I have learned so much in my first week on this board. I have a 15 year old on IV Rocephin for the past 9 weeks. Her most recent gallbladder ultrasound is abnormal with some sludging and a spot (stone or cyst?) We have a LLMD who is treating her but our local PCP is overseeing the care locally. At the recommendation of the technician a CAT scan will be done on Wed. morning. Our doc does not want to confer with our LLMD until after the CAT scan results are in. I do not want to call the LLMD on my own, because it is a balancing act to keep my PCP on board to help facilitate all this. I am just wondering if this could be serious? Our PCP is not too concerned right now. Do most LLMDs recommend an immediate stop to Rocephin if this happens? The new weeks supply is being mixed tomorrow morning.
I know gallstones can be caused by Rocephin which is why she takes the Actigal and infuses slowly. Any words of wisdome would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Hope
Posted by valymemom (Member # 7076) on :
My 22 year old son was on his third week of infusing/pulsing the rocephin when he developed stomach and back pain so his out of state llmd - Dr. B. - had him get a sonogram. He also stopped the IV until notification of the results.
My son therefore went a week without infusing and Dr. B. did switch him to IV claforan.
If you look back two weeks or so there is a thread about rocephin gallbladder problems.
Is your PCP aware of this side effect? Being cautious and stopping this round may be best.
Let us know what happens.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
That happened to me too, I switched from Rocephin to IV Claforan and my sludge went away over time. No need to remove the gallbladder because it fixed itself. Usually patients are given Actigall to prevent stones while on Rocephin. Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
This is a known side effect. Sorry the actigall didn't prevent it.
I had a gallbladder attack and stopped the drug. Problem went away on its own and I didn't have it removed.
Posted by tempe (Member # 5000) on :
Lou & WildCondor,
Did you have to stay on actigall AFTER you went off Rocephin in order for the sludge & stones to go away? Or did it go away w/o actigall?
I also developed sludge, then gallstones, so had to go off rocephin. My PCP is telling me to stay on actigall, but it makes my hair fall out, so I'm anxious to get off it as soon as I can.
Thanks!
Posted by lou (Member # 81) on :
Sorry, I have no experience myself with actigall. The doc who prescribed the rocephin would not prescribe actigall, and dumped me before long.
In other words, my gallbladder problem stopped after stopping the drug, without actigall during or after.
Posted by HOPE4290 (Member # 7926) on :
Thanks, everybody. I got a hold of Dr. J's office and they switched her to IV Clarofon 2g/2x a day. Is this a common dose? I read something that made me think it is usually higher. I know it is very individual and will talk to Dr. J at our next appt. to see what he wants to do.
I feel bad because the home health care agency had already mixed it up, before I had the word of the switch.
Thanks everybody.
Posted by lesley1954 (Member # 7626) on :
Up for more responses, especially on the dose. Thanks
Posted by lymeloco (Member # 7192) on :
I had already had gallstones, but didn't know it until one of those stones logged into my pancreatic duct. Three weeks in the hospital, and waited for four weeks before they took the gallbladder out! I haven't had a problem since!
I never had a problem with the Rocephin, but everyone is different. I would talk to your llmd. first.
From I read here, lots of people had trouble with Rocephin and sludge or stones. I guess I'm the odd ball out on this one!
My mom, sister, two nieces and my two daughters had there's out. They don't have lyme, and were not on antibiotics.
Posted by livinlyme (Member # 3773) on :
When I had a Hidascan done in 2000, I was told that it depends on the results of the scan whether they can treat with medicine or not, for instance if a Gb is functioning at less than 50% but more than 30% they can treat with medicines and it is usually reversible. If the GB is functioning at less than 30% they need to remove it fast...functionality of 50% or more is generally successful recovery with dietary changes to get it through a rough time..
Mine was functioning at 10% and I had just gone through 2 major back surgeries on Dec 10th and then again on March 13th, I was wearing a full body cast they told me that didn't matter, the Gb was coming out and two weeks later on the 24th I was on the table and having my GB removed.....
Now I am not talking about stones they are altogether a different story this is sludge fouled or sludge filled that the Hidascan detects..
Posted by HOPE4290 (Member # 7926) on :
My daughter had a CT scan as a followup to the abnormal GB scan. At checkin the girl kept asking why it wasn't a Hidascan, that this is what they usually followup with? Does anyone know what the two tests show? Is a CT sufficient?
Posted by lesley1954 (Member # 7626) on :
My understanding is that the HIDA scan is to evaluate how well the gall bladder is functioning. I think it is done in nuclear medicine, where some type of isotope is injected and gb function is measured. I'm going to take a wild guess that the CT scan just shows better what you already saw on the ultrasound, i.e. whether a small stone could be stuck in one of the ducts.
That said, I hope someone who knows more about this than me responds. Dr. F. has recommended a HIDA for my daughter, even though we have switched her from Rocephin to Claforan. She thinks the Lyme might have damaged her gall bladder and if it is not functioning, she would recommend removing it.
Posted by lymeloco (Member # 7192) on :
I've had quite a few cat scans. It showed cysts on my liver, and loaded with gallstones.
They show more than just your gallbladder. It shows the liver, kidney's. I forgot what else, but it does show a lot.
When I first got to the hospital, they doped me up with morphine, and wheeled me into xray, and first did ultrasound, and then right after I had the cat scan.
I had to keep having it done until the swelling and cyst were gone. Mine wasn't sludge, so I really don't know much about it.
When they inject the dye, you can actually feel the warmth going through every part of your body. Plus I had a weird taste in my mouth.
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