HIDA scan

[SillyMe]

I was supposed to have this done over the summer and chickened out. Well, my problems persisted and my doc sent me to the gastroenterologist for an endoscopy. Just had my consult this morning and the gastro says I need the HIDA scan instead of the endoscopy. We weren't sure if I have gallbladder problems or reflux or both.

Is the scan simple?

 

[Christine]

I was supposed to have this done over the summer and chickened out. Well, my problems persisted and my doc sent me to the gastroenterologist for an endoscopy. Just had my consult this morning and the gastro says I need the HIDA scan instead of the endoscopy. We weren't sure if I have gallbladder problems or reflux or both.

Is the scan simple?

I haven't had the scan but I think it is simple. Why would your gastro not do both tests? Is he leaning more towards gallbladder issues for some reason? What are your symptoms?

 

[SillyMe]

I haven't had the scan but I think it is simple. Why would your gastro not do both tests? Is he leaning more towards gallbladder issues for some reason? What are your symptoms?

Yes, he is leaning more toward my gallbladder. I get sharp pains in my back under my right shoulder blade. It feels like a big bubble of indigestion sometimes, and other times feels like someone is stabbing me. Also, twice now I've had the pain straight across the center of my back that felt like a major burning pain and scared the crap out of me. It happened the very first time I started having these problems back in Spring and now again 2 weeks ago when I was at Disney.

He said my throat symptoms (choking sensation) may be from acid reflux, but he also thinks it's mostly my anxiety. I started having those sensations about a month after I stopped taking Xanax.

 

[Christine]

Yes, he is leaning more toward my gallbladder. I get sharp pains in my back under my right shoulder blade. It feels like a big bubble of indigestion sometimes, and other times feels like someone is stabbing me. Also, twice now I've had the pain straight across the center of my back that felt like a major burning pain and scared the crap out of me. It happened the very first time I started having these problems back in Spring and now again 2 weeks ago when I was at Disney.

He said my throat symptoms (choking sensation) may be from acid reflux, but he also thinks it's mostly my anxiety. I started having those sensations about a month after I stopped taking Xanax.

Well, I guess I agree with him then!! I have acid reflux and I *never* get right-sided pain. I often get left-sided pain and sometimes a dull ache in the back when it is really acting up.

 

[Laura]

Hi there, I had a HIDA scan a couple of months ago. It's really no problem. They shoot you up with two different fluids, one is radioactive. You lay on the table and they watch your GB for a while. Then they put in the second fluid, which is to empty the GB and they watch you a while longer. Mostly it's pretty boring. My stomach got queasy and crampy when they shot me up with the second chemical. The whole process took a while, like about 2 hours.

Have you had an ultrasound on your gallbladder to check for stones? I had one and showed nothing, then they sent me for the HIDA scan. That was normal. I've been having IBS-type diarrhea and gas problems, and right now am taking Aciphex for reflux. I may have a duodenal ulcer. I have not had a gallbladder attack (or even close), just mild pain in the area of the GB, which may be the ulcer. The reflux meds are helping, but I may have a bit of a problem ulcer because my issues aren't gone entirely. Next up would be the endoscope and a colonoscopy for what may be a separate issue.

 

[SillyMe]

Hi there, I had a HIDA scan a couple of months ago. It's really no problem. They shoot you up with two different fluids, one is radioactive. You lay on the table and they watch your GB for a while. Then they put in the second fluid, which is to empty the GB and they watch you a while longer. Mostly it's pretty boring. My stomach got queasy and crampy when they shot me up with the second chemical. The whole process took a while, like about 2 hours.

Have you had an ultrasound on your gallbladder to check for stones? I had one and showed nothing, then they sent me for the HIDA scan. That was normal. I've been having IBS-type diarrhea and gas problems, and right now am taking Aciphex for reflux. I may have a duodenal ulcer. I have not had a gallbladder attack (or even close), just mild pain in the area of the GB, which may be the ulcer. The reflux meds are helping, but I may have a bit of a problem ulcer because my issues aren't gone entirely. Next up would be the endoscope and a colonoscopy for what may be a separate issue.

Yes, I had the ultrasound and they didn't find any stones. I also had an Upper GI, which was normal, too.

 

[shoes99]

I just had a Hida Scan this week. Its not bad. You have to allow 2 1/2 hours of your time. I arrived at 8:45AM and didn't leave the office until 11:30AM. They didn't start the first injection until 9:30AM, and I had to wait 1 hour. I sat in a lounge chair in the back instead of in the general waiting room. The scan itself took almost an hour lying flat with no movement. You aren't even supposed to talk since it would generate movement of the gall bladder that is being tested. I had slight cramping. They had Christmas music piped in, so it was soothing. I get the results next week. I'll be at WDW. My most serious symptoms are vomiting. I have lost lots of weight because I don't eat much. I will probably have my GB out after the holidays. I have been putting it off for two years. Time to act.