Sure feels like gallbladder but Gone 6 years!

[JanesMa]

I have had 3 weeks of intense pain up under my rib, straight thru to my back right where my gallbladder use to be.  I could barely eat anything, intense nausea, on and off itching, tons of belching,   When I would attempt to lay down it was extremely painful, so I had to see upright or upright on my left side.  It has taken me 3 hospital attempts and finally after 7 wks got to see a gastro Dr.  He ordered a MRCP which now he says my "ducts are dilated" but doesn't want to discuss til after I have an endoscopy.  What could this be?  I have had an occassional  low grade fever and chills 100--but doesn't last.  Problems with bowls.  I keep telling them it feels like I have a swollen brick in there where my gallbladder use to be.  I have read about sphincter of oddi, but gastro is telling me that's not what it is because pain from that only lasts a few hours and mine has been constant.  Any help would be appreciated.

[popcornlady]

Hi CalGal, It's Popcornlady,

A couple of questions, I am not able to get back in to my Gastro Dr. until the 10th of next month.  Then he will schedule the appt. for my ERCP with mam. for the Dr. at Ind. Univ. Hosp.., which could take 6 - 8 weeks. (according to the receptionist)  My gastro Dr. has done all the tests with everything coming back neg. and has agreed he believes it is SOD Type III.  My question is, I have been having more and more nausea and pain, more frequently now, what complications can happen if the ERCP procedure is NOT done?  Does this cause problems with other organs like the liver, pancreas, and kidneys like I have read?  Can they be serious?  Can SOD if not taken care of lead to pancreatic cancer?  If I continue to get progressively worse and can not have the procedure before they can get me scheduled for this dr. in Indiana, can this cause more serious problems?  I have read so much about complications with pancreatitis after the procedure especially for those of us with Type III, do you feel there are more complications by me not having the procedure?  I want to get out of pain and get my life back, but I guess I want to make sure I am doing everything I can to avoid all complications.  Thanks so much.  

[CalGal]

You may want to read through this: http://www.hopkins-gi.org/GDL_Disease.aspx?SS=&CurrentUDV=31&GDL_DC_ID=320F4EDD-0021-4952-83D7-8B0C67B47BFF&GDL_Disease_ID=7AB086B0-AB01-446E-B011-2E67CAFEF96D

Your doc is incorrect. The pain from SOD can last for days. And if you're going to have an ERCP, you need to make sure that a manometry step is going to be done to check the pressure readings in the duct. If your doc says they can't do the manometry - either you don't need it, or they don't have the equipment - find another doc that can do it correctly - with manometry!

Check with the SOD group on yahoo - ask questions.