Re: Anyone know what hita is?? my update today...

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had this procedure done. And they are right it is much easier than an ERCP.

The only thing that drove me nuts is that it took so long, I was in there

forever it seemed, I had just had my son also and was breastfeeding him and

had to stop due to the radioactive materials they used, But it did find I had

a major block and that's what sent me to have my surgery. I also have had

ERCP done twice, And I can tell you its not very pleasant but if you need one

its not as bad as you would think, You really don't know what's going on

until Its almost over. I think its a great way to detect problems or help fix

some without surgery.

Good luck

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had this procedure done. And they are right it is much easier than an ERCP.

The only thing that drove me nuts is that it took so long, I was in there

forever it seemed, I had just had my son also and was breastfeeding him and

had to stop due to the radioactive materials they used, But it did find I had

a major block and that's what sent me to have my surgery. I also have had

ERCP done twice, And I can tell you its not very pleasant but if you need one

its not as bad as you would think, You really don't know what's going on

until Its almost over. I think its a great way to detect problems or help fix

some without surgery.

Good luck

Joanne

[Guest guest]

Hi ,

I had this procedure done. And they are right it is much easier than an ERCP.

The only thing that drove me nuts is that it took so long, I was in there

forever it seemed, I had just had my son also and was breastfeeding him and

had to stop due to the radioactive materials they used, But it did find I had

a major block and that's what sent me to have my surgery. I also have had

ERCP done twice, And I can tell you its not very pleasant but if you need one

its not as bad as you would think, You really don't know what's going on

until Its almost over. I think its a great way to detect problems or help fix

some without surgery.

Good luck

Joanne

[Guest guest]

>...

> So anyway, back to my original question.. anyone know what a hita

> procedure is???

Hi ,

A HIDA Scan is something they use primarily to detect problems with

the biliary tract of the gall bladder. Here's some info from

the 'net:

" A HIDA scan is an imaging test used to examine the gallbladder and

the ducts leading into and out of the gallbladder. In this test, also

referred to as cholescintigraphy, the patient receives an intravenous

injection of a radioactive material called hydroxy iminodiacetic acid

(HIDA). The HIDA material is taken up by the liver and excreted into

the biliary tract. In a healthy person, HIDA will pass through the

bile ducts and into the cystic duct to enter the gallbladder. It will

also pass into the common bile duct and enter the small intestine,

from which it eventually makes its way out of the body in the stool.

HIDA imaging is done by a nuclear scanner, which takes pictures of

the patient's biliary tract over the course of about two hours. The

images are then examined by a radiologist, who interprets the

results. It is generally a very safe test and is well tolerated by

most patients.

Usually, HIDA scans are ordered for patients who are suspected of

having an obstruction in the biliary tract, most commonly those who

are thought to have a stone blocking the cystic duct leading out of

the gallbladder. Such a scenario is consistent with acute

cholecystitis, which often requires surgical removal of the

gallbladder. In cholecystitis, HIDA will appear in the bile ducts,

but it will not enter the cystic duct or the gallbladder -- a finding

that indicates obstruction. If the HIDA enters the bile ducts but

does not enter the small intestine, then an obstruction of the bile

duct (usually due to stones or cancer) is suspected. "

This is a MUCH safer and less invasive test than the ERCP, so lots of

GI docs will do this test first, just to rule out cholecystitis,

before doing the ERCP to check for pancreatitis, especially since

early on, the symptoms can appear so similar.

Good luck!

--Tull

tull@...

Assistant Moderator

Pancreatitis Association, International

[Guest guest]

>...

> So anyway, back to my original question.. anyone know what a hita

> procedure is???

Hi ,

A HIDA Scan is something they use primarily to detect problems with

the biliary tract of the gall bladder. Here's some info from

the 'net:

" A HIDA scan is an imaging test used to examine the gallbladder and

the ducts leading into and out of the gallbladder. In this test, also

referred to as cholescintigraphy, the patient receives an intravenous

injection of a radioactive material called hydroxy iminodiacetic acid

(HIDA). The HIDA material is taken up by the liver and excreted into

the biliary tract. In a healthy person, HIDA will pass through the

bile ducts and into the cystic duct to enter the gallbladder. It will

also pass into the common bile duct and enter the small intestine,

from which it eventually makes its way out of the body in the stool.

HIDA imaging is done by a nuclear scanner, which takes pictures of

the patient's biliary tract over the course of about two hours. The

images are then examined by a radiologist, who interprets the

results. It is generally a very safe test and is well tolerated by

most patients.

Usually, HIDA scans are ordered for patients who are suspected of

having an obstruction in the biliary tract, most commonly those who

are thought to have a stone blocking the cystic duct leading out of

the gallbladder. Such a scenario is consistent with acute

cholecystitis, which often requires surgical removal of the

gallbladder. In cholecystitis, HIDA will appear in the bile ducts,

but it will not enter the cystic duct or the gallbladder -- a finding

that indicates obstruction. If the HIDA enters the bile ducts but

does not enter the small intestine, then an obstruction of the bile

duct (usually due to stones or cancer) is suspected. "

This is a MUCH safer and less invasive test than the ERCP, so lots of

GI docs will do this test first, just to rule out cholecystitis,

before doing the ERCP to check for pancreatitis, especially since

early on, the symptoms can appear so similar.

Good luck!

--Tull

tull@...

Assistant Moderator

Pancreatitis Association, International

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tull and Joanne!

OK - so now I know why I couldn't find it on the net - it's HIDA, not

HITA. My primary doc thought it was spelled with a T also.

So it seems this test would be checking for stones in my gallbladder.

That seems a little bit weird then. When my primary was talking to

him, she said that she had thought for sure it was gallbladder, that's

why she sent me to a surgeon right away. I guess the GI guy got a

little snippy back at her, and said something to the effect that in

his twenty years of practice, he has only seen ONE person who had

gallstones where the ultrasound didn't show them. So it seemed to me

like he had completely ruled that out. But I guess it makes more

sense now why he would want to do the procedure in the middle of an

attack, because if it WAS a gallstone blocking things, then that's

when it would show up.

thanks for the info - I do appreciate it!

> >...

> > So anyway, back to my original question.. anyone know what a hita

> > procedure is???

>

> Hi ,

>

> A HIDA Scan is something they use primarily to detect problems with

> the biliary tract of the gall bladder. Here's some info from

> the 'net:

>

> " A HIDA scan is an imaging test used to examine the gallbladder and

> the ducts leading into and out of the gallbladder. In this test,

also

> referred to as cholescintigraphy, the patient receives an

intravenous

> injection of a radioactive material called hydroxy iminodiacetic

acid

> (HIDA). The HIDA material is taken up by the liver and excreted into

> the biliary tract. In a healthy person, HIDA will pass through the

> bile ducts and into the cystic duct to enter the gallbladder. It

will

> also pass into the common bile duct and enter the small intestine,

> from which it eventually makes its way out of the body in the stool.

> HIDA imaging is done by a nuclear scanner, which takes pictures of

> the patient's biliary tract over the course of about two hours. The

> images are then examined by a radiologist, who interprets the

> results. It is generally a very safe test and is well tolerated by

> most patients.

>

> Usually, HIDA scans are ordered for patients who are suspected of

> having an obstruction in the biliary tract, most commonly those who

> are thought to have a stone blocking the cystic duct leading out of

> the gallbladder. Such a scenario is consistent with acute

> cholecystitis, which often requires surgical removal of the

> gallbladder. In cholecystitis, HIDA will appear in the bile ducts,

> but it will not enter the cystic duct or the gallbladder -- a

finding

> that indicates obstruction. If the HIDA enters the bile ducts but

> does not enter the small intestine, then an obstruction of the bile

> duct (usually due to stones or cancer) is suspected. "

>

> This is a MUCH safer and less invasive test than the ERCP, so lots

of

> GI docs will do this test first, just to rule out cholecystitis,

> before doing the ERCP to check for pancreatitis, especially since

> early on, the symptoms can appear so similar.

>

> Good luck!

>

> --Tull

> tull@f...

> Assistant Moderator

> Pancreatitis Association, International

[Guest guest]

Thanks Tull and Joanne!

OK - so now I know why I couldn't find it on the net - it's HIDA, not

HITA. My primary doc thought it was spelled with a T also.

So it seems this test would be checking for stones in my gallbladder.

That seems a little bit weird then. When my primary was talking to

him, she said that she had thought for sure it was gallbladder, that's

why she sent me to a surgeon right away. I guess the GI guy got a

little snippy back at her, and said something to the effect that in

his twenty years of practice, he has only seen ONE person who had

gallstones where the ultrasound didn't show them. So it seemed to me

like he had completely ruled that out. But I guess it makes more

sense now why he would want to do the procedure in the middle of an

attack, because if it WAS a gallstone blocking things, then that's

when it would show up.

thanks for the info - I do appreciate it!

> >...

> > So anyway, back to my original question.. anyone know what a hita

> > procedure is???

>

> Hi ,

>

> A HIDA Scan is something they use primarily to detect problems with

> the biliary tract of the gall bladder. Here's some info from

> the 'net:

>

> " A HIDA scan is an imaging test used to examine the gallbladder and

> the ducts leading into and out of the gallbladder. In this test,

also

> referred to as cholescintigraphy, the patient receives an

intravenous

> injection of a radioactive material called hydroxy iminodiacetic

acid

> (HIDA). The HIDA material is taken up by the liver and excreted into

> the biliary tract. In a healthy person, HIDA will pass through the

> bile ducts and into the cystic duct to enter the gallbladder. It

will

> also pass into the common bile duct and enter the small intestine,

> from which it eventually makes its way out of the body in the stool.

> HIDA imaging is done by a nuclear scanner, which takes pictures of

> the patient's biliary tract over the course of about two hours. The

> images are then examined by a radiologist, who interprets the

> results. It is generally a very safe test and is well tolerated by

> most patients.

>

> Usually, HIDA scans are ordered for patients who are suspected of

> having an obstruction in the biliary tract, most commonly those who

> are thought to have a stone blocking the cystic duct leading out of

> the gallbladder. Such a scenario is consistent with acute

> cholecystitis, which often requires surgical removal of the

> gallbladder. In cholecystitis, HIDA will appear in the bile ducts,

> but it will not enter the cystic duct or the gallbladder -- a

finding

> that indicates obstruction. If the HIDA enters the bile ducts but

> does not enter the small intestine, then an obstruction of the bile

> duct (usually due to stones or cancer) is suspected. "

>

> This is a MUCH safer and less invasive test than the ERCP, so lots

of

> GI docs will do this test first, just to rule out cholecystitis,

> before doing the ERCP to check for pancreatitis, especially since

> early on, the symptoms can appear so similar.

>

> Good luck!

>

> --Tull

> tull@f...

> Assistant Moderator

> Pancreatitis Association, International

[Guest guest]

I too was being tested for other things, but the fluid radioactive never

went past my GB; that was when it was decided that my GB would come out. I

had chronic cystitis of the GB: no stones, but the GB was just DEAD; one big

dead mass of tissue. So they took it out and that was that, only I was

sicker than before.

It had taken two years to arrive on the GB, and the drs were like

" Finally! THAT'S DONE! " and they just stopped. Now, not only did I have CP

that wasn't being addressed, but I had bile draining directly into my gut.

Eventually I went home, but could only stay for about two weeks, insisting

that I was not " fixed " without them believing me, until I ended up back in

the ER with a severe CP attack; they blamed this one on infection that moved

from the gall stem into the liver into the pancreas, never acknowledging that

what I had been saying all along was real; in spite of the acute panc. attack

several years earlier and the regular episodes of severe pain in between.

" Dr. knows best " . Not.

<< That is why I do not put my faith in medical testing.The tests are

wrong so many times,especially in people who do not present text-book

symptomatology. >>

[Guest guest]

I too was being tested for other things, but the fluid radioactive never

went past my GB; that was when it was decided that my GB would come out. I

had chronic cystitis of the GB: no stones, but the GB was just DEAD; one big

dead mass of tissue. So they took it out and that was that, only I was

sicker than before.

It had taken two years to arrive on the GB, and the drs were like

" Finally! THAT'S DONE! " and they just stopped. Now, not only did I have CP

that wasn't being addressed, but I had bile draining directly into my gut.

Eventually I went home, but could only stay for about two weeks, insisting

that I was not " fixed " without them believing me, until I ended up back in

the ER with a severe CP attack; they blamed this one on infection that moved

from the gall stem into the liver into the pancreas, never acknowledging that

what I had been saying all along was real; in spite of the acute panc. attack

several years earlier and the regular episodes of severe pain in between.

" Dr. knows best " . Not.

<< That is why I do not put my faith in medical testing.The tests are

wrong so many times,especially in people who do not present text-book

symptomatology. >>

[Guest guest]

I too was being tested for other things, but the fluid radioactive never

went past my GB; that was when it was decided that my GB would come out. I

had chronic cystitis of the GB: no stones, but the GB was just DEAD; one big

dead mass of tissue. So they took it out and that was that, only I was

sicker than before.

It had taken two years to arrive on the GB, and the drs were like

" Finally! THAT'S DONE! " and they just stopped. Now, not only did I have CP

that wasn't being addressed, but I had bile draining directly into my gut.

Eventually I went home, but could only stay for about two weeks, insisting

that I was not " fixed " without them believing me, until I ended up back in

the ER with a severe CP attack; they blamed this one on infection that moved

from the gall stem into the liver into the pancreas, never acknowledging that

what I had been saying all along was real; in spite of the acute panc. attack

several years earlier and the regular episodes of severe pain in between.

" Dr. knows best " . Not.

<< That is why I do not put my faith in medical testing.The tests are

wrong so many times,especially in people who do not present text-book

symptomatology. >>

[Guest guest]

Dear Terry,

I know what you mean.Even after I had my first (official)pancreatic

attack,I was told that it was a fluke and had occured because I had

had my GB removed and my body wasn't adjusted.Yeah right!

This stuff from the same people who misdiagnosed my GB for years

and didn't even recognize that I had pancreatitis a month after

my GB removal.They had me in the cardiac/pulmonary ward because

the pancreatitis was making my heart and blood pressure out of

control.Instead of checking my enzymes while I was in the hospital

they gave me a stress test,changed my beta-blocker,and said the test

indicating a high white cell count MUST be inaccurate,because I

didn't LOOK sick.(Such medical logic,it overwhelms me!!)

Only after I was released and got sicker did I go to my GP and

ask him to see if it was related to my GB. He told me I must be

having digestion problems because of my surgery.I had to insist

on a blood test and guess what?Pancreatitis This was ten days after

I got sick and my enzymes were still elevated.Then my doctor had

the nerve to say " Your enzymes aren't that elevated " . DUH!!

I had only been sick ten days or so.

Oh well,that's doctors for you.

At least I finally found out what was wrong.

Your neighbor,

Amy

> I too was being tested for other things, but the fluid

radioactive never

> went past my GB; that was when it was decided that my GB would come

out. I

> had chronic cystitis of the GB: no stones, but the GB was just

DEAD; one big

> dead mass of tissue. So they took it out and that was that, only I

was

> sicker than before.

> It had taken two years to arrive on the GB, and the drs were

like

> " Finally! THAT'S DONE! " and they just stopped. Now, not only did

I have CP

> that wasn't being addressed, but I had bile draining directly into

my gut.

> Eventually I went home, but could only stay for about two weeks,

insisting

> that I was not " fixed " without them believing me, until I ended up

back in

> the ER with a severe CP attack; they blamed this one on infection

that moved

> from the gall stem into the liver into the pancreas, never

acknowledging that

> what I had been saying all along was real; in spite of the acute

panc. attack

> several years earlier and the regular episodes of severe pain in

between.

> " Dr. knows best " . Not.

>

>

> In a message dated 9/7/01 6:41:33 PM, AMSB1986@A... writes:

>

> << That is why I do not put my faith in medical testing.The tests

are

> wrong so many times,especially in people who do not present text-

book

> symptomatology. >>

[Guest guest]

Dear Terry,

I know what you mean.Even after I had my first (official)pancreatic

attack,I was told that it was a fluke and had occured because I had

had my GB removed and my body wasn't adjusted.Yeah right!

This stuff from the same people who misdiagnosed my GB for years

and didn't even recognize that I had pancreatitis a month after

my GB removal.They had me in the cardiac/pulmonary ward because

the pancreatitis was making my heart and blood pressure out of

control.Instead of checking my enzymes while I was in the hospital

they gave me a stress test,changed my beta-blocker,and said the test

indicating a high white cell count MUST be inaccurate,because I

didn't LOOK sick.(Such medical logic,it overwhelms me!!)

Only after I was released and got sicker did I go to my GP and

ask him to see if it was related to my GB. He told me I must be

having digestion problems because of my surgery.I had to insist

on a blood test and guess what?Pancreatitis This was ten days after

I got sick and my enzymes were still elevated.Then my doctor had

the nerve to say " Your enzymes aren't that elevated " . DUH!!

I had only been sick ten days or so.

Oh well,that's doctors for you.

At least I finally found out what was wrong.

Your neighbor,

Amy

> I too was being tested for other things, but the fluid

radioactive never

> went past my GB; that was when it was decided that my GB would come

out. I

> had chronic cystitis of the GB: no stones, but the GB was just

DEAD; one big

> dead mass of tissue. So they took it out and that was that, only I

was

> sicker than before.

> It had taken two years to arrive on the GB, and the drs were

like

> " Finally! THAT'S DONE! " and they just stopped. Now, not only did

I have CP

> that wasn't being addressed, but I had bile draining directly into

my gut.

> Eventually I went home, but could only stay for about two weeks,

insisting

> that I was not " fixed " without them believing me, until I ended up

back in

> the ER with a severe CP attack; they blamed this one on infection

that moved

> from the gall stem into the liver into the pancreas, never

acknowledging that

> what I had been saying all along was real; in spite of the acute

panc. attack

> several years earlier and the regular episodes of severe pain in

between.

> " Dr. knows best " . Not.

>

>

> In a message dated 9/7/01 6:41:33 PM, AMSB1986@A... writes:

>

> << That is why I do not put my faith in medical testing.The tests

are

> wrong so many times,especially in people who do not present text-

book

> symptomatology. >>

[Guest guest]

Dear Terry,

I know what you mean.Even after I had my first (official)pancreatic

attack,I was told that it was a fluke and had occured because I had

had my GB removed and my body wasn't adjusted.Yeah right!

This stuff from the same people who misdiagnosed my GB for years

and didn't even recognize that I had pancreatitis a month after

my GB removal.They had me in the cardiac/pulmonary ward because

the pancreatitis was making my heart and blood pressure out of

control.Instead of checking my enzymes while I was in the hospital

they gave me a stress test,changed my beta-blocker,and said the test

indicating a high white cell count MUST be inaccurate,because I

didn't LOOK sick.(Such medical logic,it overwhelms me!!)

Only after I was released and got sicker did I go to my GP and

ask him to see if it was related to my GB. He told me I must be

having digestion problems because of my surgery.I had to insist

on a blood test and guess what?Pancreatitis This was ten days after

I got sick and my enzymes were still elevated.Then my doctor had

the nerve to say " Your enzymes aren't that elevated " . DUH!!

I had only been sick ten days or so.

Oh well,that's doctors for you.

At least I finally found out what was wrong.

Your neighbor,

Amy

> I too was being tested for other things, but the fluid

radioactive never

> went past my GB; that was when it was decided that my GB would come

out. I

> had chronic cystitis of the GB: no stones, but the GB was just

DEAD; one big

> dead mass of tissue. So they took it out and that was that, only I

was

> sicker than before.

> It had taken two years to arrive on the GB, and the drs were

like

> " Finally! THAT'S DONE! " and they just stopped. Now, not only did

I have CP

> that wasn't being addressed, but I had bile draining directly into

my gut.

> Eventually I went home, but could only stay for about two weeks,

insisting

> that I was not " fixed " without them believing me, until I ended up

back in

> the ER with a severe CP attack; they blamed this one on infection

that moved

> from the gall stem into the liver into the pancreas, never

acknowledging that

> what I had been saying all along was real; in spite of the acute

panc. attack

> several years earlier and the regular episodes of severe pain in

between.

> " Dr. knows best " . Not.

>

>

> In a message dated 9/7/01 6:41:33 PM, AMSB1986@A... writes:

>

> << That is why I do not put my faith in medical testing.The tests

are

> wrong so many times,especially in people who do not present text-

book

> symptomatology. >>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Looks like I made two mistakes instead of one. I thought needed

the information but you said Heidi so I am sufficiently confused.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Your friend,

Amy

> Thanks Amy,

> I already had one and had the gallbladder out but thanks for

the

> info..I believe it was Heidi that need it and I am sure she will

use the

> info....

>

>

> Hugs and Kisses

> you are in my thoughts and prayers

> love and friendship in Mich.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Looks like I made two mistakes instead of one. I thought needed

the information but you said Heidi so I am sufficiently confused.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Your friend,

Amy

> Thanks Amy,

> I already had one and had the gallbladder out but thanks for

the

> info..I believe it was Heidi that need it and I am sure she will

use the

> info....

>

>

> Hugs and Kisses

> you are in my thoughts and prayers

> love and friendship in Mich.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

Looks like I made two mistakes instead of one. I thought needed

the information but you said Heidi so I am sufficiently confused.

Thanks for setting me straight.

Your friend,

Amy

> Thanks Amy,

> I already had one and had the gallbladder out but thanks for

the

> info..I believe it was Heidi that need it and I am sure she will

use the

> info....

>

>

> Hugs and Kisses

> you are in my thoughts and prayers

> love and friendship in Mich.

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Dear ,

I rarely feel fabulous these days so thanks. We all should

feel like that show says: " Fabulous Darling! "

Grateful for that fabulous feeling,

Amy

-- In pancreatitis@y..., maryg7878@y... wrote:

> Hi Amy -

>

> I wouldn't worry about it. On this list, everyone needs as much

> information as possible, so I wouldn't worry about addressing your

> post to the wrong person. For all you know, she might be looking

for

> that same info herself! Or maybe a couple weeks or months down the

> road that same thing will come up in a doctor's office, and she

will

> know what it means.

>

> I have to say.. I have learned more about the pancreas and

digestive

> process over the past month in this group than I have learned from

> scouring websites or asking my doc questions.

>

> I think the people on this list are fabulous - and I truly

appreciate

> all the time they put into answering posts and questions.. I

suspect

> that most of the people here who are " experienced " have no idea

just

> how valued they are by the " newbies " for their patience and

knowledge.

>

> so.. a big round of thanks to everyone who has helped me out on

this

> board!

>

>

>

>

> > > Thanks Amy,

> > > I already had one and had the gallbladder out but thanks

> for

> > the

> > > info..I believe it was Heidi that need it and I am sure she

will

> > use the

> > > info....

> > >

> > >

> > > Hugs and Kisses

> > > you are in my thoughts and prayers

> > > love and friendship in Mich.

> > >

> > >

> > >

[Guest guest]

:

Maybe your doctor is talking about a hida scan. It's a test to determine if

and to what extent your gallbladder is functioning. I had a hida scan done

and it showed that my gallbladder was not functioning well. I was diagnosed

with an inflammed gallbladder and billiary dyskensia. The surgeons then

removed my gallbladder. I hope that the information that I shared with you

helps.

[Guest guest]

:

Maybe your doctor is talking about a hida scan. It's a test to determine if

and to what extent your gallbladder is functioning. I had a hida scan done

and it showed that my gallbladder was not functioning well. I was diagnosed

with an inflammed gallbladder and billiary dyskensia. The surgeons then

removed my gallbladder. I hope that the information that I shared with you

helps.

[Guest guest]

:

Maybe your doctor is talking about a hida scan. It's a test to determine if

and to what extent your gallbladder is functioning. I had a hida scan done

and it showed that my gallbladder was not functioning well. I was diagnosed

with an inflammed gallbladder and billiary dyskensia. The surgeons then

removed my gallbladder. I hope that the information that I shared with you

helps.