What is more accurate for detecting gallstones--HIDA, MCRP, CT, ultrasound? YNMD but...
The entire months of Feb and March have been increasing symptoms with two trips to the ER within 6 days. However, none of the docs wanted to scan me for gallstones. They said all symptoms were 100% ulcers/GERD. Well I just took my upper endoscope and it was 100% normal--no ulcers, no inflammation, nothing.
My symptoms have been on and off for a few years but the last 2 months, increasing, persistant, and unbearable.
Constant nausea
Middle/upper stomach pain (not right side classic gallstones though)
Lower back pain
Indigestion
Stomach churning like crazy whether I eat or not
Can't eat due to nausea, pain, and/or random vomiting/wretching (no blood)
Lost a lot of weight (15lbs) in a short time (because not eating)
Pain waking me up at 2amish
Pain every time I ate--as soon as it hit my stomach
Feeling like something was "stuck" in my esophogus
Feeling like I was 3rd trimester pregnant again because of the pressure--like my stomach was pushed up high so it was hard to breathe
The 2nd ER trip was because of this pressure then out of the blue immediate stabbing/ripping pain near my kidneys--both sides equally, I couldn't breathe in because every time I did it was excrutiating stabbing pain
The stabbing pain incident left me dizzy, disoriented, felt like blood was rushing down both of my arms to my fingertips.
Chills at times
Felt so wrong like I was going to pass out or something bad was going to happen (no it wasn't a heart attack-impending doom but close)
And both times at the ER? Three residents and two ER docs said "oh you have ulcers", gave me a blood test (LFT, pancreas, CBC) showed normal levels. Second time to the ER in 6 days with the stabbing back pain? No tests what so ever. They pulled my blood tests for SIX DAYS prior and said "oh now that your pain is gone, you're not an ER case."
Both times--no scans. I even went to my doctor first on emergency via cab and told of my symptoms. He said 'you need to walk across the street (yes I did by myself and disoriented) and get scans. Well the @#$# ER refused any scans saying "this is clearly ulcers--you can get an ultrasound outpatient."
I think the whole thing was total b.s. even if it were ulcers or something else, I think the ER should have scanned me. My primary didn't believe me it was gallstones so he sent me for the endoscope and I had to compromise with him to get the ultrasound--if I go for endo you give me an ultrasound.
The GI doc who performed the endoscope was outraged that no one scanned me. I told her yea the stabbing back pain was very odd and didn't seem like ulcers. She said "nope it didn't. That sounded like a stomach perforation going on. They should have immediately scanned you."
And no I'm not a doctor either but any research I've seen clearly said it was more gallstones, possible pancreatitis going on (no jaundice), stone stuck--SOMETHING gallstone related and blood levels could be normal through all of that. Ultrasound three years ago (when I had severe, doubled over stomach pains and back pains) were completely normal.
I think the ultrasound is a huge waste of time but going tomorrow since I told the scheduler about my 2 ER visits ("Why the heck didn't anyone scan you in the ER?"). The fastest I can get in with a GI doc is the end of April. I have a boatload of work to do in May and we're looking at vacations and possibly 2nd baby planning in Aug. So I want to get this all done.
So if I want to really push it with a doctor after this ultrasound (I bet it will show normal), what is more accurate? MRCP (MRI), HIDA, or CT?
The pain has subsided but after eating a bean/rice burrito, that pressure, can't eat feeling came back in 3 hours after eating. This weekend, without eating, putting my son to bed, out of the blue wretching. So something is going on even though I'm not in severe symptoms like I was for two months but it obviously can still be 'triggered'.
The entire months of Feb and March have been increasing symptoms with two trips to the ER within 6 days. However, none of the docs wanted to scan me for gallstones. They said all symptoms were 100% ulcers/GERD. Well I just took my upper endoscope and it was 100% normal--no ulcers, no inflammation, nothing.
My symptoms have been on and off for a few years but the last 2 months, increasing, persistant, and unbearable.
Constant nausea
Middle/upper stomach pain (not right side classic gallstones though)
Lower back pain
Indigestion
Stomach churning like crazy whether I eat or not
Can't eat due to nausea, pain, and/or random vomiting/wretching (no blood)
Lost a lot of weight (15lbs) in a short time (because not eating)
Pain waking me up at 2amish
Pain every time I ate--as soon as it hit my stomach
Feeling like something was "stuck" in my esophogus
Feeling like I was 3rd trimester pregnant again because of the pressure--like my stomach was pushed up high so it was hard to breathe
The 2nd ER trip was because of this pressure then out of the blue immediate stabbing/ripping pain near my kidneys--both sides equally, I couldn't breathe in because every time I did it was excrutiating stabbing pain
The stabbing pain incident left me dizzy, disoriented, felt like blood was rushing down both of my arms to my fingertips.
Chills at times
Felt so wrong like I was going to pass out or something bad was going to happen (no it wasn't a heart attack-impending doom but close)
And both times at the ER? Three residents and two ER docs said "oh you have ulcers", gave me a blood test (LFT, pancreas, CBC) showed normal levels. Second time to the ER in 6 days with the stabbing back pain? No tests what so ever. They pulled my blood tests for SIX DAYS prior and said "oh now that your pain is gone, you're not an ER case."
Both times--no scans. I even went to my doctor first on emergency via cab and told of my symptoms. He said 'you need to walk across the street (yes I did by myself and disoriented) and get scans. Well the @#$# ER refused any scans saying "this is clearly ulcers--you can get an ultrasound outpatient."
I think the whole thing was total b.s. even if it were ulcers or something else, I think the ER should have scanned me. My primary didn't believe me it was gallstones so he sent me for the endoscope and I had to compromise with him to get the ultrasound--if I go for endo you give me an ultrasound.
The GI doc who performed the endoscope was outraged that no one scanned me. I told her yea the stabbing back pain was very odd and didn't seem like ulcers. She said "nope it didn't. That sounded like a stomach perforation going on. They should have immediately scanned you."
And no I'm not a doctor either but any research I've seen clearly said it was more gallstones, possible pancreatitis going on (no jaundice), stone stuck--SOMETHING gallstone related and blood levels could be normal through all of that. Ultrasound three years ago (when I had severe, doubled over stomach pains and back pains) were completely normal.
I think the ultrasound is a huge waste of time but going tomorrow since I told the scheduler about my 2 ER visits ("Why the heck didn't anyone scan you in the ER?"). The fastest I can get in with a GI doc is the end of April. I have a boatload of work to do in May and we're looking at vacations and possibly 2nd baby planning in Aug. So I want to get this all done.
So if I want to really push it with a doctor after this ultrasound (I bet it will show normal), what is more accurate? MRCP (MRI), HIDA, or CT?
The pain has subsided but after eating a bean/rice burrito, that pressure, can't eat feeling came back in 3 hours after eating. This weekend, without eating, putting my son to bed, out of the blue wretching. So something is going on even though I'm not in severe symptoms like I was for two months but it obviously can still be 'triggered'.