I had the ERCP about three weeks ago. I am doing relatively well now but, I do still have a little burning in the same area that was hurting to begin with. I can tell that things are better and hope that they continue to improve. I will go back in three months for a check up with the doc. who did the ERCP. He said that I should be feeling much better post ERCP within 2-3 weeks. I guess I had sludge that was very thick with grit in it. He did a sphincter cut and said if this does not solve the troubles for me that I would need to undergo another ERCP with spybot. He said that the area of the stricture was at the location of the cholesystectomy clips but he did not believe they were the cause of the stricture. He took a brushing for cytology and I haven't heard anything back just yet, so I assume there was no problem. The ERCP itself was a little tough on me. I had a very sore throat for a couple days, gone by the third day, and my pancreas was very sore for about a week, hard to get comfortable to fall to sleep. I was very run down and was vomiting the first day of the proceedure. About 3 days after the procedure I ran a fever off and on for about 3 more days, it was never higher than 100 though. Now three weeks later I am feeling much better but still have some spasms and pain in the area that was painful before the proceedure, but it is not nearly as bad as it has been in the past and for that I am quite thankful. It is a step in the right direction.
Thanks, your comments are very much appreciated. I have thought for the last three years since the GB was removed that it was a stone stuck somewhere in the bile duct but after the MRCP, the doctor said there is absolutely no visible stone in the duct and all that was found of any significance was that I have a stricture so that might be why I am having so much pain. I am wondering if SOD can cause a sticture if not treated, do you know.
update, doctor is sending me to another hospital to get an ERCP done to check the pressures in my bile ducts and to have a look at the stricture to see what the cause is and to possibly stent the stricture to allow the bile to flow as it is supposed to. I don't have the appointment date yet but will keep posting so others who have the same problems will know what to expect.
I had the same problem and after 8 months they said gallbladder and took it out, apparently not the problem LOL. After GB came out I started having attacks that were 100 times worse. Now I have been diagnosed with sphincter of oddi and also need an ERCP.
I hope everything goes well for you. Have you read up on the ERCP procedure? Make sure to ask the doc all of your questions and definitely be sure he does them regularly. It is a procedure with some risks involved. Please keep us posted on how things progress.
Good luck!