Post Cholecystectomy Pain § ERCP

[nadia]

I am scheduled to have an ERCP for pain that I have been having prior to and since my gallbladder surgery.  I have had a Hida scan which was normal.  I'm hoping for any positive feedback about this procedure and the rate of success.  I understand there are significant drawbacks to having it done.  I don't have stones and never did, so it may be SOD.

[Lor]

If you didn't have any stones. Having an ERCP most likely won't show anything, as the ERCP looks for blockage or leaks. I went through all the testing I could possibly have to find something after my gallbladder surgery. All tests came back normal, but I was still having extreme pain. Finally had an ERCP w/Menometry done a year and a half later. This is the test used for SOD it will measure the pressure in the bile duct. The worst part of having SOD is you have to have all the prior testing (CT scan, gastric emptying, ERCP, and the Hidascan) come back normal for the Drs to even think it could be SOD.

[nadia]

Thanks so much for your response.  I was wondering if you had any resolution to your problem after the ercp with menometry. Also, was your pain constant?  I am totally disabled by the pain and haven't been able to go back to work.  It's been almost 2 years now. I just want to get back to normal.  I have had CT scans, ultrasounds, all barium studies, but no gastric emptying.  That is a new one for me. Hope if it is SOD it can be treated successfully.

[Lor]

My pain like yours was interfering with my quality of life. When I say that I mean - I couldn't sleep, I had to keep my stomach full, and the pain was extreme. I gained 30lbs eating my pain away. SOD can either cause that empty stomach pain or it can cause pain when you do eat. I spent a year and a half looking for help. This is one of those unknown or "not want to know illnesses." Every Dr I saw made me feel like I was making it up. How could the pain be that bad? They ran all of those tests just to find nothing. I was told I had IBS by most. IBS is one of those illnesses they give because it doesn't show on tests either. They just give that as a diagnoses because they don't have anything else to call it. I did get help finally at the Borland groover clinic. They did the ERCP with menometry and found I had very high pressure in my bile duct. Which was the cause of my pain. They did a sphincterotomy at the time and instantly the pain was gone. I did get pancreatitis from the procedure, but feel it was worth it. I'm not 100% and don't think I ever will be, but I can go the the store, movies , or vacation without worrying when the next pain will come. Now the pain is so far apart I can deal with it as it comes.
Look up borland-groover.com and read what they have to say about SOD. They really saved my life. It is so depressing having something like this and no one will take you serious.

[nadia]

Your history sounds almost exactly like what I am going through now.  I have also been diagnosed with IBS and am currently taking a new medication for it.  I have most of my pain when I am sleeping also.  If I get up during the night it feels like someone punched me in the stomach.  The aching continues till morning.  It is oddly reassuring knowing that someone else is going through or has gone through the same thing as me.  Your case does give me hope, though and I appreciate your comments. Thanks again, Nadia