A trip to WDW w/NO kids? Hubba Hubba! Wink Wink! UPDATE: EXTRA, EXTRA!!! Pg 158

[randy4au]

Hey Cheri! Remember me? I haven't been very active here in recent months and missed your return to the forum. Glad to see you back!

 

[cherbear]

Cheri,

At least he was proactive, that's a step in the right direction. I am impressed he didn't go with the age old IBS diagnosis that seems to always be the stock answer. I went through that one for over a year. Stick to to your guns kiddo. Good luck next Wednesday.

Michele

thanks! "next Wednesday" is finally here!!!!

I'm working half a day and I'll be leaving around noon. Then I will probably take a nap at home
And wake up an hour before the appointment to freshen up and go! (unless I'm too "excited" or anxious to sleep)

Hey Cheri! Remember me? I haven't been very active here in recent months and missed your return to the forum. Glad to see you back!

Hi Randy! Of COURSE I remember you! Thanks! I am glad to be back! I just wish I didn't have SO much going on lately so I could get this report finished. I just have SO much else on my plate right now....

Hope you will stick around for the rest!

 

[cherbear]

The doctor's office called and asked if I could come in at 1!


well...what do you THINK I said?




I get to go 2 hours earlier! Glad I had already planned on leaving at lunchtime! I will let y'all know how it goes!

 

[kaoden39]

That's good. Maybe that's a sign that things are going better as far as the DR.

Michele

 

[cherbear]

Well, my doctor's appointment couldn't have gone better! Not only did I get to go 2 hours earlier than planned, I also was the ONLY person in the waiting room! (as opposed to last time, when Mom and I took the last 2 seats out of about 50!) The woman at the desk told me "Well, there's only one doctor here today" and I said "well, there were just 2 here last time and the waiting room was full" (I'd expect the waiting area to be HALF full this time, unless it's because the OTHER doctor HIGHLY OVERBOOKS) but...I didn't argue further, I was just glad to be the only one there!

This doctor was SO much nicer, and much more compassionate and caring than the first. He looked through my file, and read my ultrasound, came back fine just like the NP at my PCP's office said. He decided to order a Gastric Emptying Scan for me, after I told him I hadn't been eating much lately and I get full really fast. He asked me some questions, the main one being "So, what would you say is the worst, most bothersome symptom you are having" and I told him it was the rib/chest pain that radiates into my shoulder---which led to me telling him the story about the BAD chest/back pain that felt like I was being pushed between 2 walls (like a heart attack) and as soon as I said that he also said he wanted to order a HIDA scan w/ EF. He asked me if I knew what that was...and I almost played it off I told him I'd heard of it...and that a friend recommended I get one.

I was thrilled when I called the diagnostic center and was able to schedule the HIDA scan for this Friday at 10:00!!! The Gastric Emptying scan will be done next Tuesday (but I may have to change it to Wednesday due to work scheduling).

Thank you for all your prayers. I was praying so hard that I'd be able to have the scan done this Friday, and now I can rest easy that I am gonna get it done before the weekend!!

 

[cherbear]

That's good. Maybe that's a sign that things are going better as far as the DR.

Michele

man, you're tellin' me!!

all your prayers helped!!! (see previous post)

 

[TrueEeyore]

That's so great!!!!! I'm glad you got what you wanted, so hopefully this will continue to get better for you.

 

[kaoden39]

Cheri,

I am so glad to hear how well today went. And you did get the Friday appointment after all. I am so glad to hear it. And a DR that finally listened how great is that. You didn't get the Yada Yada BS again. I'll still keep the prayers coming though because it certainly can't hurt.

Michele

 

[MissDisney121]

I am so glad for you that things are working out better. I hope the HIDA scan goes well and you are able to start feeling better soon. (No more of this only this )

 

[OrangeBlossom15]

Congrats on getting your HIDA scan. Only one more day!

 

[team weasel]

Hey Cheri -

Just checking in. Glad to see you are getting the tests you wanted.

 

[MegansMom]

Yeah Cheri!!! I will be praying for you that you get some comforting results that will help you understand and acknowledge what is going on!

 

[FauntleroyFAN07]

yeah, you got the results you wree hoping for...hope the tests show what is wrong.

 

[cherbear]

That's so great!!!!! I'm glad you got what you wanted, so hopefully this will continue to get better for you.

thanks!!

Cheri,

I am so glad to hear how well today went. And you did get the Friday appointment after all. I am so glad to hear it. And a DR that finally listened how great is that. You didn't get the Yada Yada BS again. I'll still keep the prayers coming though because it certainly can't hurt.

Michele

thanks!!!!

I am so glad for you that things are working out better. I hope the HIDA scan goes well and you are able to start feeling better soon. (No more of this only this )

thank you! hehe...yeah, no more (I don't want to be in WDW!)

Congrats on getting your HIDA scan. Only one more day!

thanks!

Tomorrow at this time I will be doing the test! (or already done, depending how long it takes)

Hey Cheri -

Just checking in. Glad to see you are getting the tests you wanted.

thanks! good to see you!

Yeah Cheri!!! I will be praying for you that you get some comforting results that will help you understand and acknowledge what is going on!

thank you!

yeah, you got the results you wree hoping for...hope the tests show what is wrong.

thanks!!!

 

[cherbear]

I had the HIDA scan this morning, went back to work for an hour, and I'm home now.

It took about 2 hours for the whole thing. It was a bit uncomfortable, and I felt some pain, but nothing unbearable. I think the hardest part was staying still while I felt so much pressure on my right side. I couldn't talk, either. The tech couldn't tell me anything, but my gallbladder took nearly a full hour to "show up" on the screen as the big machine was taking pictures. He said if it DIDN'T show up at all in the first part of the test, that would mean it was not working AT ALL (0%) and they would not do the CCK. (Which by the way, is what I had---so EF must be synonymous with the term EF, or Ejection Fraction)
So, like I said, it eventually showed up. After about an hour and 15 minutes, they started the CCK injection. That would test the function of my gallbladder. It was put in through the IV, and took about 30 minutes. They took pictures the whole time, and when the drip was done, they stopped the test and said I was finished. The radiologist is to interpret the results today, and the results will be sent to my doctor within 24 hours. The other test results--for the one I am having done Tuesday (gastric emptying test)--will be dealt with in the same way, which is why I don't understand the "2 week" rule. I can understand 2 weeks for bloodwork, but the hospital guarantees results of radiology tests within 24 hours, so it makes no sense.

I asked if I could get a copy of everything, and they said I could get it tomorrow or Monday. I doubt that means I would know my results, because they probably will just give me pictures. They also can put everything on disk, so that is pretty cool.

I am feeling the typical side/back pain now, I guess that stuff they put in me, and lunch are still passing through. Other than that, everything's okay. I feel so much better (mentally) now that I've gotten this test over with. We'll see what happens soon!

I made a follow-up appointment at 1:15 at the 2 week mark, which is Friday the 13th (how quaint ) which happens to be the day before my birthday --and I was taking off to do something fun with Mike (he works on my bday). We will probably end up at the Mall of Louisiana or go somewhere in New Orleans to do some shopping after my appointment. I've got to do something fun, and eating is not so fun for me anymore. So shopping it is! I plan on having a nice post-birthday/post surgery?? meal when I feel up to it.
I'd love to go to Le Cellier........but that will have to wait til September!! (haven't listed my ressies yet but OF COURSE I am going there )

 

[kaoden39]

I hope this test solves everything. You've been through enough already. I'll keep you in my prayers. Grandma too. Be sure you save Grandma some bacon.

Michele

 

[cherbear]

I hope this test solves everything. You've been through enough already. I'll keep you in my prayers. Grandma too. Be sure you save Grandma some bacon.

Michele

thanks!

oh, I always do!

 

[betsywdw]

So glad you got the HIDA scan!

Let's hope this solves your problem!

 

[cherbear]

Hey everyone, I'm copying this straight from the update I made on my gallbladder thread, so there's some technical stuff, but hey maybe you will find it interesting.

I have some news. I managed to get the results of my HIDA scan from the hospital. The results follow:

DOSAGE: 4 mCi Tc 99m Choletec and 60 minutes following the isotope injection, there was a 30 minute infusion of a solution containing 1 mcg of Kinevac.

FINDINGS: No similar comparison study. The initial images demonstrate relatively prompt excretion of isotope from the liver into the biliary tract with flow first into the intestinal tract and then next into the gallbladder. After the infusion of the Kinevac, there is satisfactory gallbladder contraction, with 17% emptying at 10 minutes, but 88% emptying at 20 minutes and 96% emptying at 30 minutes.

IMPRESSION: Normal HIDA biliary scan with Kinevac. Satisfactory prompt gallbladder visualization and subsequent pharmacologic gallbladder contraction.

Honestly, I'm shocked. The test was painful and uncomfortable, and it still turned out normal.

Now, the other part of this news is that I had my Gastric Emptying Scan today. For that test, I had to eat some grits that had radioactive material in them. Then they used the same machine as the HIDA scan to take pictures of the food in my stomach. They said it could take up to 90 minutes, and it did.
I don't have definite results yet, but the food didn't seem to move very much at all. So the 2 techs that were there both said "That must be your problem" because they kept looking at the screen and the stomach is the only part that stayed lit up. The tech that released me said the radiologist would be reading it "within the next hour" and my doc would have the results TODAY. She said I should call the doctor TOMORROW and bug them to get me in sooner. (I told her my appt was next Friday)

I am also still waiting on results from the bloodwork I had done by order of the NP I went to a couple weeks ago. If I tested positive for H Pylori, then that would explain the slow stomach emptying. I talked to one of the people in the office today, and she said someone should have called me by now. She apologized said someone would be calling me tomorrow to give me my results over the phone.

What an eventful couple of days it has been! I still feel terrible. I still have pain in my right side, and I don't know why the stomach (left side) would cause pain in my right side. I will have a ton of questions for my doctor when I see him next!

If anyone is still reading, do you have any input at all? I'd love to hear comments, advice, ANYTHING. I'm at a point where just a smile or some encouragement would help. Why can't this be easier?

 

[Avojeo]

I have been lurking for along time but after reading your post tonight, I felt that I needed to post. I have had the H. pylori illness/disease. Let me tell you what you have been describing is nothing what I experienced however I understand people have different symptoms with different diseases. I was experiencing hard stomach cramping (like someone squeezing my stomach) especially after I had ate along with increased acid reflux. So at the time I was in nursing school and had GERD so I thought nothing of it thinking it was stress. Also I lost some weight but nothing like you are describing. Now I finally went to the dr for a sinus infection and they did blood work on me so I could get a refill on my Nexium this is how I find out and to be honest I did not even tell my dr about what I had been experiencing thinking it was just the added stress of school. That is why I wanted to post because all it would take is a simple blood test one that my dr does on everyone since I did not complain of any of these symptoms to clue him on that he needed to run this test.
Also to just to let you know they figured that I had gotten this bacteria from my microbiology class which I had about six months prior to being dx, so I had the bacteria for awhile.

Also they gave me a two weeks worth of medicine and I have never experience anything like that since, so hopefully this is it and you can get better before your next Disney trip
I hope they figure out what is going on because you have been through alot lately. Hang in there!!!