Re: sphincter of oddi disfunction?????

[Guest guest]

Dear Becki,

>>>I now have to go through a bunch of wierd blood tests

and 24 hr urine tests and then they will do a scope and inject my

sphincter (the upper one) with BOTOX! If this does not work they

have to go in and cut it. Has anyone had this done before?<<<

Sorry to hear about your trouble, Becki. Found this info from ivillage on

" sphincter of oddi dysfunction " and cut and pasted the relevant bits below. You

said you knew what this was all about, but the last sentence in this writing

seems to be the most important to consider with regard to testing and having

this procedure done, should you need it - to make sure " the gastroenterologist

caring for you has sufficient endoscopic experience both in diagnosing this

condition and in treating it " .

All the very best with this, Becki. Perhaps someone here will be able to

offer some personal experience or more salient info. Will keep you in my

thoughts

for this.

Blessings, n

http://www.ivillagehealth.com/experts/digestive/qas/0,11816,236191_168322,00.h

tml

Question: " What is an " oddi " dysfunction? I've had acute pancreatitis several

times and now my doctors are looking into this " oddi. " It's such a strange

word, and I can't find a meaning for it. "

Answer: " The disease you are describing is known as sphincter of oddi

dysfunction (SOD). The sphincter of oddi is situated in the upper intestine, or

duodenum, at the site where the pancreatic and bile ducts enter. Normally, this

sphincter functions as a one-way valve to allow bile and pancreatic secretions

to

enter the bowel, while preventing the contents of the bowel from backing up

into these ducts.

When the sphincter malfunctions, it becomes overly tight and does not allow

adequate drainage of the pancreatic and bile ducts. The result is a pressure

build-up in the ducts, leading to recurrent episodes of pancreatitis or biliary

pain mimicking gallstone disease. SOD is an uncommon disease, so it often

takes a while for the diagnosis to be made. Typically, patients who suffer from

biliary colic pain or recurrent pancreatitis are investigated for gallstone

disease, and many are sent to surgery for gallbladder removal. In most people,

gallstones are indeed the causative factor and the pains do not recur. In a

small

minority of patients, however, the pain continues. It is in these patients

that further investigations are done, specifically to evaluate for SOD.

The diagnosis of SOD is suggested by the typical pain or pancreatitis, such

as you have experienced, along with lab evidence of pancreatic inflammation

and/or abnormal liver enzymes. The diagnostic test of choice is a pressure study

(manometry) of the sphincter. Manometry is done with a catheter that is passed

into the sphincter through an endoscope that has been placed into the upper

intestine, or duodenum. If pressure recordings suggest SOD, proper therapy

involves an endoscopic cutting of the sphincter (sphincterotomy). Most patients

with SOD have excellent results after sphincterotomy. It must be noted that

manometry of the sphincter is a very specialized procedure that should only be

performed by expert endoscopists because it can increase the risk of

pancreatitis. In addition to this risk, sphincterotomy for SOD can also

sometimes result

in perforation of the bowel. Thus, if your doctors are considering SOD as your

diagnosis, you should be sure to check that the gastroenterologist caring for

you has sufficient endoscopic experience both in diagnosing this condition and

in treating it. "

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 5/26/2004 10:35:55 AM Eastern Standard Time,

dbwick@... writes:

> My dr. also told me all the risks of the surgery, which i thought was

> different. He didnt sugar coat it at all.

Dear Becki,

Sounds like you're already pretty well informed with all this. If you're

comfortable with your current doctor, then that is a really good thing, too!

Although, from what you say, it sounds more like it is the experimental nature

of

the Botox that is concerning you. No doubt many of us would feel that way, as

well, I'm sure.

As such, it would not be remiss at all, on your part, to seek out a second

opinion...or even a third regarding this particular form of treatment. If your

Doctor is quite sure of his recommended treatment and has his ego well in

check, he will not mind you doing this one bit. That is, of course, providing

this

isn't an emergency and you don't need immediate treatment.

Seeking out all possible interventions and listening to how you personally

feel about each one will go a long way towards your own healing and feelings of

'informed' empowerment, post treatment, in the end.

Blessings, n

[Guest guest]

Thanks... and actually i DID read that one..LOL.

The dr. i am going to now is an India (country)graduate, is

affiliated with 11 different practices, 4 hospitals and also teaches

at a reputable college (how does ONE person fill all of that on

their plate???) I looked him up already because he looked kind of

young.

i did however find the botox in one article on the internet, and it

does say it is an experimental technique. My dr. also told me all

the risks of the surgery, which i thought was different. He didnt

sugar coat it at all.

thanks again

becki

> Dear Becki,

>

> >>>I now have to go through a bunch of wierd blood tests

> and 24 hr urine tests and then they will do a scope and inject my

> sphincter (the upper one) with BOTOX! If this does not work they

> have to go in and cut it. Has anyone had this done before?<<<

>

> Sorry to hear about your trouble, Becki. Found this info from

ivillage on

> " sphincter of oddi dysfunction " and cut and pasted the relevant

bits below. You

> said you knew what this was all about, but the last sentence in

this writing

> seems to be the most important to consider with regard to testing

and having

> this procedure done, should you need it - to make sure " the

gastroenterologist

> caring for you has sufficient endoscopic experience both in

diagnosing this

> condition and in treating it " .

>

> All the very best with this, Becki. Perhaps someone here will be

able to

> offer some personal experience or more salient info. Will keep you

in my thoughts

> for this.

>

> Blessings, n

>

>

http://www.ivillagehealth.com/experts/digestive/qas/0,11816,236191_16

8322,00.h

> tml

>

> Question: " What is an " oddi " dysfunction? I've had acute

pancreatitis several

> times and now my doctors are looking into this " oddi. " It's such a

strange

> word, and I can't find a meaning for it. "

>

> Answer: " The disease you are describing is known as sphincter of

oddi

> dysfunction (SOD). The sphincter of oddi is situated in the upper

intestine, or

> duodenum, at the site where the pancreatic and bile ducts enter.

Normally, this

> sphincter functions as a one-way valve to allow bile and

pancreatic secretions to

> enter the bowel, while preventing the contents of the bowel from

backing up

> into these ducts.

>

> When the sphincter malfunctions, it becomes overly tight and does

not allow

> adequate drainage of the pancreatic and bile ducts. The result is

a pressure

> build-up in the ducts, leading to recurrent episodes of

pancreatitis or biliary

> pain mimicking gallstone disease. SOD is an uncommon disease, so

it often

> takes a while for the diagnosis to be made. Typically, patients

who suffer from

> biliary colic pain or recurrent pancreatitis are investigated for

gallstone

> disease, and many are sent to surgery for gallbladder removal. In

most people,

> gallstones are indeed the causative factor and the pains do not

recur. In a small

> minority of patients, however, the pain continues. It is in these

patients

> that further investigations are done, specifically to evaluate for

SOD.

>

> The diagnosis of SOD is suggested by the typical pain or

pancreatitis, such

> as you have experienced, along with lab evidence of pancreatic

inflammation

> and/or abnormal liver enzymes. The diagnostic test of choice is a

pressure study

> (manometry) of the sphincter. Manometry is done with a catheter

that is passed

> into the sphincter through an endoscope that has been placed into

the upper

> intestine, or duodenum. If pressure recordings suggest SOD, proper

therapy

> involves an endoscopic cutting of the sphincter (sphincterotomy).

Most patients

> with SOD have excellent results after sphincterotomy. It must be

noted that

> manometry of the sphincter is a very specialized procedure that

should only be

> performed by expert endoscopists because it can increase the risk

of

> pancreatitis. In addition to this risk, sphincterotomy for SOD can

also sometimes result

> in perforation of the bowel. Thus, if your doctors are considering

SOD as your

> diagnosis, you should be sure to check that the gastroenterologist

caring for

> you has sufficient endoscopic experience both in diagnosing this

condition and

> in treating it. "

>

>

>

>

>

>