Guest guest Posted November 5, 2003 Report Share Posted November 5, 2003 > Had CT & Ultrasound done at time of April attack. I know in August the tests they ran they used dye's. So is that what the MRCP is? Snowdog, Maybe you could help us by telling us your name? Okay, your diagnostic treatment has been very thorough thus far. This is reassuring, I was just hoping that they weren't going to jump in with the ERCP first, without exhausting all the other non-invasive procedures first. It looks like they've been going by the book. What you've had are CT-scans, both with and without contrast. That dye you spoke of is the contrast that's used in a CT-scan to enhance your organs. It travels through your body and highlights your pancreas, bile ducts, bladder, small intestine, kidneys, etc. An MRCP is an imaging machine that is a long cigar shapped tube. You lie flat on a table and are inserted into the tube so that it fully encases your entire body. It's an experience none of us that have had it would forget, The machine makes a loud clicking and knocking noise and often brings on a claustrophobic episode. There is no IV dye injected, they have you drink some horrible tasting potion 30 minutes before the test and this liquid apparently helps highlight all the duct work and organs in the abdomen and pelvis, or whatever area they are studying. An MRI procedure is very similar to this. It appears that your doctor has exhausted all the preliminary tests, and finds this ERCP necessary to reach a definitive diagnosis. I hope they find out what it is that is causing you to continue to have pancreatitis attacks. Do you mind telling us where in the country you are, and what hospital you'll be in having your ERCP? We do like to know our members' locations, since there is a representative for your area that would like to keep in personal touch and see if there's anything else that can be done to address your personal needs. Please keep in touch and let us know your progress. With hope and prayers, Heidi Heidi H. Griffeth South Carolina SC & SE Regional Rep. PAI, Intl. Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2003 Report Share Posted November 5, 2003 Heidi, My name is Charmaine . I live in Arkansas. My doctor's name is A Metrailer and procedure will be done in St Infirmary's Outpatient Gastro Lab. The Hospital is in Little Rock. When I had the gallbladder pancreatitis in 2000, he had me do an MRI without contrast. So I am familiar with the MRI, Just wasn't sure if it was same thing as CT Scan with contrast. I'm hoping if he finds anything it will be a very minor thing for him to fix it...like just having to remove a stone or something simple like that anyway. From what I've been reading about having the Sphincter of Oddi cut & stents put in....I really don't think I would like that very much. However, will hope for the best and go one step at a time. Again, I really appreciate all the responses I've gotten from PAI group. > > Had CT & Ultrasound done at time of April attack. I know in > August the tests they ran they used dye's. So is that what the > MRCP is? > > > > Snowdog, > > Maybe you could help us by telling us your name? > > Okay, your diagnostic treatment has been very thorough thus far. > This is reassuring, I was just hoping that they weren't going to > jump in with the ERCP first, without exhausting all the other > non-invasive procedures first. It looks like they've been going by > the book. > > What you've had are CT-scans, both with and without contrast. > That dye you spoke of is the contrast that's used in a CT-scan to > enhance your organs. It travels through your body and highlights > your pancreas, bile ducts, bladder, small intestine, kidneys, etc. > An MRCP is an imaging machine that is a long cigar shapped > tube. You lie flat on a table and are inserted into the tube so that > it fully encases your entire body. It's an experience none of us > that have had it would forget, The machine makes a loud > clicking and knocking noise and often brings on a > claustrophobic episode. There is no IV dye injected, they have > you drink some horrible tasting potion 30 minutes before the test > and this liquid apparently helps highlight all the duct work and > organs in the abdomen and pelvis, or whatever area they are > studying. An MRI procedure is very similar to this. > > It appears that your doctor has exhausted all the preliminary > tests, and finds this ERCP necessary to reach a definitive > diagnosis. I hope they find out what it is that is causing you to > continue to have pancreatitis attacks. > > Do you mind telling us where in the country you are, and what > hospital you'll be in having your ERCP? We do like to know our > members' locations, since there is a representative for your area > that would like to keep in personal touch and see if there's > anything else that can be done to address your personal needs. > > Please keep in touch and let us know your progress. > > With hope and prayers, > Heidi > > Heidi H. Griffeth > South Carolina > SC & SE Regional Rep. > PAI, Intl. > > Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and > should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 5, 2003 Report Share Posted November 5, 2003 > > Had CT & Ultrasound done at time of April attack. I know in > August the tests they ran they used dye's. So is that what the > MRCP is? > > > > Snowdog, > > Maybe you could help us by telling us your name? > > Okay, your diagnostic treatment has been very thorough thus far. > This is reassuring, I was just hoping that they weren't going to > jump in with the ERCP first, without exhausting all the other > non-invasive procedures first. It looks like they've been going by > the book. > > What you've had are CT-scans, both with and without contrast. > That dye you spoke of is the contrast that's used in a CT-scan to > enhance your organs. It travels through your body and highlights > your pancreas, bile ducts, bladder, small intestine, kidneys, etc. > An MRCP is an imaging machine that is a long cigar shapped > tube. You lie flat on a table and are inserted into the tube so that > it fully encases your entire body. It's an experience none of us > that have had it would forget, The machine makes a loud > clicking and knocking noise and often brings on a > claustrophobic episode. There is no IV dye injected, they have > you drink some horrible tasting potion 30 minutes before the test > and this liquid apparently helps highlight all the duct work and > organs in the abdomen and pelvis, or whatever area they are > studying. An MRI procedure is very similar to this. > > It appears that your doctor has exhausted all the preliminary > tests, and finds this ERCP necessary to reach a definitive > diagnosis. I hope they find out what it is that is causing you to > continue to have pancreatitis attacks. > > Do you mind telling us where in the country you are, and what > hospital you'll be in having your ERCP? We do like to know our > members' locations, since there is a representative for your area > that would like to keep in personal touch and see if there's > anything else that can be done to address your personal needs. > > Please keep in touch and let us know your progress. > > With hope and prayers, > Heidi > > Heidi H. Griffeth > South Carolina > SC & SE Regional Rep. > PAI, Intl. > > Note: All comments or advice are personal opinion only, and > should not be substituted for professional medical consultation. Heidi, I tried replying a short while ago, but since haven't seen my reply to above come up on message list, decided I'd do again in case my message didn't make it to you. My name is Charmaine and I live in Arkansas. The hospital I will be at is St Infirmary in Little Rock (Outpatient Gastro Lab, of course). I was relieved to get your above response. They're suppose to start the procedure at 10:30 am. I am hoping that whatever is causing the attacks will be found AND that it will be very minor (like a stone or two maybe). I'm at work, so need to go for now. Will be back on website later this evening. Thanks for the info & well wishes. Charmaine (aka: snowdogs) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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