u/candlegun

It has taken my gastro months to figure out what's going on, and even then I wasn't really told anything definitive. I have a mildly dilated common bile duct with possible stricture, and something else going on with the intrahepatic biliary duct. No stones, no sludge. GI nurse says I need an ERCP but the risk of pancreatitis is terrifying

I also consulted with a general surgeon who said I may as well get a cholecystectomy because chances are a sphincterotomy will have to be done during ERCP that will result in the gallbladder "going bad" anyway, and it'll eventually have to come out.

The GI nurse says surgery would be overkill since my gallbladder seems healthy and doesn't need to come out. They talk as if the only next step is ERCP

Are there any other management of duct problems that are non-invasive??

Just an fyi up front I am currently under the care of a specialist for chronic venous insufficiency and am not looking for a diagnosis. I'm just trying to learn as much as possible so I can advocate for myself.

I'm just wondering if all forms of vasculitis always present with skin issues, i.e rashes or hives

MRCP results just came back, was told I need an ERCP and a few things the GI nurse said have scared the utter shit out of me

They said I'll probably have to stay in the hospital for a couple days due to risk of pancreatitis and overall age. Chances are the doctor might place a stent

I asked about just getting my gallbladder removed period and why is this ERCP the only option. They said my gallbladder appears to be fine, the problem is with ducts since there’s "mild prominence of intrahepatic biliary ducts and mildly dilated common bile duct with possibility of stricture."

What's the deal with staying a couple nights in the hospital to be monitored for pancreatitis?? Is this normal?

I didn’t ask why as I admit to being freaked out at that point and not computing clearly. Hearing things like "risk" and "hospital stay" absolutely triggered my health anxiety, I had a panic attack and just left work early. And the risk "overall" because of my age wtf why?? I know I'm not young anymore but damn I'm 48, not 88. How risky is it?

Someone who's had an ERCP please, talk me down. I've already seen a couple posts on some subs here and they aren't good for where I'm at in my head atm

And by failure I mean, why are there so many accounts of people who suffer for months or years before getting an answer or relief??

Why so many posts from people who've had every diagnostic test under the sun, yet they get told the results are normal? Meanwhile they have a mile long list of symptoms and poor quality of life?

And what's going on with some of the "normal" results that aren't actually normal? Case in point: HIDA scan. My GI nurse said mine was normal (EF rate 79%) but then I'll see posts where someone with the same or similar EF rate get a diagnosis of hyperkinesia?

Are gallbladder issues really this difficult to treat? Or is it something new or controversial?

Also seems like I see a lot of posts where things get missed, especially in diagnostic imaging. Lots of stories of people getting told a couple different interpretations of their images. Is there no gold standard for gallbladder imaging, so this is why specialists need a few different types, i.e CT scan, ultrasound, MRI??

Please, I'm hoping someone in-the-know can explain why it can take ages for some of us to get relief. Why is it always the same long & drawn out experience

Venting but also at a loss as to what next. Today my GI nurse said my HIDA scan came back normal and I'm about done after hearing this. I still have one more test scheduled (MRCP) and feel like if I'm told that's normal too I might completely lose it.

For almost 6 months now I've had near constant nausea & acid reflux, dry heaves, bloating, epigastric & RUQ pain, flank/lower back pain, constipation, 20lb weight loss, short lived fevers and heart palpitations/rapid heart rate

So far:

- Labs: Normal

- Ultrasound: Normal

- CT Scan w/ contrast: Normal

- Endoscope: small esophageal hiatal hernia, functional dyspepsia

- Colonoscopy: small polyp removed, otherwise normal

- H Pylori, Celiac, Crohns: negative

- HIDA Scan (no CCK, drank Boost): 79% EF rate

-MRCP of pancreas w/ contrast: scheduled

The past several months I've lurked through this sub and r/gastritis and have both clung to and let go of different diagnoses based on what multiple doctors have told me the problem *could* be. Everything from duodenal ulcer to h pylori to celiac. I don't know how much longer I can stand living like this. I still have symptoms even with a strictly controlled diet + Carafate & Pepcid. I know 6 months might sound brief compared to some, but for me personally it's starting to wear on me. Plus I've got other personal issues going on (starting divorce, scared of being homeless, medical debt, etc) so having no answer and seeing no end in sight to feeling like shit almost 24/7 is close to pushing me to the edge mentally & physically

If a GI provider says everything is normal, what type of doctor do I even go to next??

I get that I don't even know MRCP results yet but I'm trying to be ready for what the next steps are. Because I wouldn't be surprised if that test is normal, too. I'm just so sick of being sick and hearing the word "normal"