I am not understanding how the HIda scan was the worst thing ever. It was one of the easiest tests I have ever had done in my entire life and I have had many! Just had it done yesterday, was easy as all get out but boring boring boring and lots of waiting around for the next scan!
I am 19 years old. I am scheduled to get my gallbladder out next month.
I started having pain in Feb. of this year. I went to my family doctor and he said I had a bad cold. He told me to take it easy and gave me and antibiotic - my second one because the first was not working. After a week I was not getting any better, so I went back to the doctor. This time he gave me prednisone (steroid tablets) and said it was just muscle pain, from coughing hard. Just to play it safe, he sent me to get STAT blood work and a stomach ultrasound. Both came back negative for anything wrong.
A few days later I woke up early in the morning with excruciating pain. My mom took me to the ER. There, they gave me a GI cocktail and morphine for the pain. They did more blood work, a urine sample and preformed a cat-scan, and let me tell you that this was horrible because of the stuff they made me drink. The cat-scan and blood work showed nothing again. They attributed the pain to gastritis resulting from a double antibiotic and the prednisone. They gave me meds and sent me home, where I got better.
For over 6 months I went without pain. Then, one day after starting my freshman year of college, the pain started again. I waited for a few days, thinking it would go away. After so long, I called my mom and asked her what I should do (since I am 2 hours away from home). She told me to go to the nurse. I went and she said that it was probably a virus - one was going around. I believed her and thought I would soon be better.
Two days later, I was in even more pain. It was in my upper stomach area. I ended up going to an Urgent Care clinic. They took some blood and a urine sample. Both came back negative, and they gave me a prescription for a stomach re-laxer. I started taking these, hopeful to soon feel better.
Another two days went by and I was still getting worse and I ended up going to the ER. They did more bloodwork and another urine sample. They also gave me a GI cocktail. Tests came back negative and they gave me a prescription for Vicodin and changed my acid-reflux meds (thinking they weren't working - but they actually were). I finally started feeling better.
Over my breaks from college, I have seen my family doctor and a gastroenterologist. I was still having stomach pains off and on, though not as intense. I had more tests done. First, I had an upper endoscopy. This showed nothing. I just recently had a HIDA-scan done and this showed that my gallbladder ejection fraction was at 22% (normal is above 35%).
The doctor has now said that I should get my gallbladder out. I am nervous about the surgery but will be relieved when all my pain goes away. I have to see the surgeon before I get my surgery, and that is scheduled for Dec. 19.
I will post back after I see the surgeon and keep posted about what is happening.
I so hear you I look pregnat too from this gallbladder....my HIDA scan showed 11%. I'm back and forth about surgery too from hearing some of the comments i read. I've been gluten free for 4 months. Six months before I was diagnosed I was told I had a non alcoholic fatty liver and a swollen spleen. I was told to go on a diet and that would help the fatty liver. I didn't get an answer to the swollen spleen. I tried going to a homeopath and asked her if my gallbladder was a problem she said no I had a digestion problem. I took the vitamins then stopped, because her visits were so expensive. Then I started to feel better. I had bloating issues and went gluten free I was feeling better. Then 2 months ago I'd get sharp pain so bad. I ignored it, because it went away. Then one day it was so bad I went to the er. The er dr took a ultrasound and said I had biliary colic. That I needed more testing on my gallbladder. So I had that Hida scan.......is there anyone out there that has really cured their gallbladder with an ejection as low as 11% Just curious
I so hear you I look pregnat too from this gallbladder....my HIDA scan showed 11%. I'm back and forth about surgery too from hearing some of the comments i read. I've been gluten free for 4 months. Six months before I was diagnosed I was told I had a non alcoholic fatty liver and a swollen spleen. I was told to go on a diet and that would help the fatty liver. I didn't get an answer to the swollen spleen. I tried going to a homeopath and asked her if my gallbladder was a problem she said no I had a digestion problem. I took the vitamins then stopped, because her visits were so expensive. Then I started to feel better. I had bloating issues and went gluten free I was feeling better. Then 2 months ago I'd get sharp pain so bad. I ignored it, because it went away. Then one day it was so bad I went to the er. The er dr took a ultrasound and said I had biliary colic. That I needed more testing on my gallbladder. So I had that Hida scan.......is there anyone out there that has really cured their gallbladder with an ejection as low as 11% Just curious
Here is some news:
I saw the surgeon earlier than expected because I have been in a great deal of pain. I am scheduled to get it removed on Dec. 13. The surgeon said that he thought that my gallbladder being the problem was only about a 70%...so what could it be? My family doctor precribed me Tramadol for the pain until I can get the surgery. The only problem with that is the meds made me really dizzy and shaky that I had to stop taking them.
Well, yesterday I started having tar-like stools. Since I am in college, I called my mom and she called my surgeon to ask what I should do. He said to go get checked out, because it could be a sign of bleeding. I went to an urgent care center and they checked my stools. Sure enough, there was blood. I was then sent to the local emergency room, the doctor who sent me saying that I was going to be admitted. On my way to er, called my parents and they decide to come down, since I was getting admitted. They arrived at the hospital, after driving 2 hours to get here, to be told by the doctor that all my bloodtests were normal and that I was going to be sent home. The doctor gave me a different pain med, Vicodin. Hopefully I will be able to make it through my finals next week.
I'm trying the apple cider vinegar and honey in hot water. Takes away post steak symptoms. My ejection function is down to 3%. Suppose to have surgery in two weeks, I question what has caused the problem, and already have had IBS all my life. Scared to death it will return because it has been so nice since the gallbladder problem started I've had no IBS diarrhea.
I wrote the following on this thread 2 years ago
<<<>>>>
I find it interesting now two years later, no one tried my suggestion, or at least tried it and wrote about it. Why are so many Americans needing to take their Gallbladders out?? It's been years since those horrible attacks I had and I have made the above small change in diet and I never have had a problem since. All my recent tests show a healthy Gallbladder. I believe Gallbladder problems are over 90% diet related. By using the above small change in my diet I think I am "purging" my Gallbladder ever day so the bile can not sit in there and turn in to sludge or stones. Why remove something God gave you (unless there is no alternative), it's there for a reason!
You know it wasn't that long ago the "experts" (Doctors) treated people with Bloodletting so don't be so quick to take their advice. Today still, the body of knowledge about health that "they know" is much less than "they don't know". They have only scratched the surface of knowledge about the human body.
This was the post I left 2 years ago that was somehow deleted between the <<<<<>>>>> above.........
Listen all you people. Americans in particular have a very high rate of Gallbladder problems. Doctors solution? Cut it out! Um..that is not really solving the problem, its just removing an organ to take away the symptoms of the true problem. Gall bladder problems tells you that you have a diet problem. Most gallbladder issues can be reversed through diet. 3 different doctors told me to take mine out. I suffered with attacks for a while, but did not and would not do it. I tried changing my diet to a strictly healthy one but just could not be disciplined about it. I believe I have cured my gallbladder problem since I have not had an attack for 5 years. Most homeopathic remedies involve Olive Oil. I consume cold pressed olive oil every day in the morning and mix it with my oatmeal, flax, and flax oil. I put a health 1 to 3 tbsp's in it. Somebody try this and report your results back here. I want to see if it works for others. Thanks! S.N.
Mine is only 3% and they want to take out gallbladder. I'm really concerned about the post-op digestive problems as I've had IBS-D all my life and it has been so nice not to have it the last three years. Only took 5-7 doctors and me making some of them really mad to get to this test. Because I'm not really in lot of pain, I'm thinking I will delay surgery about a month. I really am not comfortable with doctor's nurse calling me and telling me I need surgery and going ahead and scheduling it.
I agree with you about diet affecting many with gallbladder problems. I have an EF rate of only 7 %, but am very wary of having mine removed as recommended by my Dr. I have read of too many people with low EF problems, - not stones, who have more problems post surgery. There are holistic gallbladder/liver flushes that help, along with consuming beets, olive oil, lemon juice etc. My symptoms are pretty mild unless I eat too much gluten, onions or pork. Dr. Sandra Cabot offers some cleansing products I am taking to help improve gallbladder function. I agree that all these surgeons are way to eager to remove your gallbladder
my 13 year old daughter has been having moderate to severe pain about an hour after she eats for a few months now. we have been to the dr several times and they have told us that it is menstral pains. went back to the ER last week they did ultra sound of her gall bladder and blood tests. They ran a PAPIDA scan and the results were ejection fraction less than 0. what does this mean and will she need to have her gll bladder removed??? ER doc has not contacted us with any info. Regular care physician appt on Fri.
You need referred to a GI or Surgeon. ejection fraction less than 0 sounds like it gallbladder isn't working at all. I fail to understand how physicians have such a problem diagnosing gallbladder when it is relatively easy. I've been telling them it isn't acid reflux for 2-3 yrs and 7 doctors later the light comes on but the first solution is "let's cut it out". I'm getting second opinion. You have to become your daughter's advocate and research everything and ask questions. Also make sure she is eating extremely healthy.
I notice you mentioned at the bottom of your post that swallowing food had gotten more difficult. Did this improve with the surgery?? That is my newest symptom and I am scheduled to have the gall bladder out in a few weeks. Please post info if you can
how did you make out?
It took three years and four drs to be sent for an U/S scan as I was told i was misunderstanding period pain. the U/S found an inflammed Gall Bladder and many stones. This all happened before I was 19, at which I had my GB (and 7 stones) removed due to the continual pain. I was a teenager who played sport 7 days a week, and ate only healthy foods. Since its removal I have had pains continuing in the region for years, have had countless more bloodwork, U/S's and an MRI with no reason. I saw a GI specialist and he was unsure as to why I am still experiencing attack symptoms. Over the years my ability to eat foods without pain has decreased to the point that its only chicken and rice my body doesnt have any symptoms with. i was wondering whether it would be worth having a HIDA scan to see whether my liver or pancreas might be still causing these pains?