Is HIDA scan necessary?

[MARIO3232]

I' m 27 years old. I have been having intermittent pains in the middle part of my stomach just above my belly button for about five moths now, along with other symptoms such as bloating, cramping, and constipation.Before I started having problems with my stomach I would drink lots of beer(36 pack a week). I' m Currently under the care of a GI specialist. He ordered the following test which all came back normal; ultra sound, upper and lower scoping, x rays, abdominal ct scan with injection, lots of blood work, and a stool test, they came back normal. Which I thank GOD every day for.  The doctor prescribed librax, metamucil, and also suggested a good diet( lots of fiber, veggies, fruits, and plenty H2O, no lactose, ...). The bloating improved, so has my issue with constipation, but I still get the occasional cramping on middle part of my stomach. The doctor thinks its IBS, but can' t be sure unless he performs a HIDA SCAN. I have sought a second opinion and the second doctor did not feel the HIDA scan was necessary. I' m very reluctant to do the HIDA scan, because I don' t want to expose my body to any more radiation specially if it' s going to be injected into my body. So the question is. Should I do the HIDA scan? Is it OK to take Metamucil daily? I' m only 27 years old. thank you!

[MARIO3232]

I' m 27 years old. I have been having intermittent pains in the middle part of my stomach just above my belly button for about five moths now, along with other symptoms such as bloating, cramping, and constipation.Before I started having problems with my stomach I would drink lots of beer(36 pack a week). I' m Currently under the care of a GI specialist. He ordered the following test which all came back normal; ultra sound, upper and lower scoping, x rays, abdominal ct scan with injection, lots of blood work, and a stool test, they came back normal. Which I thank GOD every day for.  The doctor prescribed librax, metamucil, and also suggested a good diet( lots of fiber, veggies, fruits, and plenty H2O, no lactose, ...). The bloating improved, so has my issue with constipation, but I still get the occasional cramping on middle part of my stomach. The doctor thinks its IBS, but can' t be sure unless he performs a HIDA SCAN. I have sought a second opinion and the second doctor did not feel the HIDA scan was necessary. I' m very reluctant to do the HIDA scan, because I don' t want to expose my body to any more radiation specially if it' s going to be injected into my body. So the question is. Should I do the HIDA scan? Is it OK to take Metamucil daily? I' m only 27 years old. thank you!

[MARIO3232]

I' m 27 years old. I have been having intermittent pains in the middle part of my stomach just above my belly button for about five moths now, along with other symptoms such as bloating, cramping, and constipation.Before I started having problems with my stomach I would drink lots of beer(36 pack a week). I' m Currently under the care of a GI specialist. He ordered the following test which all came back normal; ultra sound, upper and lower scoping, x rays, abdominal ct scan with injection, lots of blood work, and a stool test, they came back normal. Which I thank GOD every day for.  The doctor prescribed librax, metamucil, and also suggested a good diet( lots of fiber, veggies, fruits, and plenty H2O, no lactose, ...). The bloating improved, so has my issue with constipation, but I still get the occasional cramping on middle part of my stomach. The doctor thinks its IBS, but can' t be sure unless he performs a HIDA SCAN. I have sought a second opinion and the second doctor did not feel the HIDA scan was necessary. I' m very reluctant to do the HIDA scan, because I don' t want to expose my body to any more radiation specially if it' s going to be injected into my body. So the question is. Should I do the HIDA scan? Is it OK to take Metamucil daily? I' m only 27 years old. thank you!

[B_Shel20]

I very seriously doubt(And obviously so does a 2nd doctor) that you have anything other than IBS going on. IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion. You have had enough tests to exclude it being anything else.

I would maybe talk to the first doc and ask why he feels an HIDA scan is beneficial. Ask him what about your symptoms and passed tests gives him the notion to want to go forward with another test.

IBS is a nuisance type issue, that can give off symptoms that make it seem like something major is going on, when really, it is just your system that has somehow gone off the norm, and is now acting differently. I really dont see what your doc is going to find with a HIDA Scan, and how your current symptoms are going to be related. I think doc #2 probably sees it the same way.

[MARIO3232]

The second GI specialist performed A bacteria test which came back negative, he also mentioned the option of a capsule test, but because normally my type of insurance delays in paying those type of test, he ask for the money up front. When I asked the doctor if he thought the test was necessary he said no, but it was a option that I had. If its IBS I could find a way to deal with it. I' m just concerned that something might be over looked it might just be my nerves taking over ultimately.

[B_Shel20]

I really dont see what they plan on finding by doing the HIDA scan. The colonoscopy and endoscopy have both come back neg, along with a CT Scan. Your symptoms(especially at your age) are very common with IBS.

Have they thought about doing a capsule endoscopy? I still dont think they will find anything, but I know sometimes its used when nothing is found on a normal endoscopy and its not doing anything to your body as opposed to the HIDA.

If your liver panels have come back normal, and that and your gallbladder looks good on the ct scan, I really dont see the need. Metamucil daily is sometimes necessary with bad IBS. IBS can last months or even a lifetime, youll have to find a way to deal and treat the symptoms as they come along.