Can you tell if you failed the Hida scan, byt he way it makes you feel? - Digestive Disorders Message Board

handsfull4 · 04-24-2003, 04:14 PM

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

stellakitty · 04-24-2003, 06:19 PM

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?

Katie G · 04-25-2003, 07:16 AM

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

lckwp · 04-27-2003, 02:13 AM

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 [url="http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum42/HTML/000968.html"]http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/Forum42/HTML/000968.html[/url]

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).]

Molly McPherson · 04-27-2003, 01:47 PM

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.