ERCP question post procedure

coping1

Renee,
I am just now seeing your post. How is your husband doing? I have been told that when I go back for my next appt. at my gastro doc, they will most likely schedule me for a minor ampulla schincterotomy because I have pancreas divisum and it is causing me problems. I have nevver known anyone who has this and am pretty nervous. I hear that the complication rate is high for bleeding and pancreatitis.
Is your husband better? Did it end up helping? Why was he having the procedure and how bad was it?

Sorry for so many questions!

rose4me

Hi - I also apologize for the late reply - I too had an ERCP on 1/8, the day following gall bladder surgery - sorry I will most likely misspell the correct medical term for that ... Anyway, the ERCP was to remove a last gall stone and some remaining gall bladder gravel in and around the pancreatic bile duct. I was admitted to hospital 12/27 for sever acute pancreatitis, with my enzyme levels in the 10's of thousands. I was one sick gal. The surgeon refused to operate on the gall bladder until the pancreas settled down and it took a while. 10 days. I've read numerous reports of people who had awful experiences with the ERCP, but aside from being nearly impossible to sedate because of the powerful opiates I was on to minimize the pancreatitis pain and waking towards the end of the proceedure, I have had no ill affects from it.
The main thing is if your husband still has no relief, you all need to be squeaky wheels and keep on bothering them(doctors) until a gastro specialist or whomever you need comes into the picture for you. I was told by my surgeon that even though he saw what appeared to be gall stones and the associated gall stone gravel during surgery, once the still photos were taken, that the radialogist declared me to be stone free , because the stones that were there, did not create a significant presence for the radiologist to see. I am glad the surgeron insisted on the ERCP proceedure. Pancreatitis is awful and I hope to be free of it forever - I am always hopeful.
best of everything to you and keep on asking questions - one day you will be successful.
Rose

Jo_bee

I am going to have an ERCP this month and had some questions to ask.

I have read that an ERCP is like having an endocope done. I had an endoscope done a few months ago.

They are doing an ERCP on me because of my chronic pancreatitis and to check and see if I have that painful bile duct issue called SOD, and to treat the possible SOD.

If all goes well about how long does a person need off work after an ERCP?

Do they knock you out to do an ERCP or do they just heavily sedate you?

coping1

Jo Bee,
The actual ERCP procedure is like having an endoscopy. They sedate you the same way (conscious sedation, which basically knocks you out, but without all of the side effect of general anesthesia) and if all goes well, it is my understanding that there really is not much of a recovery time.
I had an ERCP with a sphinctertomy for Pancreas Divism in Feb. I did get pancreatitis from the procedure and was hospitialized for it, but I also have a blood disorder that is triggered by any type of inflammation so I am not a good example. The good news is that I have not had ONE problem or any type of pancreatic pain since my recovery. The pancreatitis was not fun, but all in all the procedure was definitely worth it.

Hope this helps answer some of your questions.

~Coping

Jo_bee

About how long after an ERCP does a person start showing up with acute pancreatitis if they are gonna get it?

coping1

I never made it out of the recovery room, but many people get sick later that night or the next day.