Hida Scan

[happygirl]

Has anyone had one of this before what can we expect? My hubby has to have one they think he has gallbladder stones that aren't showing up on a regular X-Ray

 

[Christine]

Has anyone had one of this before what can we expect? My hubby has to have one they think he has gallbladder stones that aren't showing up on a regular X-Ray

I haven't had one personally but my coworker had one on Monday.

She has had a lot of test lately. She came in Tuesday morning and said "Girl, of all the tests I've had, that was THE worst."

She said it took 2.5 hours. They use an IV to have some type of medication pumped into you that fills the gallbladder. They then put a second medication it that causes it to (in her words) "blow up." She had a lot of discomfort and pressure.

After the test was over, she said she had a hard time getting herself moving because she had been so still for over 2 hours. Plus, it was such a weird feeling it kind of wiped her out.

 

[happygirl]

I haven't had one personally but my coworker had one on Monday.

She has had a lot of test lately. She came in Tuesday morning and said "Girl, of all the tests I've had, that was THE worst."

She said it took 2.5 hours. They use an IV to have some type of medication pumped into you that fills the gallbladder. They then put a second medication it that causes it to (in her words) "blow up." She had a lot of discomfort and pressure.

After the test was over, she said she had a hard time getting herself moving because she had been so still for over 2 hours. Plus, it was such a weird feeling it kind of wiped her out.

They told him if the test hurt it mean he did have gallstones.

 

[Jalva22]

I had one several years ago. From my memory, they lay you on a table and give you an i.v. They put stuff into it that simulates a fatty meal. You then have to wait a certain period of time for it to travel to the gallbladder and then they measure how well it processes it. The whole process does take 2-3 hours. I had slight discomfort, basically it felt like intestinal bloating. But once it was done, I felt fine. It wasn't very bad at all for me. However, the level of discomfort varies pretty widely from what I've read, depending on the condition of the gallbladder and maybe other reasons as well that will vary from person to person.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I had it done. As the radioactive meds go through your system they take pictures to see if your gallbladder is acting properly, looking for leaks, etc. It was uncomfortable, but not "painful" for me. It's probably a good time to admit I am a baby when it comes to this stuff and I would not put this on the scale of really bad.

You are slightly radioactive when you leave. They give you instruction to wash your hands more, make sure to flush the toilet etc.

Note, if the dye doesn't reach a certain area of your body, they will require another test later in the day.

 

[Mama-san]

Ugh, did not enjoy this! Got very nauseated (and threw up a little) when they gave me the "fatty" injection.

 

[Tinkerbelle'sMOM]

It isn't too bad....yes you can feel sick from it, esp if you have stones. I just had one last month. You go in, they put an IV in, inject the isotope and wait for it to go thru the liver, etc to the gallbladder. Once it reaches the gallbladder (about an hour to an hour and half) they will hook up a medication that will make the gallbladder contract like you just ate a big meal. I had some pain, esp in my back but didnt' feel sick. They wait to see how long it takes the isotope to leave the gallbladder. If your DH doesn't have stones, he may have a dyskinesic GB, which means that it just doesn't work. That is what I had. So, you can get pain with or without stones. They look at how long it takes the isotope to leave, usually below 30% function is abnormal. Mines was at about 18-20%. I was just sick feeling all the time, bloated after eating, just uncomfortable with pain sometimes, not all the time.

You are just a bit radioactive after lol, if you have to travel by plane within the next 72 hours they give you a yellow card to say why you set off the detector lol Other than that, it isn't anything but drink a lot of water and wash your hands after peeing.

Oh, and he might be sick for a day or so after the HIDA scan when he eats. They didn't tell me that, I actually felt WORSE after the scan. I had my GB out within a month and fell 100% better. Have some GI issues that are common after, but it is sooo much better!

Good luck! Oh, did he have an ultrasound...that usually picks up stones unless they are in the ducts. I didn't have any stones, but with my symptoms the surgeon had an inkling that my GB wasn't working right.

 

[happygirl]

It isn't too bad....yes you can feel sick from it, esp if you have stones. I just had one last month. You go in, they put an IV in, inject the isotope and wait for it to go thru the liver, etc to the gallbladder. Once it reaches the gallbladder (about an hour to an hour and half) they will hook up a medication that will make the gallbladder contract like you just ate a big meal. I had some pain, esp in my back but didnt' feel sick. They wait to see how long it takes the isotope to leave the gallbladder. If your DH doesn't have stones, he may have a dyskinesic GB, which means that it just doesn't work. That is what I had. So, you can get pain with or without stones. They look at how long it takes the isotope to leave, usually below 30% function is abnormal. Mines was at about 18-20%. I was just sick feeling all the time, bloated after eating, just uncomfortable with pain sometimes, not all the time.

You are just a bit radioactive after lol, if you have to travel by plane within the next 72 hours they give you a yellow card to say why you set off the detector lol Other than that, it isn't anything but drink a lot of water and wash your hands after peeing.

Oh, and he might be sick for a day or so after the HIDA scan when he eats. They didn't tell me that, I actually felt WORSE after the scan. I had my GB out within a month and fell 100% better. Have some GI issues that are common after, but it is sooo much better!

Good luck! Oh, did he have an ultrasound...that usually picks up stones unless they are in the ducts. I didn't have any stones, but with my symptoms the surgeon had an inkling that my GB wasn't working right.

Did you have yours taken out?

 

[ols386]

Dh had it done a couple years ago. He said the test itself wasn't too bad, but afterwards for the rest of the day/evening, he was very nauseated.

Good luck to you dh!

 

[happygirl]

Dh had it done a couple years ago. He said the test itself wasn't too bad, but afterwards for the rest of the day/evening, he was very nauseated.

Good luck to you dh!

Thanks

 

[WDWBarb]

I had one done just a few weeks ago. The first 1.5 hours was just fine (you just have to hold very still). They start an IV and put the "stuff" in you and then you just lie still. She told me to go to sleep if I wanted to but I was afraid I'd move.

The last part, where they put this "stuff" in your IV that makes your gallbladder contract, was only bad for me for about 5-10 minutes. I wanted to throw up, I had some burning in my chest and the pain in my right side I had been experiencing off and on for a few years suddenly was very intense. Then, it was over.

After I left (and they never told me I was radioactive, lol) I did get very sick. I was pale, had lots of pain in my side... basically just felt terrible. That lasted about an hour and then suddenly, for some unknown reason, I felt better than I had in YEARS.

My tests came back with good gallbladder function and I haven't had pain since. I'm so not looking this gift horse in the mouth!