I need some medical advice?

Question

I had my gallbladder taken out in 2005. I am almost sure that I still have stones in my bile duct. I still hurt at times just like I have my gallbadder still. If I keep putting off getting a MRI done to show this, do you think these stones being there could cause me some major medical problems, if I don;t get them removed? I have been under a gastro doctor and had all of the test and blood work done to rule out everything else.

Answer 1

I had my GB removed in 1987, and for years afterwards I still experienced gallbladder attack-like pain and symptoms.

My MD would evaluate my liver enzyme tests each time I had an episode, and eventually he caught them while they were really elevated...(every other time I would get to the MD, and pain would already have started to subside and enzymes appeared normal).

It's important to note that at the time my gallbladder was removed, the surgeon saw a couple 'spots' near my liver, that were deemed to be 'retained stones'. I was told I was 'infested' with stones and they spent a great deal of time removing everything, but left my t-tube in for 6 weeks in an effort to 'catch' anything else that came out.

Anyhow, after the results came back sky-high, my doctor decided to do an ERCP with sphincterotomy at the bottom of the duct because he felt that it was highly possible that these 'retained stones' were getting caught in the opening, and as the bile backed up it created swelling all the way up to the liver.

Anyway, I had that procedure done in about 1993, and I have been golden ever since...

I hear stranger things have happened, but this was pretty bizarre to me.

To answer your question, they can do many things to diagnose what is happening: blood studies, sonogram, MRI/cholangiogram and ERCP.

Trust your surgeon to lead the way, and do whatever research you can so you are able to ask all the right questions when you see the doctor again.

Good luck!

Answer 2

the patient describing her experience with the ECRP, etc. describes one possibility quite well. a simpler (and less expensive) possibility, though, would be to evaluate your diet. for many people without a GB, cutting back on high fat meals and snacks can drastically reduce the frequency and severity of attacks. if this is not the case, however, and your blood work rules out other liver problems, and MRI is likely in order. beyond that, other scans and tissue biopsies may be performed.

Answer 3

Ok. Before I say any more, this is from someone that took anatomy and Physiology in the 7th grade. ok I would most definitly get the MRI because if you dont know what it is then it definitly could lead to serious medical problems.

Answer 4

If the GI doctor evaluates you, does blood work and determines that an MR cholangiogram is indicated, then you should proceed with it.