digest and inflame its own tissue. Doctors call a sudden attack acute pancreatitis. Repeated attacks that scar the gland over years are called chronic pancreatitis.
Symptoms: how the pain feels
- Strong, steady pain in the upper middle belly that spreads to the back (pancreas ka dard, pait se peeth tak).
- Pain that gets worse after eating, especially oily food, and when lying flat. Many patients feel a little better sitting and leaning forward.
- Repeated vomiting and nausea, a swollen belly, and fever.
- In chronic cases: weight loss, oily floating stool, and new diabetes.
A 45 year old farmer from Dabwali eats a heavy dinner with ghee and a drink, and wakes at midnight with pain that bores into his back. That is not gas. It is a typical story, and he should be in a hospital within hours.
Causes and risk factors
| Cause | How it triggers pancreatitis |
|---|---|
| Gallstones | A small stone slips into the common channel and blocks the pancreas outlet. This is the most common cause in India. |
| Alcohol | Regular heavy drinking inflames the gland and scars it over time. |
| High triglycerides (blood fat) | Very high levels can set off an attack. Fatty liver and diabetes often go with it. |
| Some medicines, injury, or infection | Less common, but the doctor checks your drug list. |
| Unknown | In some patients no cause is found even after tests. |
If your cause is gallstones, treating the stones is how you prevent the next attack. Read gallstone symptoms and causes and our gallstone treatment page. Fat in the blood and liver is covered in fatty liver diet and treatment.
How Dr Raman Garg finds the cause
The examination comes first, then blood tests including liver function (LFT) in our in-house laboratory, and an ultrasound of the abdomen. A CT scan or an MRCP (a scan of the bile duct and pancreas) is arranged with trusted imaging partners in Bathinda, and Dr Raman Garg reviews the report the same day. The scans show how severe the swelling is and whether a stone is stuck.
Treatment: what actually works
Most acute attacks are treated with medicines and support, not an operation. This means fluids through a drip, pain control, anti-vomiting medicines, and careful watching of the heart, kidney and breathing. Feeding is restarted as soon as the pain allows. Severe attacks need closer monitoring and sometimes drainage or surgery for complications. Dr Raman Garg is a surgeon, so the same doctor can decide whether surgery is needed.
If gallstones caused the attack, the gallbladder is usually removed with keyhole surgery once the pancreas has settled, to stop another attack. See pancreatitis treatment in Bathinda. Chronic pancreatitis is managed with strict alcohol stop, pain control, enzyme tablets and diabetes care, and a few patients need a procedure.
Pancreatitis diet: what to eat and avoid
| Stage | Eat | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| During an acute attack | Only what the doctor allows; drip first, then clear liquids | Everything by mouth until told |
| Recovery | Small meals 5 to 6 times a day: dal, boiled vegetables, khichdi, curd, roti, fruit | Fried food, pakora, butter, ghee in excess, cream, red meat |
| Long term | Low-fat home food, plenty of water | Alcohol, smoking, bidi, packaged namkeen |
Alcohol and smoking are the two habits that most often bring the next attack. Quitting them matters more than any tablet.
Cost of pancreatitis treatment in Punjab, 2026
| Item | Starting (Rs) | Average (Rs) | Maximum (Rs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Medical treatment of acute pancreatitis | 40,000 | 1,20,000 | 4,00,000 |
| Ultrasound abdomen | 600 | 1,000 | 1,800 |
| Liver function test (LFT) | 400 | 600 | 1,200 |
| CT scan abdomen | 3,500 | 6,000 | 9,000 |
| MRCP (bile duct and pancreas scan) | 4,000 | 7,000 | 12,000 |
OPD consultation Rs 500 to 1,000. Planned gallbladder removal afterwards costs extra, see gallbladder removal cost.
Note: These are typical Punjab costs for 2026. The final cost may vary after Dr Raman Garg examines you, depending on how severe the attack is, whether complications develop, the number of tests needed, and your age and health.
Cashless insurance
Because an attack comes without warning, cashless cover is a big relief. BGCI is empanelled with almost all major insurers and TPAs, including Aditya Birla Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Care Health Insurance, Raksha TPA and Medi Assist TPA. The insurance desk arranges pre-authorisation. Send your card details on WhatsApp +91 99885-03800 and the desk tells you the same day.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor the same day for severe upper belly pain that reaches the back, with vomiting. Red flag: pain with fever, yellow eyes, breathlessness, fainting or a very hard belly needs emergency care at once. Reach the nearest hospital, then call BGCI on +91 82641-60001, 24/7. Patients come to Dr Raman Garg from Muktsar and Dabwali, and the full range of gastro treatment is on our hub page.
This page is general information; your plan is set after Dr Raman Garg examines you.