Jeesh this is scary - anyone know about HIDA scans??

Hi there! I'm having gall bladder symptoms so my surgeon sent me for an ultrasound last week.  Looks like it came back favorable butyet I am having pain.  Sometimes it lasts seconds, minutes or a couple of hours like today.  It is on my right side, under my ribs and close to teh xyphoid bone - almost towards the center of my chest.  This pain can be sharp but not often.  It actually started this morning after I took my vitamins & meds (prevacid, Vit D, Vit B complex, and Zinc) but before I ate breakfast.  After breakfast it continued - probably worse than it was before I ate.  It is more like a dull ache and it goes straight through me.  SO...he is sending me for a HIDA scan.  I looked it up and they inject me with radioactive dye adn then do some scan.  Anyone had to do this?  Can you tell me about it?  Does it hurt?  I'm a wimp.  The surgery was nothing but hey - I really really hate needles, especially big one.  I'm fine with having blodd taken evey coupleof months but this thing is kinda freakingme out...my post-op life has been great , no complications till this.  No nausea, vomiting, no real intolerances...just now the gall bladder thing.  ALso - what does an ulcer feel like. COUld that be what I am dealing with?  I know you guys aren't docs but you have LOADS of experience!  (I'm in contact with my doctor daily this week so that isn't an issue - I'm just scared.) Thanks!! Tara

I've never heard of a HIDA scan before... what does it look for?

inflamation and infection in the gall bladder - it can see a thickening in teh wall and microscopic stones and a few more things I can't remember the right terms for.- it gives a better look than an ultrasound.

I ended up in the ER on the 18th and had my gallbladder out on the 21st.  I swear I thought I was having a heart attack!  I had an ultrasound on the 19th and my gallbladder was full of stones, you could see them all!  My surgeon said there was enough to make a pearl necklace. AmyBeth

Hi AMy - no stones for me - ultrasound was negative...there looking forother stuff now.  My symptoms are sporadic too.  This just seems to come on fast doesn't it??  How has your recovery been. IF I have to have mine out I am hoping to be back to work in just a few days...as a teacher I can actually take it pretty easy.  It will be tiring but I only have to teach 3 classes a dya and I can sit down a lot... Tara

Yep you might actually just have some sludge in there instead, I had it done Thursday, went walking and shopping at the mall on Friday, stayed in jammies all day Saturday and went to Wal Mart on Sunday and back at work on Monday, the staples came out the following Tuesday, they itched me to teach, lol!

AmyBeth

Hi! I work in a radiology dept and have had the HIDA. Well, don't eat or drink after midnite! and they'll ask if you're pregnant. when you get there, you'll lay on a table (kinda like an x-ray table). there's a scanner that will be over your GB during the test.  the tech will start an iv.  they will inject the radioisotope. after a little bit, the tech then injects cholecystokinin. it makes your GB contract. the machine then tracks how well you GB is contracting by seeing the radioisotope. the test takes anywhere from 1 1/2-2 hours. normal ejection fraction of your GB is 35% and above. Any lower, and they'll usually remove your GB. I had the hida twice. first one was at 37%! grrr, next one at 21%. You can see if the tech will give you your ejection fraction and you'll know right away if you're ok. :) hope this helps!!

Yeah- thanks for the insider info!  Supposedly they wanted me to try and sked it for tomorrow but I didn't get the message til it was too late...don't know if they do iton Saturday or not.  FLy out to Key Weton SUnday for the week.  ugh.  BTW - does the radioisotope burn going in??? how about that other stuff?  Like I said - I'm a wimp.  LIke to mentally prepare myself ahead... Tara

Wondering if just a sonagram can detect a bad GB?? J

it's a VERY god test done in Nuclear  med dept  that detects a bad  or leaking gall bladder. It also picks up if there is a stone stuck in the common bile duct. Nuc med really is an excellent way of diagnosing a bad gall bladder.  I do know that since i have had GBS, I have not been able to vomit. Therefore, I would not have ever had the symptoms Of a bad gall bladder. I hope you feel better soon.  I do not know what an ulcer feels like. Sounds like they are doing the right work up on you. The blood work looks for the helicobacter pylori bacteria that would cause an ulcer. Also, blood work would show elevated amalyse and lipase levels, which would in turn confirm a positive gallbladder. Keeping in touch with ya doc...  good girl! You are doing what is best. Don't be scared, You will be fine. You are doing the right thing. Hugs, Terri Nothing goes in.. it's all a big machine. You lay there and sleep...  while it goes around you. If you glow in the dark afterwards.. ahaha Kidding. I worked in nuc med for a bit. Easy test, awesome results.