Normal Hida Scan With Gallbladder Problems?? Posted: 04-19-05 19:43pm
We need some input here, badly. I’m
asking this on behalf of my mother.
She’s a 57 yo who’s been ill for about
9 months now. Her symptoms include:
- severe pain in the lower right quadrant,
rt shoulder and directly below the right
ribs. Pain develops from a feeling of
“fullness” to a peak that is so sharp
that she can’t speak. It can take up
to two weeks for it to peak out, then the
severe pain lasts about 20-30 minutes.
After it dies down, she goes back to the
“pressure/fullness” feeling.
- unexplained weight loss
- enlarged liver
- elevated alk phos
- pain after eating
- ct scan and ultrasound were both normal
with the exception of the enlarged liver
- hida scan (done today) is normal,
although very painful. The pain during
the hida scan exactly duplicated the pain
that has debilitated her and crested to a
“10” (“put a bullet in my head”,
in her words.)
the frustrating thing is that her dr has
said that he thinks that it’s her
gallbladder that’s been causing all
these problems, yet the hida scan was
normal. We were also told that pain
during the hida scan that duplicates the
pain that she’s been having would be the
“gold standard” test for her
gallbladder.
So, what the heck? Is it, or is it not
the gallbladder? Can you have problems
with the gallbladder and still have a
normal hida scan?
We’re going nuts here. Any input would
be welcome.
Thank you.
:(
|
Blue_Streak_Creations
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 25 Jan 2005 Posts: 107 Location: USA
Posted: 04-19-05 21:05pm
I had gallbladder surgery two weeks ago
tomorrow... My hida scan, ultrasounds
& cat-scans came back normal. I had
all the severe pain & all the other
crazy stuff that goes along with
gallbladder troubles. When they took out
my gallbladder is was inflamed with
adhesions on it. So you can most
certainly have a hida scan, ultrasound's
& ct-scans come back normal, but have
a diseased gallbladder. It too drove me
nuts, because the tests came back
normal...& was afraid to have the
surgery & have it end up not being my
gallbladder... In the end the surgery
was definitely worth it...
Hope you mom finds some relief soon.
Blue
|
Lebaiym
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 3
Posted: 04-19-05 22:35pm
Thanks, blue.
I guess it's a good sign that the surgeon
wants to see her asap. I suppose we'll
know by thursday.
Leb
|
Guest
Guest
??? Posted: 05-13-05 01:00am
What did u find out about her pains???
I'm 21 and been experiencing much of the
same for the past two weeks...Please help
me
|
Guest
Guest
Gallbladder Problems Posted: 05-24-05 21:21pm
My daughter has been having pain for the
past five months. It is in the upper
right quadrant to the back and shoulder.
We have made numerous trips to the er,
doctor's office and gi specialist. All of
her tests (blood, ultrasound - both
multiple times) came back negative. I
finally found a surgeon that ordered a
hida scan and the results were a low
ejection percentage. We are scheduled to
meet him again on thursday and hope that
we are close to the end of this. She
missed too much school and work because of
this and wants to be well before college
starts in the fall.
|
sylvia1952
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 1 Location: Alberta, Canada
Hida Scan Posted: 06-19-05 23:23pm
I am having the exact same symptoms as
your mother. I am relieved to hear of
someone else having this problem. Since
it has been some time
since your post I would like to know what
has happened to her since.
I have had numberous xrays, scans and
tests. All normal. I am having a second
hida scan this week. I have been dealing
with this pain for
over 4 months and am at wits end.
|
Guest
Guest
Hida Scan Posted: 06-22-05 16:08pm
I have been battling the pains referred to
by most for years and my doctor is
convinced it is my gall bladder except for
one thing. The majority of the pain
appears to be on the left side just below
or under the rib cage. I am going to have
another hida scan just to see if there is
any explanation and will probably end up
having the gall bladder removed because I
have to at least hope it will give me some
relief.
Has anyone else experienced the pain on
the left side and still had the problem
end up being the gall bladder.
|
Guest
Guest
Hida Posted: 08-04-05 19:08pm
I'm having most of the symptoms your mom's
having. I'm a 31 years old female. It
has been going on for about a month now
where I would have severe pain (scale 10)
to very moderate (1-2). I even went to
my former pcp's office one day 3 weeks ago
feeling very sick, threw up at work, left
work to go to pcp's office and I threw up
a lot of bile right in front of her. She
insisted it was a bladder infection.
Now, I had that once in the past and I
*knew* it was not bladder infection. I
stayed at my parents for a few days
afterwards basically recovering. I've
been through a lot this past year alone
(ex husband asking for divorce after
getting another woman pregnant, extreme
stress with current roommate, list goes on
and on) i've lost about 35 pounds since
jan. Some days it would be between 2-4
other days it would be between 6-8.
Yesterday it was about 1 then all of
sudden this morning it was 8-9. I called
dr this morning and she ordered me an
emergency hida scan for tomorrow morning.
I had ultrasound done on monday, it came
out normal. I went to er about 2 weeks
ago and also had ultrasound done there, it
also was normal. Had cbc done at the er,
all came out normal except one protein in
liver was a bit high. I forgot what it's
called. My new pcp says that if hida
scan comes out negative, she is going to
have me take another nuclear medicine test
(dont know what it's called). I'm also
at my wits' end. I dont have the
patience as some of you on this list as it
only has been going on for the past month
or so. *sigh* one of my best friends was
making a joke out of this uncertainty to
cheer me up although it didnt work but I
do see the humor in it. I just dont find
it funny. He said "it's ironic that when
we are healthy, we dont want to go to the
doctor but when we are sick, we want to
know why. When the doctors cant figure
out, we get mad, keep trying to pinpoint
the problem and we will not quit until we
finally figure it out" i'm sure this
speaks true for a lot of you that have
been through this or going through this
now.
|
Guest
Guest
Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction Posted: 08-28-05 02:06am
I have been having abdominal pains for a
month now. I have had blood work done -
all within normal range. I had an
ultrasound and it was normal with no gall
stones. I had a hida scan done last week
and it was extremely painful while my gall
bladder was emptying. My surgeon
suspects that I have sphincter of oddi
dysfunction and has referred me to a
gastroenterologist for an ercp with
manometry and possible sphincteromy.
Evidently sod is a rare deal, but explains
the gall bladder like attacks that I have
after eating certain foods. I'm not
supposed to eat red meat or fats while i'm
waiting for confirmation of my condition.
I'm seeing the gastro guy this coming
monday and hope he will offer some
concrete insight into my medical
condition. I, like so many on this site
am very tired of the constant pain and
taking pain medication.
|
HaredresserD
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 21 Jan 2005 Posts: 36 Location: California
Posted: 08-30-05 12:30pm
My surgeon doesn't really believe in
sod... I mentioned to him that my reg
internal med doc said my troubles could be
that and he shook his head and said he was
betting that the gb out would solve my
troubles... And it did... :) he said
he was also scheduled to give a talk to a
bunch of md's and im docs and discuss the
sod thing...
My gb had no stones but was inflamed and
had scar tissue all over it... Was just
plain not working right... They didnt'
mention sludge either...
Good luck to you.... I hope they fix you
up one way or the other mk.. :)
oh and be careful with an ercp.. My
gastro doc didn't suggest I have one..
Said it can cause a serious bout of
pancreatitis... Said the mri one, can't
remember the name of it... Was much
safer...
I know all docs are so diff in their
views, i'm just telling you what mine have
said... :)
|
Guest
Guest
Re: Hida Scan Posted: 08-30-05 19:18pm
Hi! It's been some time now, that you
wrote this, but i'm having the exact same
problem and would like to know if your
gallbladder was removed and if the pain
went away. Was the gallbladder the cause
of the pain in your left side?
afree
wrote:
i have been battling the
pains referred to by most for years and my
doctor is convinced it is my gall bladder
except for one thing. The majority of
the pain appears to be on the left side
just below or under the rib cage. I am
going to have another hida scan just to
see if there is any explanation and will
probably end up having the gall bladder
removed because I have to at least hope it
will give me some relief.
Has anyone else experienced the pain on
the left side and still had the problem
end up being the gall
bladder.
|
Guest
Guest
Posted: 01-19-06 22:33pm
I am a 35 year old female and about 50 lbs
overweight, for about a year now off and
on when I eat high fat foods I get this
terrible pain in my upper abdamon just
below my right rib and it radiates into my
shoulder and back, after dealing with this
for soo long I told my dr and he ordered
an ultrasound (which came back normal) so
then he ordered a hida scan after
interrupting him one friday night with
terrible pains again, that also came back
normal, but after I had laid there for an
hour they gave me a big glass of milk to
drink, nothing like i've read about eggs
or other stuff just milk. I am at a loss
I dont know what else to do. I am
convinced it is my gallbladder but how do
I convince my dr of the same thing? I
just want it out if thats the problem. I
have vowed that next time I have this pain
I will just have to go to the emergency
room.
Thanks sick of pain
|
Guest
Guest
Don't Take the Gb Out Posted: 01-20-06 16:58pm
First of all, I would look at the
situation at face value. Your mom is in
pain and more than likely it is due (
because of her age) to a liver that has
filtered all sorts of junk over the years.
Especially the junk in recent years,
which consists of who knows what... Her
gallbladder may be aggrevated by this, but
if it is functioning... I would not
remove it. There is no need to remove a
perfectly functioning organ ( at least not
unitl all else has failed) I am not a
doctor but I have had gallbladder problems
in the past. I am virtually healed and
good to go as of now ( knock on
something...) anyway, I did it through
many approaches. Since her system is
upset, I would try calming it down with
powdered magnesium. You can get this off
vitacost. Anyway..It is called natural
calm. Then I would go buy a juicer and
juice 3 vegetables that grow below the
ground ( beets, radishes,
carrots...Especially beets!!!) mix it
with apple jucie so it does not taste like
worm dirt. Okay, do this at least twice a
day w/ limited fat intake ( do not totally
cut all fats out)
do this for a week and report back on here
w/ results!!!!!!!!
Copy this down and do it!!!!!!!!!!!!!
|
Guest
Guest
Losing Hope Posted: 03-28-06 10:37am
I too have the same problems as many of
you. For 2 years now I have been having
pain off and on that has become continuous
in the past 4 weeks. Last week I was
hospitalized for 4 days and had, 2 us,
chest x-ray, ct abd, endoscopy,
colonoscopy and hida scan, not to mention
all the blood work. All came back normal
but for "a few erosions in the iliem of
uncertain significance"! I was sent home
with no resolve and thousands of dollars
in debt! While in the hospital, the gi
doc as well as the gen surg fluctuated
back and forth to take out the gallbladder
or not. Ultimately they sent me home.
I will see another gi doc today for a
second opinion. Hope things change soon.
I'm enjoying the weight loss, (9 lb in
past 2 weeks) but not enjoying the loss of
appetite or loss of work.
|
Guest
Guest
Losing Hope Posted: 03-29-06 16:49pm
Went to the new gi doc yesterday. It
seemed obvious to her that the pain i've
been having is my gallbladder and that I
need it out. She had received all my
test results from my 4 day hospital stay.
It seems my ejection fraction was 36%
which she says is low. I'm scheduled to
see another surgeon tomorrow. The gi
doc in the hospital told me my ejection
fraction was "basically 100%"! Maybe he
was looking at the wrong report? Or
maybe he was not willing to let this be
the reason to relieve me of my problem.
|
Guest
Posted: 03-29-06 18:19pm
I'd see another doctor if I were you. An
ejection fraction of 35% or higher is
normal according to every source and
doctor i've ever heard from.
|
Mikey1970
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 31 Mar 2006 Posts: 10 Location: Louisiana
Normal Ejection Fraction> Posted: 03-31-06 19:10pm
There is a lot of contraversy about what
is normal (or not). Some say anything
over 35%. Most say anything under 25%
is definitely abnormal, between 25-50% is
equivical (boarderline), and over 50% is
clearly normal. Others say 0ver 60% is
normal. I've even heard some experts say
70%.
A good doctor won't base the decision
to operate solely on one test.
|
unknownpain
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 10 Apr 2006 Posts: 1
Losinghope Update Posted: 04-10-06 09:05am
Well, this is an update on my situation.
After completing a gastric emptying test
that also came back with normal results,
my new surgeon proceeded with the lap
chole. When he got in there he said the
back side of my gallbladder was stuck to
my bowel and the entire cystic duct was
fibrotic, hard and definately abnormal.
I feel so much better already. I have my
appetite back and no longer have that pain
after I eat. I hope this might help some
of you who think you're crazy because all
your tests are coming back normal. I
guess the gallbladder can have problems
and appear to be normal. They were
unable to do the cholangiogram at the time
of surgery due to me having had an
anaphylactic reaction to iodine dye in the
past.
I just turned 34 this month. I have been
having paralyzing pains in my lower right
side under my rib cage area since january
of this year. I have been to the
emergency room every month. All my test
come back normal (ct scan, hida scan, u/s)
except for the blood work for my pancreas.
Both the blood test for the pancreas
came back elevated. I have all the
classic symptoms of a screwed up
gallbladder. The second time I went to
the er the u/s showed one pollup in my
gallbladder, the last time I went to the
er the u/s showed two pollups in my
gallbladder. I asked the doctor if my
gallbladder could be messed up and the
test aren't showing it. He said pollups
wouldn't cause that much pain. I also
have low blood sugar on top of this.
Here's the kicker, I get the worst attacks
when I start my menstrual period. Has
anyone else had this happen and have any
good answers? I had a mrcp last night
and now i'm waiting for the results. I
am so tested out and blood drained that I
can't stand it. Not to mention I miss
two days of work every month when these
attacks start.
|
map
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 267 Location: Eugene
Posted: 04-18-06 16:42pm
I had my gallblader taken out in 1997 when
I was 17 ways to tell after you eat
greassey foods it will triger it on thats
how I found out that what it was the pain
would never go away..So I tested it with
pizza one night and the pain came on I was
given some kinda pills to help with it
finley it would never go away so in august
97 I had it taken put and I have 3 scares
from it but it all works out fine..Bewear
if you have it taken out when you eat
greasey food you end up getting dirrea
more than you would with one from gressey
foods..Good luck and hope you mom find out
whats going on
