Gallbladder or something else???

mshultz · Apr 28, 2005

ashlee853:

I am not a nurse, so my knowledge is limited to my own experience with an EGD. I was given a reduced amount of sedation because of a 4 unit blood loss from a bad GI bleed. This amount of sedation did not affect me, so I remember the procedure clearly. Even though I promptly choked and had to swallow when told to gargle the Cetacaine solution, I had no problems with gagging, and the procedure was painless. I did start to cough at the end. Being the good little patient, I tried to suppress the cough, but was told to cough. I suspect the doctor was checking to see if I could protect my airway.

Have you ever had an NG tube? I found this to be painful when the tip was going through the nasal passage, and an unpleasant sensation as it was passed down the esophagus. However, the passage did not increase my nausea, and I quickly became completely used to the NG tube. From what I have been reading, my tolerance for such procedures may be above average.

My Harrison's 15th edition of Principles of Internal Medicine states that EGDs are routinely done without sedation in other countries. I do not think that you will be able to watch, because your head will be pointing at the ceiling, and your glasses would be in the way (if you need to wear glasses).

The hospital where I was admitted was definitely the place to be for a bad GI bleed. However, my experience was that you can not depend on getting any information unless you specifically ask for it. You need to:

1. Tell the doctor that you want to go over the Informed Consent with him in detail (My doctor never mentioned this, and the nurse only said to read and sign it).

2. Tell the doctor that you just want the Cetacaine throat spray, and no sedation. The consent form probably states that you were told about alternatives to sedation, so you have every right to ask.

3. Tell the doctor that you want a videotape, if possible, and color pictures. You can not depend on your doctor to even tell you that he took pictures, let alone ask if you want copies. When you request your medical records, the pictures you get will probably just be black and white photocopies, so you need to tell your doctor in advance that you want color copies.

4. There is a mindset in the healthcare environment that the more you know, the more stressful the experience. While this may be true for many people, it is not true for me. If you are like me, you will need to explain to the staff that you love to learn, and that the more information you have, the more comfortable you are. The irony of my hospital stay was that one of the nursing outcomes was a reduction in anxiety. However, their well-intentioned careplan of providing minimum information (I did not even have paper and pen to take notes) only resulted in increasing my anxiety. I will be assertive about obtaining detailed and comprehensive information in any future dealings with the healthcare system.

Michael E. Shultz

[email protected]

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

Groucho Marx

mshultz · Apr 28, 2005

ashlee853:

You mentioned that you do not take a lot of Tylenol. I ended up in the ED with a full trauma team, followed by a stay in the Critical Care Unit, because I had become hooked on Anacin to control headaches (I was using 5-6 a day). Like you, I neither drink nor smoke.

I did a report on OTC analgesic abuse for my Introduction to Addiction class. Even the use of 1-2 analgesics a day for a year can result in serious health problems. This amount of Tylenol can cause liver and kidney damage. There is significant risk involved in using any analgesics on a continuing basis.

Michael E. Shultz

[email protected]

"Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read."

Groucho Marx

ashlee853 · Apr 28, 2005

Hi, thanks for the reply. I an not nervous about it much. The thiing is that I work with all these people. I am an LPN at our local hospital, so I know the Dr and everyone else really well. I totally trust my Dr 110%! I may tell him i want pics if he finds anything, which I dont think he will. I think it is my gallbladder, but he has MD behind his name and I dont.

I was just worndering if anyone had had an EGD with less sedative and if it hurt.

bethin · Oct 14, 2005

I had HIDA scan a few years ago and I too had pain and nausea when administered the med. Dr. said test was neg. Continued to have problems for another year when I finally decided I'd had enough and went to a highly recommended surgeon. The first question he asked me was if I had pain and nausea during HIDA scan. I said yes. He told me that was not normal and therefor the test was not neg. Had lap chole a week later and boy, did I feel better!My first EGD experience was terrible. Dr. didn't wait for drugs to take effect before beginning procedure. Was terrified of getting another until I discussed with my dr. my fears. She told me that a combo of drugs that put you completely asleep but let you wake up without feeling drugged. Combo was lidocaine, propofol, midazolam, and fentanyl. I don't remember anything of procedure and when I woke up I was wide awake within 2 minutes.

Trauma Columnist · Oct 14, 2005

Have you questioned your doctor about your concerns? As you can see from the posts - it is not possible for us to provide medical advice. Thanks for your understanding. Your own provider is the ONLY one who should be giving you advice.

Home Health Columnist / Guide · Oct 14, 2005

your symptoms are exactly like mine were last year along with belching. felt like a baby's foot or fist was right up inder my ribcage---but not pregnant!

also negative scans. upper endoscopy (edg) done under iv sedation --mild gastritis so lap choley surgery done. what was found was few crystals + tons of sludge.

http://www.postgradmed.com/issues/2003/01_03/babb.htm

gallbladder - mark fusco md

http://www.gastro.org/wmspage.cfm?parm1=688

good luck!

ashlee853 · Oct 14, 2005

Hi all! I forgot about this thread! Since my last post I had the EGD, it was a piece of cake:p Dr found nothing. So finally as a last resort he set me up to have my gallbladder out. I had it out on June 3rd. I ended up having to stay overnight because I had so much nausea. He did not find any stones, but he said that there was alot of scare tissue and that my gallbladder had yellow streaks in it!? Not sure about the yellow streaks but he said that the scare tissue was from chronic inflammation. So I was right!!! He said that it had been going on for a while. I was in constant pain for a little over 2 months!

I felt better right after the surgery! I had a little bit of a problem with my navel incison healing up. It fianlly healed around Aug 2. 2 months after surgery.

So that is the end of that chapter in my life! Stay tuned for the next chapter:p