Hi, I just had my HIDA scan today, won't get the results till next week, I watched the screen as the test went along, about half way thru the first part of the test, the area of my gall bladder began to sting and burn like it does so offten. then half way thru the second part of the test, after they gave me the half and half to drink, I had the pain, in the side the chest and very nauseas. Can this be an indication that I did not pass the test......what kind of things may I have seen on the screen that would indicate something wrong? Does anyone know of any web sites that show differtn pics of a hida scan that I can compare what I saw to? Any info would be great, this is the deciuding factor on wether the doc removes my gall bladder.
Em

My daughter had a Hida scan a couple of years ago, I watched the screen and couldn't really see anything, I'm not a dr everyone in my house just thinks I'm one. Anyway, about halfway through the test when the gallbladder fills with that "stuff", I thought this kid was absolutely gonna die it hurt her so bad. Turns out that she did have a disfunctional g.b. We got the results within 4 hours, why next week?

Hi Em. Hope your results do show something that can help you get a diagnosis and relief. I had 2 hida scans one back in '96 (when my GB first began acting up) and then again in '97 when the pain/nausea etc. of my GB was a daily occurrence. The first scan came back as "normal" since all it measured was how my gall bladder ejected the bile necessary for digestion; low percentages (35% or below) indicate that the GB is not functioning normally. During the second scan I watched the GB fill (which took over 2 hours, but nobody seemed to think that was abnormal?!), and then the tech injected my IV with CCK (a chemical the stomach secretes to get the gall bladder involved in digestion), and as soon as that chemical hit the GB, the pain was INTENSE!!!! I also watched the GB actually spasm on screen, and then it just gushed out a lot of fluid. Because of this, the doc said my ejection fracture was still within normal. However, when I told him about the intense pain (just like my typical GB attacks) and the way the tech & I actually saw the GB spasm, he sent me for a 2nd opinion to confirm my GB was not functioning. After a 2nd opinion confirmed it, I had my GB out in March '97. The surgeon reported to my husband & me afterwards that the GB was inflamed and covered in scar tissue from repeated "attacks" and could certainly be considered nonfunctional because of this.

To make a long story short, I hope that your hida scan does reveal what's going on. However, if all the docs measure only the ejection fracture and yours is "normal" be prepared for that answer too. However, if you had a typical pain attack during the procedure the doc should take that into account when making a surgical decision.

Good luck and keep us posted,
Katie G

Katie G: I actually found this message board in a search & found an old message where you describe what you're talking about in 2001 http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum42/HTML/000968.html

What I was trying to find out was if the CCK HIDA scan could be wrong.

Indeed, I have gallbladder symptoms (but also lower right pelvic pain where my ovary used to be - it was removed as an emergency 5-1/2 years ago).

My gallbladder sonogram was normal. My CCK HIDA scan was normal.

Interestingly enough, my sister (an RN) suspected adhesions from the start (a few months ago).
And now I'm convinced I have adhesions.
And adhesions are scar tissue!

Apparently intestinal adhesions could explain all my symptoms, even with a functioning gallbladder.

Anyway, my big fear is that they're going to wind up removing my gallbladder needlessly, when really what I might need is removal of intestinal adhesions, so I can stop having partial bowel obstruction. (Which is what I'm beginning to believe is causing even my upper right side pain - which seems to be caused by eating again before my last meal has completely gone through me.)

Anyway, I've been told by experts on adhesions (a surgeon's office that can't see me because they don't take my insurance), that I fit the criteria of adhesions to a T.
And the thing that makes it very likely is apparently my having gyncological surgery in the past (the most common cause of problematic scar tissue adhesions).

Yet my gynocologist (who did the surgery I had) still seems to think I have a bad gallbladder. Despite the fact that's been apparently ruled out by a gastroenterologist. (I'm more inclined to believe the gastroenterologist on that score, since that's his purview, and not a gynocologist's.)

Anyway, I've learned that one big issue with adhesions is that they don't show up on any test, and MOST doctors don't even know that! And so a lot of people have them, and it takes years of being in pain, sick, and non-functional before finding out what's causing the problems.

So my point to begin with is that I find it incredibly interesting that your CCK HIDA scan was normal, and you were told had scar tissue on your gallbladder.
And here my CCK HIDA scan was normal... and I'm already suspecting I have scar tissue adhesions all over my right abdomen.

One more thing - out of all the tests I've had so far... the CCK HIDA scan was the ONLY test that did NOT bring on my pains worse!
My abdominal cat scan w/ contrast, and my upper & lower GI tests all caused my pain to be even worse than the horrible pain I usually have.

[This message has been edited by lckwp (edited 04-27-2003).]

I have been thinking adhesions also instead of gallbladder. I had a complete hysterectomy five years ago and that is the same place my twinges are (where my ovary was). Thanks for the reply.

Hi again. You may be right about the adhesions especially since they don't show up on testing. If your hida scan with CCK did not elicit GB symptoms, then it may not be your GB. Since the CCK did elicit a terrible attack of pain for me, that's what the surgeon used as justification for surgery. Since my only other surgery prior to GB surgery was a tubal ligation, the doc doubted that surgical adhesions would be the culprit.

Since your situation may not be as clear-cut as mine, you're right to wait and really find out what's going on before having your GB out. Some people end up with more trouble having the GB out and finding out that it wasn't really their reason for their discomfort to begin with.

I wish you well and hope that you get the relief you need.

Keep us posted,
Katie G

I got my CCK HIDA scan report notes today and looked at them myself.
It said my ejection fraction was 35% which is considered "within normal".
However, I know that I've read that anything below 33%, and it's considered a reason to take it out.

I'm wondering - what are MOST people's ejection fractions? How far from bad is 35%? I mean, it seems to me that 35% isn't far from 33%.

Also, I should mention that I wasn't eating much AT ALL, sometimes nothing for a few days at a time, in the few weeks preceding my CCK Hida Scan - so I wonder if i was eating "normally" in the days preceding the test, if that would've changed anything.

Also, I should say that I have heard of women getting adhesions all over their abdomen, and up around their liver - when all they had was a tubal. So I'm thinking maybe even in your case, Katie, that it could've been somehow related, if not the actual cause of the gallbladder problem. (IE: maybe you wouldn't have had all that scar tissue adhesions on your gallbladder if you never had any surgery - it's a possibility, from what I've read about adhesions.)

Well at this point, my gynocologist thinks that my gallbladder is bad.
AND, I went to a holistic healer because a friend dragged me to her - she's a friend of his. She's a microbiologist, she went to med school for 2 years, she's a certified accupuncturist, a certified needleless accupuncturist, and an ordeigned Cherokee medicine woman.
I'm extremely skeptical about holistic medicine. Mainly because my aunt died at age 57 needlessly because she refused conventional medical treatment for a lump in her breast, and in the end died of complications from late term breast cancer treatment. So since then, I've been very uneasy about putting too much faith in holistic medicine.
However, at this point, I guess I was willing to try anything, and since my friend basically bullied me into going, I went to this healer.
WELL, she seems to ALSO think my problem centers around my gallbladder! She thinks I may have adhesions around my intestines that cause SOME problem, but thinks that the problem around my gallbladder (perhaps adhesions, perhaps gallbladder disease, or whatever), is what's the focal point of my problems... and that the increased severity of bowel issues are basically a reaction to that. IE: That I have some kind of bowel issues that wouldn't be such a big problem if I didn't have this problem in the area of my gallbladder/liver. OR, that the stress of having the problem around my gallbladder/liver is making my bowel problems worse than they would be, physically, on their own.
Which, I guess I could understand. I mean, I've always said, when the pain & bowel issues were episodic & fleeting, they were completely manageable - I could live with THAT. But when this constant pain & uncomfortable feeling (that keeps me from sitting in chairs & functioning) started, that's when everything went out of control.

I guess what I'm saying is... I was very skeptical about the gynocologist saying she still thought it was my gallbladder, even after having it supposedly ruled out by a gastroenterologist. But now I'm wondering... I mean, this healer isn't a doctor, hasn't actually seen my test results or whatever... but the fact that she too seems to think my problem centers in that area.
And then seeing that my ejection fraction was 35% - which I thought "normal" meant that I was over 50% functional!
I guess maybe I'm more willing to consider the possibility that I do possibly have a gallbladder problem.
Well, at least I'm a little more at peace now about the possibility that if I do wind up getting surgery, and they wind up deciding to take my gallbladder out, that maybe it won't be "for the hell of it" - haha. Which has been my fear now for the past week or so...

Hi again lckwp. I feel your uneasiness - it's so hard to make a decision when none of your tests are really giving a definitive answer. It might be a good idea to get a 2nd GI opinion - just a thought. I appreciate your ideas about adhesions related to my tubal - this may have lead to GB problems; I just don't know. For many years prior to the GB problem, I suffered IBS and GERD, and feel that my digestive system as a whole is a mess. The main reasons the doc believed it was my GB prior to surgery (even though my ejection fracture was "normal" - I don't know exactly what the percentage was - I think around 45%) was my family history of gall bladder disease (my mother) and my symptoms of significant right side pain during/after meals, nausea, pain radiating to the back, low grade fever, guarding/tenderness in the GB area, and diarrhea. However, since my tests came back as "normal" he knew the only way insurance would pay for the surgery was with a 2nd opinion. All the pain/tenderness/nausea was gone with GB surgery, even though I still suffer from IBS-D.

It's a tough decision to make when test results aren't clear. I tend to be one of those people who have "normal" test results even when I know something isn't right - guess I'm a hypochondriac. Keep track of your symptoms and get a 2nd opinion if needed. If your symptoms are creating difficulties in your daily lifestyle (which mine were!), there must be something going on - whether it's adhesions or GB. Maybe one of your docs could suggest exploratory surgery or laporotomy (sp?) to get in there and really look around?

Good luck and keep me posted. I'm keeping you in my thoughts.

Katie G

I'm confused and need guidance. My HIDA scan came back with a ejection whatever of 8% - my Gastro dr. said take out the gallbladder. The surgeon said when can you come in...I'm saying I don't feel that bad. I mean for the last few months I have learned that i have a GB based on the mild pain i have under my right ribcage. I get mildy nauseous when i eat fatty meals or large meals. But on a scale of 1-10 the pain is a 3 maybe 4. I would say it's more annoying than painful. I've had three abdominal surgeries in the last 2 years...c-section, appendix and scar tissue removal and am kind of hesitant on having another surgery. I'm scheduled for surgery on May 9th and am torn between the fact that i'm not hurting why go through with the scary chances of complications from surgery and then the surgeon saying it's not hurting yet....but it will and then it's emergency surgery, any helpful words of wisdom are welcomed.

I also have been having alot of nausea an some pain on my right side under my rib cage. I had a hida scan last week and my score was 16%, not good at all my family doctor it has to come out I have a appt. today with a surgen we'll see.

jsiplon:
I can only tell you what I have heard & read since having gallbladder symptoms myself - from various sources. So I don't know how true this is...

Do you have gallstones?
Because one person I heard about, and another woman I met at one of my medical tests - these people did not have gallbladder symptoms - they went for a cat scan or something else for OTHER symptoms - and were found to have gallstones, and told with gallstones they have to get that taken care of.
From what I've read, I think if you have gallstones, that's a potentially dangerous situation I guess... Maybe I guess it's like kidney stones - if they try to go anywhere, you could wind up in an emergency situation.
So I think that might be why they take out the gallbladder if they see stones, even if a person doesn't have symptoms.

On the other hand... My mother had told me that my grandmother had gallbladder disease & never had her gallbladder removed.
When I was a kid, I distinctly remember on many occasions my grandmother calling my mother at night crying in pain.
Now, mind you, we're going back 25 years... And probably 30-40 years when she was diagnosed with gallbladder disease. (She was 81 when she died in 1996.)
My mother said that my grandmother elected NOT to have her gallbladder out because she was told the surgery was not worth going through unless she was really really suffering. So she decided to just stick to a diet & deal with the 'attacks' - maybe once a month.

Nowadays, the surgery, I'm told is very very simple.
But I can understand you not wanting to have more surgery. Heaven knows, I'm scared to death about possibly having another surgery... and I've only ever had one before.

But maybe you could talk to your doctor. I mean, if you have a real trepidation about having another surgery so soon, I think it's worth addressing that with your doctors.

However, I wouldn't hold out much hope - I mean, 8% sounds awful!
But who knows, I have ALL the gallbladder symptoms, and I was 35%.

Maybe my gynocologist was right - maybe the CCK HIDA scan isn't all that accurate!

I would like to ask you out of curiosity (being someone with 8% ejection fraction or whatever, I'd like to compare)-
Have you noticed any change in the colour of your stool? Is it yellow or green?
Do you have an uncomfortable feeling on your right side? I mean, with the pain or without the pain?

I have read several comments about people having pain in the right rib cage area. Has anyone ever had pain under their left rib cage area? I have had a bone scan, CT chest scan, HIDA scan, and abdominal sonogram. The only thing that had anything possible wrong with it was the abdominal sonogram which showed that my gallbladder was contracted. I then had a HIDA scan done and it showed it was normal. Now my doctor wants me to go in for a surgical consult. I do not have any other paid except under my left rib cage. Any ideas.