Hi, may I answer your health queries right now ? Please type your query here...I have been diagnosed with SLE (lupus), Sjogren s and Fibromylagia. (I know...lucky me!) I had elevated cholesterol levels over 350 in 2008 while taking 60 mg of prednisone. The doctors assumed the high cholesterol levels were caused by the prednisone. However, my mother has FH (familial hypercholesterolaemia). I also have vasculitis. I had a gangrene appendix removed and my gall bladder removed last year as a result of scarring (vomiting/nausea/diarrhea). I have had chronic pancreatitis since. Lately I have severe left shoulder blade pain every night (beginning at 3:00 am and lasting until about 10am), nausea, loss of appetite. Now I am having kidney pain. I am wondering if vasculitis and FH are related. And I wonder if they might cause the gall bladder and kidney stones. Can I be suffering from chronic pancreatitis because of stones (even though my gall bladder was removed?)