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Posted 3/12/2014 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
If your GI suspects that something is wrong with your gallbladder what tests would they order? My GI suspected there may be an issue and ordered an ultrasound. What exactly are they looking for? I've been throwing up a lot of bile along with food and stomach acid. If someone could explain the science of it in layman's terms, I would appreciate it. Thank you :)
Posted 3/12/2014 12:06 AM (GMT 0)
Ultrasound will check for gallstones......BUT you can also have a non-functioning gall bladder as well, in which case they will order a HIDA scan which is a nuclear medicine scan to see if it is ejecting the bile.

I know cause I had one! You can have GB disease that does not include stones that can still cause it to function abnormally and make you just as sick.

You will need both if the US shows no stones.
Posted 3/12/2014 12:11 AM (GMT 0)

Scott Z said...
Ultrasound will check for gallstones......BUT you can also have a non-functioning gall bladder as well, in which case they will order a HIDA scan which is a nuclear medicine scan to see if it is ejecting the bile.

I know cause I had one! You can have GB disease that does not include stones that can still cause it to function abnormally and make you just as sick.

You will need both if the US shows no stones.

Thanks, Scott. But if I'm producing bile, doesn't that mean my gallbladder is working? So if I have no gallstones would they just stop there? I'm not understand the whole HIDA scan part? I think I should probably Google gallbladder and figure out what it does exactly.
Posted 3/12/2014 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
No, The liver produces bile, the gallbladder stores it and releases it for digestion of fat when it comes past it in the duodenum...its nothing more than a storage backup device for when you eat a fatty meal.

So, when you have it removed, you may wind up not being able to digest a fatty meal as well as you used to, or get queasy after eating fatty foods for a while (I did) until your body gets used to it. No biggie.
The stones block the release of bile into the duodenum, which causes pain when it backs up into the GB, or pain is caused when it naturally tries to eject the bile and it won't for whatever reason...both cause pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. You are vomiting bile because its just hanging out there because nothing else is in your stomach and you can't eat because of the pain, and it's a vicious circle is all. The bile you are seeing is not the sign of it, the pain is.

I can tell you from experience, if this is what it is, you will feel completely, 100% cured when they remove it, and the surgery is like nothing...day surgery and home.
Posted 3/12/2014 12:30 AM (GMT 0)

Scott Z said...
No, The liver produces bile, the gallbladder stores it and releases it for digestion of fat when it comes past it in the duodenum...its nothing more than a storage backup device for when you eat a fatty meal.

So, when you have it removed, you may wind up not being able to digest a fatty meal as well as you used to, or get queasy after eating fatty foods for a while (I did) until your body gets used to it. No biggie.
The stones block the release of bile into the duodenum, which causes pain when it backs up into the GB, or pain is caused when it naturally tries to eject the bile and it won't for whatever reason...both cause pain, nausea, vomiting, etc. You are vomiting bile because its just hanging out there because nothing else is in your stomach and you can't eat because of the pain, and it's a vicious circle is all. The bile you are seeing is not the sign of it, the pain is.

I can tell you from experience, if this is what it is, you will feel completely, 100% cured when they remove it, and the surgery is like nothing...day surgery and home.

Thanks a bunch, Scott. We'll see if this has anything to do with the gallbladder once I get my ultrasound results back. I'm kind of hoping this is the issue 'cause then at least I'll know the solution to this reoccurring problem!
Posted 3/12/2014 12:34 AM (GMT 0)
I know, I am sort of too...will get you the relief you deserve...remember, if no stones, you can have "a-calculi cholecystitis"....that's non-stone gall bladder disease which makes you just as sick, you need a HIDA scan..
Posted 3/12/2014 12:51 AM (GMT 0)

Scott Z said...
I know, I am sort of too...will get you the relief you deserve...remember, if no stones, you can have "a-calculi cholecystitis"....that's non-stone gall bladder disease which makes you just as sick, you need a HIDA scan..

I'll remember to bring that up :) Thanks a bunch, Scott!
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