COMMENTS
I have a relative due for a cat scan as he has lung cancer.He cannot lie on his back,and the last Cat scan caused anxiety and a panic attack so it was aborted.Any suggestions ?Sedation?..please advise
Hi Dawn, the key is to talk to his doctor and the Radiology facility in advance of his next appointment. His doctor may prescribe him a mild sedative to help him relax. The Radiology facility will also work with him in getting through the test as quick as possible. Any words of encouragement you can give him and perhaps accompany him to the scan will also help.
I am due to-day for a ct scan and I am dreading it not sure that I will be able to go through with it yet
I had a severe allergic reaction after having 4 ct scans in a week for an intestinal blockage. I had massive hives from head to toe. What is in the contract dye that would cause an allergic reaction such as this?
im scared that the cancer doctor will ask me to do another ct-scan ive been cancer free for 3 years now im trying to lose weight so i can have the bag off from my stomach, but if i take the ct-scan im scared that my right elbow will blister up always the same spot its been 3 times im scared again anyone know what i should do? thanks bed
I am being scheduled to have a CT scan of my kidneys. I have a terrible phoebia of having to drink contrast. In order to have the proper CT w/contrast will I have to drink barium contrast?
my dad had a ct Dec 27,2009. He had to drink to contrast. Later he vomitted and they suctioned him.I wonder if they gave him the injection,because he vomitted.He never made it out of ct. They said his heart failed. I lost my dad 2 days after christmas, never knowing what really happened
a ct scan was done on pt arrival to hospital, stoke was suspected/confirmed cost 2,5000. pt transfered another ct scan was done 250.00 same reading. I SUSPECT FRAUD. how can I prove scan did not occur pt died
Had a chest CT scan w/contrast on Thursday, July 22nd. It was a "non event". The bloodwork and IV went flawlessly (I am what they call a "tough stick" due to teeny, tiny veins) The table was comfortable, the contrast did give me a mild flush (I'm post menopausal and I've had HOT flashes and the dye didn't even come close to one of those!) including the forewarned feeling of urinating. Both were minor and short lived. The actual test was brief and I merrily went on my way. I didn't know what to expect after reading the blogs and all the horror storied contained. One plus to the blogs: No one from the radiologists office told me I had to have only clear liquids for 6 hours. Once I read that in the blogs, I immediately called the practice to confirm. Someone in the office dropped the ball on that. On a scale of 1-10 with childbirth being a 10, this procedure was a
-8. Really!
i'm due to have a head ct to evaluate the extent of soft tissue lesion on my forehead.
can someone explain to me whether it would be painful...
I had my 3rd ct in less then 2 months..Can anyone tell me if they experienced having diarrhea for a few days??? Is this a side effect???
Does anyone know if there are oversized mri machines to accomodate large people? I am not looking for an open mri, I want a larger closed machine. Does this exist? In the NY NJ area.
Hi Dianne,
Try contacting your local university medical center Radiology department. They sometimes can help you find a facility for you. Also check out Doshi Diagnostic imaging center in your area - they have quite a few -
www.doshidiagnostic.com
It is important to remember some facts: radiation in your body NEVER goes away. "Lifetime Load" is what is looked at for cancer risk associated with accumulated radiation. A CT (CAT Scan) is equal in the amount of radiation to about 500 (that's right - FIVE HUNDRED)chest x-rays. Many doctors don't even realize this. Recent studies have come with pleas and warnings that ordering CT scans should be done ONLY after careful review of the number of prior CT scans. Unfortunately, many doctors just order them and don't account for your prior CT scans and only add to your risk for cancer due to Lifetime Loads that fall into high-risk for carcinogenic events.
I know a young boy that was subjected to 7 CT scans in a 90-day period - or - put another way, he was radiated with the equivalent of 3,500 chest x-rays in a 3 month period. If you were the Mom and Dad, and you knew that -- would you even begin to allow that? There ARE alternatives.
I didn't know these risks either and I was give 4 CT scans this past week - two with contrast, two without - all of the identical area - chest.
I understand the first one, due to chest pain; they were looking for pulmonary embolism. I don't know about the others.
NO one explained the risk to me and I would NOT have had the other 3, had I been explained the risks.
Does anyone know if having this many in a 72-hour period puts one at higher risk?
My son was recently in a car accident. The next morning he was examined at a local walk-in center because his head hurt and he had very little memory of what transpired after the accident. The physician stated that my son was definitely suffering from post concussion syndrome and sent him for a CT scan. I just received the medical report and the diagnosis says tht my son was diagnosed with a headache (no mention of the concussion). Would a CT scan be ordered for a headache? I do have a note from the physician stating that my son received a concussion in the accident, but again, no mention of it in the medical report.
Dan,
Yes, CT scans are very frequently done for headache...orders for CT scans touch many hands before they end up with the Radiologist. He/she probably just got a history of "headache". Fortunately, the same scan is performed.
A CT Scan is a computed topography of an area of your body. While CT scans are excellent diagnostic tools, one should be aware of the risks.
One CT scan is equal to approximately 500 xrays. If a study is done (one with contrast dye and one without), that is actually 2 CT scans, or the equivalent of about 1000 xrays.
Radiation load is permanent, and can never be gotten rid of (unless by miracle from God).
The New England Journal of Medicine reviewed CT scans and their dangers and stated that about 1/3 of all CT scans ordered by docs in the US are UNNECESSARY.
They also say that ONE Ct scan study introduced about the same radiation as that suffered by post Hiroshima and Nagasaki atomic bomb victims.
It is recommended that people begin to ask for alternate diagnostic tools, such as MRI's and ultrasounds BEFORE allowing a CT scan.
AND - NEJM says that docs should never order the same area to be scanned twice.
Here's one link that shares info you'll find useful. MRI's are also used with concussions, to determine the extent of damage following an injury.
CT scans greatly increase your risk of latent (10-20 years) cancers. It's not a medical malpractice risk to order them, so maybe that's the reason they get ordered so frequently.
I would hope that people are not overly afraid of CT scans, because they are great in trauma and head injuries, but it might be worth giving a thought about asking a doc if an MRI or ultrasound might be effective in place of the CT Scan.
Here's that link: http://www.hughston.com/hha/a_17_3_1.htm
You can google New England Journal of Medicine on CT scan risks and read that article/review. it's very interesting.
Tamera
i just had a ct scan of my head done this morning i have it on a cd and was wondering if someone could look at it for me, ive been having serious headaches for over 3 weeks and my dr is on vacation til the 5th of next month i cant wait that long to see whats wrong with me im freaked out it may be something serious and i would like to know asap
Danielle,
The exam is usually read by the Radiologist within 24-48 hours. You can call the imaging center/hospital and get a copy of your report.
I AM DUE AN ct SCAN TODAY HOW EFFECTIVE IS THE MRI,AND THE ULTRASOUND?
Nathan,
That's very hard question to answer without knowing what body part and why you are getting the scan...
I WAS PETRIFIED TO HAVE A CAT SCAN ONLY BECAUSE I READ ALL OF THE TETIMONIES ON THE INTERNET.IF YOU ARE SCHEDULED TO HAVE A Cat scan please believe it is a breeze and only takes a few minutes.you wiill then see your anxiety was all for nothing.
Due to have a ct scan on abodomen
all i can say is That I have experienced a lot worse than a ct scan.. and thank God for the diagnostic tools that we are blessed to have these days
lung cat scan for polps..how many are necessary and should i just get ultrasound for safer way to diagnose cancer...have had at least 6-8 in the last few years.first every 3 months .now every 6...help
Had ct scan with and without contrast had IV contrast. Now have diarrhea and my stool is now light yellow
Hello,
My Dad is a diabetic patient and also had blood pressure issues. He was asked to go in for a CT scan due to pleural effusion which the doctors suspected to be due to pancreatitis. As soon as he was given the dye he reacted to it and now he is in a coma. Please share any thoughts you may have on this.