Bile Duct Blockage

[LauraEllen]

I have been having terrible pain in my upper right side for about 3 months.  I had my gall bladder removed about 12 years ago.  After the surgery, I got an infection and my bile duct and pancreas duct grew together.  I had to have surgery to clean them out.  I got severe pancreatitis, was in the hospital a month, almost died several times.  When my recent pain began, I had diarrhea for 7 weeks, I had a colon scope, (I had colon cancer about 11 years ago, had half my colon removed), my colon is now o.k., test came out fine, I had a scan of my kidneys to see if I had stone, no stones.  I had a stomach scope, (have history of Barratte's Esophagus), it was also not causing all my pain.  The Dr. wants to do an ECRP(I think that's right}, he will put dye into my liver and pancreas to see if there is blockage in the bile or pancreas duct.  I dread it so much, I wonder if anyone has had this done and if its dangerous.  He said to come prepared to stay a few days, he would have to fix it if it was blocked.  Does this sound like that is my problem, or could it be anything else.  I also have SLE Lupus, Fibromyalgia, IBS, and other things wrong. I just dread doing a test if it's not necessary. I'll appreciate a reply.  My test is scheduled for Thursday. Thank you for listening....LauraEllen

[Moxie]

HI there from Australia

My Mum recently had a second ERCP and they never worry her. She stays overnight. I know ERCP's are risky and you should discuss this with your doctor. Also, I have had great success using Zelmac (drug) for my constipating IBS. After 8 years of severe IBS, Zelmac (only took for 6 weeks)has really been great. My gastro says that "bowels love structure and pattern" and Zelmac resets the clock!!

Good Luck

[Lor]

I'm sure you know the ERCP has a small risk for pancreatitis. (It's like 20%) You sound like you really don't have much choice in if you want to go ahead with the test or not. I had one done and did fine afterwards and you should to. My Dr told me to only plan on staying if I woke in pain. Having had pancreatitis you know what feeling your looking for. Just be aware and do tell the Dr if you feel any discomfort. The key is catching and taking care of the pancreas early. Take care, good luck and let us all know how you made out.

[LauraEllen]

Thank you so much for your reply.  I just talked with my Dr's nurse and you are right, I really don't have a choice.  I have the test Thursday at 3:00PM...I'll let you know how it turns out. Thanks again.  I'm glad I found this forum...

[TazLady]

Hi,

I have severe pancreatitis.  I have had many ERCP's for blocked bile ducts and blocked pancreatic duct.  I can tel lyou that thisis the only way to clear those ducts, but if you also have severe pancreatitis, when the dr. uses the dye...you will have an attack.  So plan on staying for a few days.  My specialist has perfected the way to do the ERCP without using the dye, which in his opinion causes the attacks in the first place.

TazLady

[georgie439]

Hi guys: I feel right at home here. Thats really good Tazlady, that your
Dr. has prefected the ERCP test. Do you stay over night?? Do you have to fast?? Do they put you under??  
I dont know much about it other then sometimes its the only way to know if stones have blocked or caused problems with pancreas.
I have spoken with Nanny a little about pancreas problems and I'm looking for other message boards about the whole subject Gallbladder, Bile Ducts and Pancreas.
Please if anybody has any, please post or e-mail me at
***@****.  Thank-you

[LauraEllen]

I just wanted to ask another question before going for my test.  When I had pancreatitis before, my left side and back hurt terribly.  This time, it's my right side and center back.  Would this be symptoms of bile duct blockage and pancreas?  My back hurts right behind my stomach all over the right side, down to my waist...It also burns...Also, would the lipid and amalaze test have to be positive for blockage?  I haven't heard the results of my test..Thanks

[Lor]

Right sided pain could be many different things, however Bile duct sounds right. I have "sphincter of Oddi Dysfunction" Which means the shpincter to my bile duct doesn't open enough to release bile. I get that right sided pain you wrote about. Blockage doesn't always show signs in blood work.

[LauraEllen]

Thank you so much for your replying to my questions.  I just visited my family doctor to see if there could be a way out of this test.  She suggests I get it.  How else would we know if the problem is my bile duct or pancreas.  I was hoping the  blood tests would rule out blockage...Guess not.  Thanks again. My test is tomorrow afternoon.  I'll let you know how it came out.

[georgie439]

Hi:  I'm just wondering what happens if you do have stones in the ducts or if you have sod, I mean other then the pain what are the risks??  Can you have s.o.d. for years??  What would aggravate it??  It helps me to try and make sense of this and whats going on inside.

[LauraEllen]

Just to let you know, I had my ERCP done Thursday.  I did have bile duct blockage...Scar tissue had formed and caused the bile to back up.  That was what was causing my pain.  He cleaned out the duct,  cleard the blockage and I am at home now.  I'm having some pain from soreness from cleanign the duct out.  HOpefully in a few days I'll feel much better.  Thanks for the replies....

[Laurasfire1]

Hi,
I am having the exact same symptoms as you. What was the process for the test you had done and are you feeling better a few days now after the procedure?

[Marlasinger3]

I had my gallbladder removed this past week and the Dr said the problem was that my bile ducts were fused shut, and other than that my gallbladder was alright (he took it out anyway).  He said they were closed so tight he couldn't fit a catheter through them so he just cut them out as well.  It wasn't stones, but he didn't say what would've caused this.  Looking online all I find is either bile duct stones or cancer.  Any ideas?

[Fran Angst]

I'm glad to see some people get posts answered here I posted ans not one reply. I to have a bile duct problem. Mine happened when the doctor that took my gall bladder out ripped the bile duct while removing a stone in it. He had to make another one and it keeps filling up with scar tissue. I have liver damage because the doctor never told me that the bile duct he made could scar over. Now I have to have a drainage tube hanging out of my right side to drain extra bile out and have to take pain pills and worry about infections and bile burns from bile coming up the tube and out the hole and burning my skin. I wanted to know if there is anything else I can do but no one ansewred my post. I hope others with the same problem have better luck than I've been having. The doctor goes in every couple of months to open it up some more and says she has to leave the drainage tube in because if she has to keep repoking my liver it could kill me.

[beebug]

Fran,

Bless your heart!  I had my gall bladder out 11 years ago.  In the past year I had been having upper right quadrant pain and pressure, plus elevated alkaline phosphatse liver enzyme.  3 weeks ago I had a ERCP and my bile duct was blocked, something called oddi sphincture syndrome, and I had some infection in there.  I stayed in the hospital 3 days.  Doc cut a slit in my bile duct to drain into my small intestine and cleaned all the dirty bile out of my duct. I go back for my followup appt. in Tulsa tomorrow.  Please let me know how you are doing.  If anyone out there wants to email me concerning this, my email address is:  ***@****.