I was just recently diagnosed with
acalculous cholecystitis after hida scan
results showed a very slow ejection rate,
they didn't give me percent numbers to go
by so i'm not really sure how bad it
really is. This is after 4 years of
seaching for answers to urq and mid chest
pain. I have had 3 endoscopy exams with
the first showing a large ulcer, the
second I was told I had erosions and
stomach inflammation and the third
supposedly clear. They’ve done over 20
biopsies, none of which have come back
normal though all they’ve told me is
they are abnormal with no cancer which is
consistent with inflammation to the degree
i’ve had.
I am scheduled to have my gallbladder
removed on july 11th, the earliest date
available. (i’m in canada and that’s
our great health system) i’m now
wondering what questions I should be
asking that I haven’t as yet. Would
acalculous cholecystitis cause all the
problems i’ve had with my stomach?
Would the extra acid cause the biopsy
results? What else should I know and
what else should I ask?
I’ve searched the net to find others
with this diagnosis but haven’t been
able to find much on it other than it’s
usually trama patients or drug users with
a very poor prognosis and as much as a 40%
mortality rate which scares me to death.
I’ve had no trama and i’ve never used
drugs so how did I get this? My
gastroenterologist claims this condition
is quite rare, hence the length of time it
took to diagnose.
I want to be as informed as possible and
would welcome any comments from others
that have experienced the same condition.
Will my stomach problems be over once my
gallbladder is gone?
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Doxielover
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Jun 2006 Posts: 31 Location: Virginia
Reply Posted: 06-08-06 20:59pm
Only time will tell if this was the cause
for all of your stomach problems. But
our body's have a way of trying to tell us
something is up. My stomach was all
twisted out of sorts..And as soon as I got
my appendix out it was back to normal.
If my memory serves me right the
cholesystitis is inflammation of the
gallbladder. Which is what they *think*
I have but aren't sure. I thought that
most people with this had normal hida
scans, because the hida scan shows the
level at which its functioning, and an
inflammed gall bladder can function just
fine.
I'm sorry that I can't be more helpful,
maybe just try looking up play
cholesystitis.
Good luck,
krystle
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hurtin
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Canada
Acalculous Cholecystitis Posted: 06-09-06 09:50am
Thanks krystle, exactly my reasons for all
the questions I now have after doing a
search and finding cholecystitis is an
inflammation of the gallbladder wall and
nearby abdominal lining. Cholecystitis is
usually caused by a gallstone in the
cystic duct, the duct that connects the
gallbladder to the hepatic duct.
I've had 2 ultrasounds both of which were
clear, no gallstones but after the hida
scan the doctor has said I have a
non-functioning gallbladder and when I
asked for the name of what I had to be
written down this is what they have given
me, acalculous cholecystitis. What I
have found since on the net during
searches really doesn't sound at all like
what I have so now i'm really confused.
this website refers to the acalculous
cholecystitis.
I'm honestly a litltle confused by what
your doctor has told you, as well as you
are, so you're not alone. Everything
that I read about this specific type of
cholesystitis is that it should be treated
right away, and you're waiting a whole
month. That sounds odd to me! You
don't have to have gallstones for this
inflammation.
"pathophysiology: the main cause of this
illness is thought to be due to bile
stasis and increased lithogenicity of
bile."
i'm not sure that they could see this bile
stasis on an ultrasound. I just can't
put two and two together with you. A
non-functioning gallbladder is totally
opposite from inflammation of the
gallbladder. I guess you could have both
at the same time, which would expalin why
your hida scan was low, if your bile duct
is not working exactly right.
I'm sorry I can't give you a clear cut
answer. You may want to call the doctor
and tell them you're kind of confused as
to whats going on. And is your gall
bladder just not functioing or do you have
the cholesystitis as well.
Plain cholesystis is an inflammation just
as you said and you can have perfect hida
and ultrasounds and still have the
infalmmation. It generally flares and
most people opt to have it removed because
it causes a great deal of pain, that is
my situation. Anywhere from 15 percent
of people and under can have this without
having stones. I don't have any stones.
You can also have tiny chrystals though,
that cannot be seen until they open your
gall bladder up after removing it. The
ultrasound can't pick up everything.
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hurtin
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Canada
Acalculous Cholecystitis Posted: 06-10-06 10:56am
I'm not confused as to the diagnosis as I
had asked for the exact term to be written
down and the doctor wrote "acalculous
cholecystitis" and added that the
acalculous ment no stones. That was
about the most that was explained to me
other than it was rare hence the length of
time for them to diagnosis the condition
with the other factors of finding an ulcer
and erosions, they had thought it was a
stomach problem and hadn't even thought of
gallbladder.
A months wait for an operating room in
canada is short, the only thing that will
bump my scheduled time is a cesarean
section that day could push me back a hour
or so or a mastectomy might change it a
bit, words again from the surgeon. I am
on the cancellation list so I might end up
in there sooner. My gastroentrenolgist
told me if I have severe pain to go the er
and they would take it out that day, the
surgeon never mentioned this.
From what I have now read on different
sites I feel this is rather urgent as well
but no one seems to excited about it but
me. I can only hope I will get or time
before it decides to rupture.
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sirrus
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 27 Apr 2006 Posts: 10
Posted: 06-10-06 11:47am
Youve had this for four years, so I
wouldn't worry too much...
If something would have happened by now!
:)
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hurtin
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Jun 2006 Posts: 15 Location: Canada
Acalculous Cholecystitis Posted: 06-13-06 06:16am
Exactly what an optimist would say but
should one be a pessimist it could be your
living on borrowed time and it’s about
to rupture. Either way the sooner it
comes out the better off i’ll be.
