Sludge sleuthing
Looks like I may have sludge in my gall bladder -- basically tiny precipitated bile salts, cholesterol salts, all in a lovely mucus matrix to make it extra wonderful. Sludge is one of those super-duper things that can magically appear, cause no problems, then magically disappear. Or it can hang around and the tiny little crystals can form the tasty centers of gallstones.
This was discovered with the ultrasound I had last week. No results back on the fecal studies, though.
So Monday I get to go have a HIDA scan, which involves injecting a radioactive substance into a vein, then lying under a nuclear scanner for a few hours while it photographs the progress of said radioactive material into the liver, then through the gall bladder. As long as they give me a knee wedge, I'll be a happy camper. Except of course the usual nothing to eat or drink after midnight...
I'm at least able to eat some now, but I'm having to be careful. The horrific urgent diarrhea has gone away, but it's still pretty soft-serve and a peculiar color I just can't describe.
One good thing about the HIDA scan, maybe it will nail down the acid reflux to being caused by my gall bladder, and thus be bile reflux rather than acid reflux. If I can get the damn thing taken out in the Tanner medical group, I won't have to pay a deductible -- if I have the same thing done at Emory, I'd have to pay.
I'll have to ask Dr. Eubanks to contact Dr. Sweeney at Emory and get the results of the motility study they did -- these two need to coordinate.
This was discovered with the ultrasound I had last week. No results back on the fecal studies, though.
So Monday I get to go have a HIDA scan, which involves injecting a radioactive substance into a vein, then lying under a nuclear scanner for a few hours while it photographs the progress of said radioactive material into the liver, then through the gall bladder. As long as they give me a knee wedge, I'll be a happy camper. Except of course the usual nothing to eat or drink after midnight...
I'm at least able to eat some now, but I'm having to be careful. The horrific urgent diarrhea has gone away, but it's still pretty soft-serve and a peculiar color I just can't describe.
One good thing about the HIDA scan, maybe it will nail down the acid reflux to being caused by my gall bladder, and thus be bile reflux rather than acid reflux. If I can get the damn thing taken out in the Tanner medical group, I won't have to pay a deductible -- if I have the same thing done at Emory, I'd have to pay.
I'll have to ask Dr. Eubanks to contact Dr. Sweeney at Emory and get the results of the motility study they did -- these two need to coordinate.