Anyone had an ERCP?

[floridafam]

My Mother is having one on the 11th. Anyone have experience with this test?

She has been feeling horrible for months and they discovered a blockage in her bile duct after numerous tests.

Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated.

 

[dis4me]

I had one because I had gallstones lodged in my common bile duct. They put me to sleep before it so I don't remember much. I had my gallbladder out the next day but I don't remember having any pain after the ERCP.

 

[coles1mom]

My mom had one is April. Your mom will sleep through it. Mild sedation. She was up going to the bathroom about 1-1/2 after it was done.

It was for her liver, they put a stint in during the ERCP and she came home 2 days later. No problems.

Good Luck She said it was much easier than the colonoscopy

 

[floridafam]

Thank you for the information.

I'm hoping that it's a gall stone that is causing the blockage. I'm hoping and praying it's not something worse. She's been through so much the past few months as it relates to her health. One of the tests she had last week did look at her gall bladder and they did not see any stones. Could she still have a stone in her bile duct?

She's also had two colonoscopies in the last year and both have been clean. I'm glad to hear that it's easier than a colonoscopy as I think those are pretty easy. She's actually looking forward to the test and finally having an answer. She has never felt this bad and she's lost a considerable amount of weight.

Did they take any tissue during your tests for biopsy?

Thank you again for the information.

 

[chris1gill]

My Mother is having one on the 11th. Anyone have experience with this test?

She has been feeling horrible for months and they discovered a blockage in her bile duct after numerous tests.

Any information you can provide is greatly appreciated.

Oh God, don't ask this question... My DH went to the ER with extraordinary pain among other problem on August 24th, they said his gall bladder was shot, his liver was compromised, he was jaundiced, but they put the ERCP off until the 27th. They did the ERCP on that Wednesday and several stones were found in the bile duct. It helped for a few days. Saturday he was feeling unwell again, Sunday he was very sick and started running a fever, he called the on call doctor who said to come in on the 1st... well, he went in on Monday morning to be admitted, having another emergency ERCP, and then they found he'd developed an infection in the bile duct, they put in a stent & they kept him. Turns out he developed a Staph infection between the time he came home & the time he went back. Seems another stone dropped out of the gall bladder, there must have been a nick in the duct, and once it dropped down, the infection started brewing. He spent nearly a week in the hospital & when he came home earlier this week, he spent every day going back to the hospital for IV antibiotics. Of course they didn't take the gall bladder initially hoping he'd do well, he didn't, then they couldn't take it because the gall bladder was so inflamed and the staph infection left him seriously compromised. He goes in Tuesday to have the gall bladder removed, and then 4 weeks later to have the stent removed and another ERCP. Meanwhile, they continue to watch his liver levels....

It's been a lousy few weeks to say the least. If you have the ERCP and you develop any fever, or you develop any pain, GET BACK TO THE HOSPITAL PRONTO, don't wait! That's my suggestion

To answer your question, it is VERY difficult to see stones in the bile duct, they didn't see any in my DH's, yet he had six.... his gall bladder however was filled with them.....

 

[cc1013]

I had an ERCP back in 2002. After two years with random bouts of pancreatits, my doctor (at the time) wanted to do an ERCP to find out exactly the cause of my pancreatitis. Well, the ERCP indicated that my pancreatic ducts were abnormal and future surgery would be required. That has since been done and I have had no issues since.

The bad part for me was that I woke up during the ERCP in excrutiating pain. Apparently women in their early 20's (my age at the time) metabolize sedatives really quickly and have the tendency to wake up. Because of the tubes down my throat, I couldn't speak to let anyone know I was awake. I was also strapped to the table and couldn't move at all. All of the medical staff in the room was paying attention to the screen with the images from the test. Eventually, somebody noticed my eyes open and crying. It was incredibly traumatic and I was hysterical in recovery. I've had about half a dozen medical procedures where I've been sedated and never experienced waking up. I still have nightmares about it sometimes. A different doctor did the follow-up surgeries on my pancreas and was shocked when I told him what happened. We requested the procedure detail and anesthesiology reports from that ERCP to make sure that he knew how much sedation I had been given so that he could give me more. Shocking, but the hospital and doctor who conducted my ERCP no longer had those records - 8 months later.

Sorry - this went on a bit. It was definitely an experience for me.

 

[coles1mom]

Thank you for the information.

I'm hoping that it's a gall stone that is causing the blockage. I'm hoping and praying it's not something worse. She's been through so much the past few months as it relates to her health. One of the tests she had last week did look at her gall bladder and they did not see any stones. Could she still have a stone in her bile duct?

She's also had two colonoscopies in the last year and both have been clean. I'm glad to hear that it's easier than a colonoscopy as I think those are pretty easy. She's actually looking forward to the test and finally having an answer. She has never felt this bad and she's lost a considerable amount of weight.

Did they take any tissue during your tests for biopsy?

Thank you again for the information.

Yes, in the form of a dusting. No cutting, just brushing some cells from different areas. If something doesn't look right, they may do a normal tissue biopsy.

They'll give you a discharge sheet on what to watch for. If the ERCP shows nothing, she'll see a surgeon to discuss further options.

Not sure if you know, but there is a coping and compassion board here as well. http://www.disboards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=149 A lot of info can be found in that area.

 

[floridafam]

Thank you for all of the information.

She is anxiously awaiting Thursday's test. I've done some research and I don't like a lot of what I read but I'm hoping it's nothing too serious.

 

[Mic_n_Min]

I have had 2 in the past couple of months. I had/have Sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction. The first time they did a sphincterotomy and placed a stent in my pancreas. I did have pain about a week later- we figured it was because the sphincter closed back up again and we were partially right. Anyway, a second one was done about a month after the first and now I am doing much better! Please make sure the doctor performing the ERCP has extensive knowledge of what he is doing.

As far as gallstones go- they never once saw a gallstone in my gallbladder, but when I had it removed in May, there were indeed tiny gallstones found in it. It was taken out after I had a hida scan that said it was only working at 5%.

Good luck to your mom!!

 

[floridafam]

I just heard from my Dad and the Dr. said he didn't find anything. He said the gall bladder and the pancreas were completely clear. He is aware that she is in extreme pain and he wants her to have exploratory surgery to rule out any "female" problems. They will call her tomorrow to schedule the appointment.

Thank you for your kind words and good thoughts. She is off to bed and hoping for some good news soon.