dilated bile duct

[JaneIng]

Does anyone have dilated bile duct? Mine is 8 mm on the MRCP report. I wonder how bad this means. Does Urso keep it under control?

--Jane

[Aussielouise]

Sorry to ask but how old are you and have you had your gallbladder removed. 8mm is dilated if your younger or haven't had gallbladder out but if you're over 50 and have, it's not really dilated. Up to 10 mm if you're had gallbladder out is often classed as normal. It really depends on what your bile duct has been before etc. I've had my gallbladder out and I'm over 50 with sphincter of oddi dysfunction so mine does go up and down a lot. It's been up to 15mm when Ive had a lot of pain and down to about 5mm seems normal for me. I think it's quoted as 1mm for every decade of age you are plus or minus depending on gallbladder being in or out.

[JaneIng in reply to Aussielouise]

Thanks so much for your response, Aussielouise.

I am 63 and had my gallbladder removed in 2013 due to sludge in the gallbladder. I never had pain in that area but I was very nauseous and unable to eat for a while. The surgeon even challenged my GI doctor's decision about the surgery... I was so weak and nauseous at that time and I was willing to try anything. So there goes my gallbladder. After the surgery the surgeon did say the wall of the gallbladder was thickened, whatever that means. Does he mean the surgery was the right decision? Was he trying to tell me that I have some other disease?

After the surgery my situation was improved for a short while. It went further south after the colonoscopy. That's when the IBS, Gastritis, pain and fatigue started. It was so bad I had to stop working. I don't know if the colonoscopy is to blame or the surgery. After two years of the ordeal and switched multiple doctors, elevated AMA M2 was found by my last GI doctor. He retired two months later.

Many natural path doctors say gallbladder removal causes more GI issues. Could my gallbladder by saved? Could the surgery trigger auto-immune problems? I would never know.

Aussielouise, your response gave me a peace of mind and I sure appreciate it.

Have a wonderful day,

Jane

[Aussielouise in reply to JaneIng]

Sorry to hear you suffered so much after your gallbladder surgery. Unfortunately that's very common ! Google post gallbladder removal syndrome and Sphincter of oddi dysfunction. I've been suffering badly with sphincter of oddi dysfunction since I had my gallbladder out 17 years ago. Multiple procedures and tests and even surgery. Only recently finding I how also have pbc. I too wonder if they are connected.

Just wondered where in the world are you? I'm English living in Australia

[JaneIng in reply to Aussielouise]

Sorry you have so much trouble with the post surgery syndrome. I googled sphincter of oddi dysfunction and it sounds very painful.

Did you developed the SOD right after the surgery? Or years later?

My bile duct was 5mm prior to the gallbladder surgery. 3 years later it is now 8mm. Not sure if it is the impact from the surgery or PBC. I never know the bile duct size can go up and down.

Are you on any medication? Do you have PBC symptooms? I hope you can get some relief somewhere.

I am in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Quite a distance from Australia. Thanks to HealthUnlocked for bringing us closer.

Regards,

Jane

[Aussielouise in reply to JaneIng]

I'm on urso now for a month since diagnosis. I do have pain in my liver and the tiredness and some itching. I have really sore and dry eyes and dry mouth. I also get sickness and pain because of the SOD.