Who here has had gallstones and/or gallbladder removal? UPDATE:FINALLY GOT THE HIDA!

[MarieS]

I'm hoping it's just a temporary setback. It's been so helpful to read this thread today--thanks!

 

[cherbear]

Thanks cherbear! Let us know how the emptying scan goes if you have it. This is something my PCP mentioned having me do. I had an endoscopy last year that showed mild GERD. The GI doc didn't think I should be needing Nexium( just something milder and OTC), but heartburn kicks in bad when I stop taking it. I just wish I could get rid of the nausea. Ugh!

I will have it Tuesday. I'd rather not, especially if I can get the results of the HIDA before then (and if they're negative, of course) but I know I am going to have to do it either way. They said I just have to eat a bowl of oatmeal or grits, and they take pictures(some type of xray) for an hour and 1/2. It's easy according to them. Of course, since I get gb pains every time I eat, it may be a little painful for me anyway, especially laying down. UGH!

I hope your symptoms all go away soon! I hate that nausea, too!

Yay, glad you read it

In terms of the taste thing, my grandfather experienced it as well as another older lady at my church. I don't know if this has ANYTHING to do with it, but we're all Chinese. I have never heard of anyone else who has experienced it who wasn't Chinese. Haha, I don't know if it's related, but I just thought I'd throw that in, just in case. It's not that I couldn't taste, I just needed to eat more flavorful things while other times, things were actually TOO flavorful (some things ended up being really salty to me while it was bland or normal to my mom). But again, like I said before, I was still able to enjoy a LOT more food, even if I couldn't taste as well as most.

Haha, kind of off topic, but I hope you take lots of pics when you're on DDP!

I don't know the CCK or EF thing ... I think mine was EF? But it hurt after they injected it. Even though I felt like it had to mean something if there was pain, I had to go into it thinking that everything would be okay, that everything would come out negative. I had gotten negative results on every other test I had, and I knew I would be REALLY upset if I had my hopes set on this being the answer and it wasn't.

Keep us updated about the potential surgery! In general, I know that most people are nervous before surgeries, but for some reason, I'm really calm before surgeries and medical tests. I think it's because, at that point, there's nothing worry can do. Plus, I focus on the relief afterwards. I really had God's comforting peace because all the doctors and nurses before the cholecystectomy said, "Wait, is this your first surgery? You're really calm." I was sitting there waiting with my robe, booties, and shower cap thing on and chatting with my mom.

If you do have the surgery, I believe you'll be fine. You've got a huge bunch of DISers on your side rooting for you

I'm going to say it might just be your recovery. I was so nauseous for days afterwards. I actually thought I may have split stitches when I sneezed so I had to go visit my surgeon the day after the surgery so he could check it. I was feeling VERY weak, and he asked what I ate. I told him I had a little bit of soup and he kind of yelled me to eat more. He said he knew that I was really nauseous, but I needed to eat to help speed the recovery. That may have been why it took me longer ... the nausea prevented me from eating, which in turn made my recovery longer. Hopefully your nausea will subside, but I guess from the doctor's point of view, just try to eat as much as you can.

In a previous post, I wrote that I was actually taking part in a study for anti-nausea meds for post-anesthesia patients. So it also could have been the anesthesia. Your body could also just be getting used to digesting without the gallbladder. Either way, give it some time ... hopefully the nausea will disappear! I'll keep you in my prayers I feel like people who have gallbladder problems are kindred spirits

How interesting! Haha...maybe you can research that, about being Chinese and having no taste after gb surgery. Let me know if you find anything

I will definitely take lots of pics. Last year I did the DDP (free) and I couldn't resist booking the bounce back!

I think CCK and EF are the same thing. My doctor had written it as HIDA w EF....and they gave me CCK. I asked the tech but his explanation went over my head. I think it boiled down to the fact that EF, meaning ejection fraction, is the TYPE of test but CCK is actually what they call the ejection. (anyone can correct me if I'm wrong)

I know what you mean about getting your hopes up. I had high hopes that there'd be stones on the ultrasound so I could be done with it, and when there weren't, I cried because I knew I'd have at least a couple more weeks of hell.

kindred spirits...I'd like to think that too!!

I'm hoping it's just a temporary setback. It's been so helpful to read this thread today--thanks!

hope so too! I'm glad it helped. I thought my thread would do a lot of good for alot of people (including myself of course)


Man, I don't feel good. I had some cereal this morning and I was okay. Then I didn't really eat anything most of the day. And had 2 kosher dill spears a little while ago, then I started hurting. Pickles were one of the things that didn't bother me as much, and I wonder if the test had something to do with that.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

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.

This is exactly what happened to me. My tech actually went and got his boss because the dye wasn't moving through. They weren't going to give me extra time but it did start moving at the 1 hour mark. Once the hour was up they injected me with the other stuff. Mine was operating at 20%. Sounds like yours is operating less then that. I hope you can get it removed soon! It really sounds like you need it.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

Just my .02...

I had my gallbladder out (laparoscopically) in 1998 after 3 attacks. The first came while DS (then 8 weeks old) was in a pediatric unit of the hospital with RSV. I had the classic right side/back pain, intense pressure or pain in the lungs, wheezing - when I hit the call button, the nurses were understandably shocked to find an adult on the floor! Lol, I still remember the crowd of staff around me trying to figure it out: one asked if I'd had lunch, and when I replied that I'd had an egg salad sandwich at the hospital cafeteria, he said the cafeteria food would cause anyone pain! As it was, I was sent down to the ER and diagnosed 2 hours later with "nonspecific chest pain." I ended up researching my symptoms at the library and the second time I had an attack I told the ER staff that I suspected gallstones. Sure enough, the ultrasound confirmed it.

At that time, my doctor told me I could try to manage the issue with diet, take pills to break up the stones, or have surgery. I had a near-phobia about surgery, and the pills are made from the liver of a polar bear (no joke) - I didn't want to be responsible for the death of the poor bear - so I opted for the diet strategy. I spent the next 7 months eating no more than 5 grams of fat per meal. It was incredibly hard, and I still felt horrible. My weight dropped below 100 pounds and my coworkers thought I was anorexic. After the third attack despite my precautions, I conceded to surgery.

I took Friday off of work to have the surgery. I had a hard time coming out of the anesthetic, but was home that night. I rested through the weekend (Monday was a national holiday), and went back to teaching on Tuesday. I was shuffling slowly instead of walking, but I got through the day. And my doctor had been right when he said every day would feel 100% better than the day before. I took only one of the prescribed painkillers the day after the surgery, and did fine on Tylenol the rest of the time. My first post-surgery meal was sausage gravy, lol!

Now 10 years later I have had no discernible effects of the surgery. I can eat almost anything, although I had to give up coffee - it provoked IBS-like symptoms. I'm very glad I faced up to my fears and had it removed. Good luck to all of you who are facing the same yourselves or with loved ones. It does make life much easier!

 

[cherbear]

This is exactly what happened to me. My tech actually went and got his boss because the dye wasn't moving through. They weren't going to give me extra time but it did start moving at the 1 hour mark. Once the hour was up they injected me with the other stuff. Mine was operating at 20%. Sounds like yours is operating less then that. I hope you can get it removed soon! It really sounds like you need it.

It started moving through your GB at the hour mark? I think mine might have started showing up then but they still had to wait. I'm not exactly sure about the timing but I do know it was about an hour and 15 minutes for the first part of the test. The tech kept coming in every 10 minutes and looking at the screen (starting at about 25 minutes) and saying "nope, no gallbladder yet" and then walking back into his little room.
When it finally did show up (it was a glowing dot, at first it looked like Mars when you can see it in the sky...LOL) he came in and said "Oh, good!" kinda high pitched, and walked right back out. So my husband said to me, "What's good about it?" It was a funny moment and I was trying my best not to laugh because I knew that my body would move if I did. Shame on them for making me laugh!

thanks for posting that! Gives me hope....and I hope I can get it out too!

Just my .02...

I had my gallbladder out (laparoscopically) in 1998 after 3 attacks. The first came while DS (then 8 weeks old) was in a pediatric unit of the hospital with RSV. I had the classic right side/back pain, intense pressure or pain in the lungs, wheezing - when I hit the call button, the nurses were understandably shocked to find an adult on the floor! Lol, I still remember the crowd of staff around me trying to figure it out: one asked if I'd had lunch, and when I replied that I'd had an egg salad sandwich at the hospital cafeteria, he said the cafeteria food would cause anyone pain! As it was, I was sent down to the ER and diagnosed 2 hours later with "nonspecific chest pain." I ended up researching my symptoms at the library and the second time I had an attack I told the ER staff that I suspected gallstones. Sure enough, the ultrasound confirmed it.

At that time, my doctor told me I could try to manage the issue with diet, take pills to break up the stones, or have surgery. I had a near-phobia about surgery, and the pills are made from the liver of a polar bear (no joke) - I didn't want to be responsible for the death of the poor bear - so I opted for the diet strategy. I spent the next 7 months eating no more than 5 grams of fat per meal. It was incredibly hard, and I still felt horrible. My weight dropped below 100 pounds and my coworkers thought I was anorexic. After the third attack despite my precautions, I conceded to surgery.

I took Friday off of work to have the surgery. I had a hard time coming out of the anesthetic, but was home that night. I rested through the weekend (Monday was a national holiday), and went back to teaching on Tuesday. I was shuffling slowly instead of walking, but I got through the day. And my doctor had been right when he said every day would feel 100% better than the day before. I took only one of the prescribed painkillers the day after the surgery, and did fine on Tylenol the rest of the time. My first post-surgery meal was sausage gravy, lol!

Now 10 years later I have had no discernible effects of the surgery. I can eat almost anything, although I had to give up coffee - it provoked IBS-like symptoms. I'm very glad I faced up to my fears and had it removed. Good luck to all of you who are facing the same yourselves or with loved ones. It does make life much easier!

wow! I must say, my diet lately has been causing me to lose weight, but mainly because I can't eat very much before I feel full. If I eat any meat, I can eat maybe 5-8 small bites and I start feeling full. I've been trying to eat veggies (with the exception of LETTUCE of course) to get my nutrients.

I'm shocked that you had a 3rd attack even eating so little fat! I guess it goes to show ya, it's best to just have the GB removed if it's diseased. I'm surprised they didn't recommend the surgery---then again, it was 10 years ago!

I am glad you finally had it done! I hope my healing time goes as quickly as yours. I am willing to take 2 or 3 vacation days if I need them. How were stairs for you?
Too bad you had to give up coffee! I hope I can still drink coffee...it's my comfort drink! I love lattes and cappuccinos!

So, I'm curious, how are your scars 10 years later? Did you use anything on them to minimize?

thanks so much for posting!! This thread has been such a godsend to me!

 

[cherbear]

Ugh, I feel crappy.

what's new, right?


Just checking in...

 

[MarieS]

Ugh, I feel crappy.

what's new, right?


Just checking in...

Hope you get some answers this week!

 

[cherbear]

Hope you get some answers this week!

thanks!

now THAT would be nice! But unfortunately I don't expect them til next week.

 

[Poohbear123]

I had my gallbladder out 9 days ago. I didn't have gallstones, but chronic nausea and failed the HIDA test. For those of you that had yours out, how was your recovery? I was feeling fairly well--though tired--but yesterday the nausea came back. I am eating very small meals, about 4-5 times a day, low fat. I don't know if I just need to give my system more time to recover or if this really wasn't the cause. Any advice? Thanks!

My appetite is just NOW coming back after 15 days after surgery. I have lost 15 pounds so far, and hope to lose more. I eat 3 times a day, very small meals, and I have to "run" to the bathroom within 30 min of eating. Don't know how I am going to go back to work next Wed.

 

[cherbear]

My appetite is just NOW coming back after 15 days after surgery. I have lost 15 pounds so far, and hope to lose more. I eat 3 times a day, very small meals, and I have to "run" to the bathroom within 30 min of eating. Don't know how I am going to go back to work next Wed.

Wow...

Thanks for the update!! What types of food are you eating? I hope your body will adjust some more so that you don't have to RUN to the bathroom so soon after eating. Best wishes to you!!
So did you take a few weeks of vacation? I'd never be able to take that much time off of work. Do you feel ready to go back? (I'd be bored at home)

Keep us updated on your progress!

 

[ADisneyQueen]

Well, I am just beginning my journey with this gall bladder problem. I went to the ER with pain in my right side and ribs and back. Now I have to see my GP and get an ultrasound. I have had the pain almost constantly since Friday night when I went to the ER. Of course, it is not as bad as then. Is that normal? BTW, I am really watching what I eat the last few days.

 

[MarieS]

My appetite is just NOW coming back after 15 days after surgery. I have lost 15 pounds so far, and hope to lose more. I eat 3 times a day, very small meals, and I have to "run" to the bathroom within 30 min of eating. Don't know how I am going to go back to work next Wed.

The dietican I saw told me to do 6 small meals/snacks a day and keep fat grams around 30 for the first month and gradually increase. My understanding is that if you keep bile production at a steady pace with frequent small meals or snacks it will help reduce the bathroom situation. Don't know if this will work, but I thought I'd mention it just in case. This problem is one of my biggest concerns since trading nausea for another bathroom issue is not a good trade.

 

[MarieS]

Well, I am just beginning my journey with this gall bladder problem. I went to the ER with pain in my right side and ribs and back. Now I have to see my GP and get an ultrasound. I have had the pain almost constantly since Friday night when I went to the ER. Of course, it is not as bad as then. Is that normal? BTW, I am really watching what I eat the last few days.

From what I read, it can come and go between attacks--especially if you have gallstones. Are you doing low fat? That seemed to help me.
Hope you get this figured out!

 

[Poohbear123]

The dietican I saw told me to do 6 small meals/snacks a day and keep fat grams around 30 for the first month and gradually increase. My understanding is that if you keep bile production at a steady pace with frequent small meals or snacks it will help reduce the bathroom situation. Don't know if this will work, but I thought I'd mention it just in case. This problem is one of my biggest concerns since trading nausea for another bathroom issue is not a good trade.

Thanks for the tip, I will keep it in mind.

 

[vettechick99]

My appetite is just NOW coming back after 15 days after surgery. I have lost 15 pounds so far, and hope to lose more. I eat 3 times a day, very small meals, and I have to "run" to the bathroom within 30 min of eating. Don't know how I am going to go back to work next Wed.

I lost 5 lbs from my surgery which brings me down to 91 lbs! I am 3 months post-op and can eat much more fat than I could in the beginning, which is the good news in all this. I still stay away from fried foods and high fat goodies like ice cream, but at least I didn't have to give up my favorite foods completely. My nutritionist gave me the tip to eat a small apple right before I eat some really fatty foods. Doesn't keep me from "dumping" (can't we come up with a better term ) but the fiber helps in digestion later on.

Oh, and I have trigger foods that send me to the bathroom 30 minutes later too. I hope one day that lets up a bit. It's hard to have a social life when you know a fun trip to the bathroom is about to hit ya!

 

[Calliaz]

I'm shocked that you had a 3rd attack even eating so little fat! I guess it goes to show ya, it's best to just have the GB removed if it's diseased. I'm surprised they didn't recommend the surgery---then again, it was 10 years ago!

I have been told and experienced that it is a change in fats that is a trigger, not just high fat. This is why people who are on strict weight loss diets often have gall bladder attacks.

The night before my last attack I walked 5 miles and ate a grilled lean hamburger with no bun and a salad.

 

[MickeyMonstersMom]

I am glad you finally had it done! I hope my healing time goes as quickly as yours. I am willing to take 2 or 3 vacation days if I need them. How were stairs for you?
Too bad you had to give up coffee! I hope I can still drink coffee...it's my comfort drink! I love lattes and cappuccinos!

So, I'm curious, how are your scars 10 years later? Did you use anything on them to minimize?

thanks so much for posting!! This thread has been such a godsend to me!

I had to really look to even find my scars a year later. Today I can still find one right below my breastbone, but I never notice it. I didn't even use lotion on them, so it worked out well! I don't recall having particular trouble with stairs, but I took that first week very slowly in general.

It's been nice to read how others have experienced all this, even though it was long ago for me. I'm glad that it's been a help to you!

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Doesn't keep me from "dumping" (can't we come up with a better term ) but the fiber helps in digestion later on.

I had gastric bypass and believe it or not the same term is used.
I really thought I was on the other message board for a minute! And dumping is not fun!!

 

[cherbear]

Well, I am just beginning my journey with this gall bladder problem. I went to the ER with pain in my right side and ribs and back. Now I have to see my GP and get an ultrasound. I have had the pain almost constantly since Friday night when I went to the ER. Of course, it is not as bad as then. Is that normal? BTW, I am really watching what I eat the last few days.

I hope that everything works out for you! Hope you feel better!

The dietican I saw told me to do 6 small meals/snacks a day and keep fat grams around 30 for the first month and gradually increase. My understanding is that if you keep bile production at a steady pace with frequent small meals or snacks it will help reduce the bathroom situation. Don't know if this will work, but I thought I'd mention it just in case. This problem is one of my biggest concerns since trading nausea for another bathroom issue is not a good trade.

man, oh, man, that is tough huh

I lost 5 lbs from my surgery which brings me down to 91 lbs! I am 3 months post-op and can eat much more fat than I could in the beginning, which is the good news in all this. I still stay away from fried foods and high fat goodies like ice cream, but at least I didn't have to give up my favorite foods completely. My nutritionist gave me the tip to eat a small apple right before I eat some really fatty foods. Doesn't keep me from "dumping" (can't we come up with a better term ) but the fiber helps in digestion later on.

Oh, and I have trigger foods that send me to the bathroom 30 minutes later too. I hope one day that lets up a bit. It's hard to have a social life when you know a fun trip to the bathroom is about to hit ya!

interesting about the apple thing!

dumping huh?

I have been told and experienced that it is a change in fats that is a trigger, not just high fat. This is why people who are on strict weight loss diets often have gall bladder attacks.

The night before my last attack I walked 5 miles and ate a grilled lean hamburger with no bun and a salad.

well...the SALAD could have triggered it

I had to really look to even find my scars a year later. Today I can still find one right below my breastbone, but I never notice it. I didn't even use lotion on them, so it worked out well! I don't recall having particular trouble with stairs, but I took that first week very slowly in general.

It's been nice to read how others have experienced all this, even though it was long ago for me. I'm glad that it's been a help to you!

that is not bad at all!

I agree. I don't know what is going to happen though....update coming in the next post!

 

[cherbear]

Hey everyone,

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?