Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 I am having a MRCP on Friday and wanted to know if I will be asked to drink that white fluid before it? I hate that stuff, it makes me gag. I know last year I didn't have to, but I refused to have an MRI earlier this year (not on my liver) because they insisted that I drink that stuff. After refusing they did an ultrasound instead. Why do you have to drink it sometimes and not other times? Patty UC & J pouch 1995, PSC 2002 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 No Patty, you will not have to drink anything with an MRCP. It is one of the easiest tests that we all have to endure. Just lie still and let the technologist do his/her work. Deb, UC 1993, PSC 2005, colectomy 2005, one fat and happy golden retriever Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 My hep always orders my MRCPs with contrast, and I do have to drink a bottle of junk--must just be a matter of your doctor's individual preference. The MRCP contrast I've had is a really dark, moderately viscous liquid that's not too pleasant, but way easier to get down (IMO) than the thick white barium. It's easier if they've chilled it beforehand, too. If yours is w/ contrast, ask for a straw, stick the straw way into the back of your throat, and chug-a-lug; try to keep your tongue and taste buds pulled away from the liquid as you suck it down, and it's not too bad that way. Genevieve UC 1983, J-Pouch 1999, PSC 12/07 > > No Patty, you will not have to drink anything with an MRCP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 My hep always orders my MRCPs with contrast, and I do have to drink a bottle of junk--must just be a matter of your doctor's individual preference. The MRCP contrast I've had is a really dark, moderately viscous liquid that's not too pleasant, but way easier to get down (IMO) than the thick white barium. It's easier if they've chilled it beforehand, too. If yours is w/ contrast, ask for a straw, stick the straw way into the back of your throat, and chug-a-lug; try to keep your tongue and taste buds pulled away from the liquid as you suck it down, and it's not too bad that way. Genevieve UC 1983, J-Pouch 1999, PSC 12/07 > > No Patty, you will not have to drink anything with an MRCP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 I've never had to drink anything for the test, but they've always used an IV with some sort of contrast in it part way through the MRCP. Penny > > I am having a MRCP on Friday and wanted to know if I will be asked to > drink that white fluid before it? > > Patty > UC & J pouch 1995, PSC 2002 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 I've never had to drink anything for the test, but they've always used an IV with some sort of contrast in it part way through the MRCP. Penny > > I am having a MRCP on Friday and wanted to know if I will be asked to > drink that white fluid before it? > > Patty > UC & J pouch 1995, PSC 2002 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 I've never had to drink anything for the test, but they've always used an IV with some sort of contrast in it part way through the MRCP. Penny > > I am having a MRCP on Friday and wanted to know if I will be asked to > drink that white fluid before it? > > Patty > UC & J pouch 1995, PSC 2002 > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 Hi Patty; As mentioned in the second draft of our brochure on PSC Diagnosis, some centers will use a contrast agent with MRCP to provide better image quality and to reveal finer details of the biliary tree: http://www.pscpartners.org/PSCDiagnosis.pdf " Imaging of the Bile Ducts Where PSC is suspected, based on liver function tests and antibody profile, imaging of the biliary tree is essential for accurate diagnosis. The gall bladder and liver may initially be imaged by ultrasound. Two imaging techniques are now extensively used for imaging the bile ducts: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). In ERCP a flexible tube, or endoscope, is inserted into the upper gastrointestinal tract (via the mouth and esophagus), and a dye is then injected into the bile and pancreatic ducts. An X-ray is then taken to image the bile and pancreatic ducts. In MRCP, often no contrast dye is used, no radiation is involved, and no endoscope is employed. Rather, patients are simply exposed to a strong magnetic field and the bile ducts are visualized because the stationary fluid in the bile ducts produces a higher intensity signal in comparison to the surrounding tissue. Recent developments in MRCP include using a contrast agent to provide better image quality and to reveal finer details of the biliary tree. A " beaded " appearance of the bile ducts revealed by these imaging techniques would strongly suggest PSC. Because ERCP is invasive it can be associated with complications including pancreatitis or bacterial cholangitis. MRCP is not invasive and is becoming increasingly used for initial diagnosis. ERCP is now commonly being reserved for therapeutic interventions, such as: extraction of bile stones, balloon dilatation of bile duct strictures, stent placement and removal, and collection of " brushings " for subsequent analysis by microscopy to look for abnormal or cancerous cells. Small-duct PSC is a variant of PSC that affects only the small bile ducts and may show a normal cholangiogram. " I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made suggestions for improvement of this brochure back in May. Recall there was controversy over whether the term " anus " should be used ... I substituted the word " rectum " instead, as suggested by the group [would this correction be called a " correctum " ?]. I also tried to simplify the description of the 4 stages of PSC. I did retain the antibody section because I recall that when was first diagnosed I had a lot of trouble finding out why all the various antibody tests were run. Best regards, Dave (father of (23); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 Hi Patty; As mentioned in the second draft of our brochure on PSC Diagnosis, some centers will use a contrast agent with MRCP to provide better image quality and to reveal finer details of the biliary tree: http://www.pscpartners.org/PSCDiagnosis.pdf " Imaging of the Bile Ducts Where PSC is suspected, based on liver function tests and antibody profile, imaging of the biliary tree is essential for accurate diagnosis. The gall bladder and liver may initially be imaged by ultrasound. Two imaging techniques are now extensively used for imaging the bile ducts: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). In ERCP a flexible tube, or endoscope, is inserted into the upper gastrointestinal tract (via the mouth and esophagus), and a dye is then injected into the bile and pancreatic ducts. An X-ray is then taken to image the bile and pancreatic ducts. In MRCP, often no contrast dye is used, no radiation is involved, and no endoscope is employed. Rather, patients are simply exposed to a strong magnetic field and the bile ducts are visualized because the stationary fluid in the bile ducts produces a higher intensity signal in comparison to the surrounding tissue. Recent developments in MRCP include using a contrast agent to provide better image quality and to reveal finer details of the biliary tree. A " beaded " appearance of the bile ducts revealed by these imaging techniques would strongly suggest PSC. Because ERCP is invasive it can be associated with complications including pancreatitis or bacterial cholangitis. MRCP is not invasive and is becoming increasingly used for initial diagnosis. ERCP is now commonly being reserved for therapeutic interventions, such as: extraction of bile stones, balloon dilatation of bile duct strictures, stent placement and removal, and collection of " brushings " for subsequent analysis by microscopy to look for abnormal or cancerous cells. Small-duct PSC is a variant of PSC that affects only the small bile ducts and may show a normal cholangiogram. " I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made suggestions for improvement of this brochure back in May. Recall there was controversy over whether the term " anus " should be used ... I substituted the word " rectum " instead, as suggested by the group [would this correction be called a " correctum " ?]. I also tried to simplify the description of the 4 stages of PSC. I did retain the antibody section because I recall that when was first diagnosed I had a lot of trouble finding out why all the various antibody tests were run. Best regards, Dave (father of (23); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 Hi Patty; As mentioned in the second draft of our brochure on PSC Diagnosis, some centers will use a contrast agent with MRCP to provide better image quality and to reveal finer details of the biliary tree: http://www.pscpartners.org/PSCDiagnosis.pdf " Imaging of the Bile Ducts Where PSC is suspected, based on liver function tests and antibody profile, imaging of the biliary tree is essential for accurate diagnosis. The gall bladder and liver may initially be imaged by ultrasound. Two imaging techniques are now extensively used for imaging the bile ducts: endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), and magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography (MRCP). In ERCP a flexible tube, or endoscope, is inserted into the upper gastrointestinal tract (via the mouth and esophagus), and a dye is then injected into the bile and pancreatic ducts. An X-ray is then taken to image the bile and pancreatic ducts. In MRCP, often no contrast dye is used, no radiation is involved, and no endoscope is employed. Rather, patients are simply exposed to a strong magnetic field and the bile ducts are visualized because the stationary fluid in the bile ducts produces a higher intensity signal in comparison to the surrounding tissue. Recent developments in MRCP include using a contrast agent to provide better image quality and to reveal finer details of the biliary tree. A " beaded " appearance of the bile ducts revealed by these imaging techniques would strongly suggest PSC. Because ERCP is invasive it can be associated with complications including pancreatitis or bacterial cholangitis. MRCP is not invasive and is becoming increasingly used for initial diagnosis. ERCP is now commonly being reserved for therapeutic interventions, such as: extraction of bile stones, balloon dilatation of bile duct strictures, stent placement and removal, and collection of " brushings " for subsequent analysis by microscopy to look for abnormal or cancerous cells. Small-duct PSC is a variant of PSC that affects only the small bile ducts and may show a normal cholangiogram. " I'd like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who made suggestions for improvement of this brochure back in May. Recall there was controversy over whether the term " anus " should be used ... I substituted the word " rectum " instead, as suggested by the group [would this correction be called a " correctum " ?]. I also tried to simplify the description of the 4 stages of PSC. I did retain the antibody section because I recall that when was first diagnosed I had a lot of trouble finding out why all the various antibody tests were run. Best regards, Dave (father of (23); PSC 07/03; UC 08/03) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 Patty, For what it's worth (I'm in Italy), I had a MRCP on Friday and had to drink a clear tasteless fluid about 5 minutes before they started. a > > > > I am having a MRCP on Friday and wanted to know if I will be asked to > > drink that white fluid before it? > > > > Patty > > UC & J pouch 1995, PSC 2002 > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 Patty, For what it's worth (I'm in Italy), I had a MRCP on Friday and had to drink a clear tasteless fluid about 5 minutes before they started. a > > > > I am having a MRCP on Friday and wanted to know if I will be asked to > > drink that white fluid before it? > > > > Patty > > UC & J pouch 1995, PSC 2002 > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted July 13, 2008 Report Share Posted July 13, 2008 Patty, For what it's worth (I'm in Italy), I had a MRCP on Friday and had to drink a clear tasteless fluid about 5 minutes before they started. a > > > > I am having a MRCP on Friday and wanted to know if I will be asked to > > drink that white fluid before it? > > > > Patty > > UC & J pouch 1995, PSC 2002 > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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