Scared of ECRP

[MacieCodymom03]

I have had every test imaginable done and the doc still cant figure out my problem. GB out in May 07 now I am having what I call GB attacks with no GB. I have constant Nasuea and pain. Now I am being sent to a speclalist in Chapel hill NC. I am scared of the ECRP b/c of the side effects. anyone have any suggestions

[CalGal]

You have every right to be worried about the ERCP, but precautions can be taken to try to tamp down the deleterious side-effects from this test. The unfortunate thing is that a fair number of people do seem to have continuing problems similar to GB attacks without their GB's. Many of the problems seem to stem from SOD - sphincter of Oddi dysfunction and the only way to find out if that is the cause is to do an ERCP. But please make sure your doc is going to do the ERCP WITH a manometry component. Many docs don't either due to lack of training or the facility not having the equipment. It's really important that you insist on having the test done WITH the manometry and if the pressure reading are high, agreeing with the doc that THAT is the time that a sphincterotomy can be done. Many docs don't do pressure readings and do a sphincterotomy as a 'routine' matter, and that is not the way this test should be done. Routine sphincterotomies appear to cause more problems down the line when a person does not have high ductal pressures.

In addition, I'd ask your doc to make sure to stent you. I know that's not a pleasant thing to think about, but even even if a sphincterotomy is done (purportedly reducing the ductal pressure) it's still possible to get pancreatitis. Research suggests that adding the stent can lower the possibility of getting pancreatitis. It doesn't mean it can't happen, it can. But you chances of ending up with pancreatitis are much less with stenting.

[MacieCodymom03]

Thanks for the wonderful info. What does stenting do and how long does it last