Cat Scan

[bklyn]

I like some opinions from this forum - I have to decide whether or not to have a CAT scan (with contrast) done this Monday. I've had stomach pain/nausea for almost 3 mos. I've tried many antacids (which seem to make me feel worse) and I've been to Celiac Center in N.Y. Also received antacids there. My GI doctor seems unsure what to do and wants me to have a CAT scan. I don't know if I should do this, I think he may be doing this to show me that all is OK. This test terrifies me and I not sure if I should expose myself to the radiation just because there is no definite answer to my problem. What would you do?

[angel-jd1]

If you have a doctor willing to find answers and help you then why not follow what is necessary to find the answers?? Why sit around and be sick??

People have CAT scans all the time with no problems. Do you have a reaction to the meds or something???

-Jessica

[tarnalberry]

The doseage of radiation out of CAT scan may not be trivial, but you make life choices that affect your dosage of radiation all the time, and this is probably one of the ones you're most aware of. (Take any really long distance flights, like transatlantic? Being that high in the atmosphere gives you a higher dose of various forms of radiation than being on the ground does because there is less atmosphere to screen out the radiation. And that's just one example.) If you have a family history where cancer pops up in every last person no matter what, or have had thousands of x-rays already, or have other extreme reasons why additional radiation exposure would be highly detrimental to your health, then it's something to consider - but I presume you'd have told your doctor about any extreme health considerations.

You say "I not sure if I should expose myself to the radiation just because there is no definite answer to my problem," but what if this gives you an answer to your problem? And if it doesn't, it can be EQUALLY important to rule out other problems. (For instance, I have a problem with my tailbone and sacrum. It was causing pain to go down the back of my left leg past my knee. Fairly common symptom of sciatica, really. But given my age, my activity level, and so forth, the doc ran an MRI (and I had to be sedated; I hate confined spaces) with a contrast agent. It was neither cheap nor speedy, but he wanted to rule out, based on the one symptom, a tumor (benign or not) on my spine. The MRI found nothing. It was all clear. And knowing that was a very important thing!)

[minibabe]

  bklyn said:

I've had stomach pain/nausea for almost 3 mos. I've tried many antacids (which seem to make me feel worse) and I've been to Celiac Center in N.Y.

I have had radiology testing done before. And the amount of doesage of radiation I dont think is very high, because when I have had other testing done for the radiation they only told me to stay away from my little brother for just the rest of the day. But I dont think that a CAT scan is anything to worry about.

I've been on more antacids then my dad, there was a point when I was on 13 pills a day. Two of which where antacids. but I was also diagnosed with a hiatial(sp?) hernia. But I was diagnosed with that from an upper endoscopy.

What would they be checking for with the CAT scan. I dont remeber what they checked for when I went, it was a while ago. But that is somthing that I would ask him, and bring up your concerns with him. Maybe it would ease your tension about the test.

I hope that everything goes well. Good luck!

-Amanda

[minibabe]

I forgot to ask, but what is the Celiac Center in NY?

[gf4life]

My oldest boy has been on the gluten-free diet now for just over a year, and has been having stomach pain/nausea/vomiting since November. All his blood/stool/urine tests came back normal and his upper GI x-ray was also normal. They are going to do an endoscopy/colonoscopy to rule out a lot of problems, but a Cat Scan is one they haven't mentioned yet. It might be the next step if this next test doesn't tell us why he is having so much trouble.

Can I ask you where the pain is? His is mostly in his left upper abdomen. Back in November when the pain started though it was in the right side, by his liver/gallbladder area. His seems to go in a cycle and it lasts anywhere from a week to a month before another "attack".

[rmmadden]

I say get the CAT scan. If it shows something then at least you know and can take steps to overcome it. If it comes up negative then that's one less thing for you to worry about.

Best of Luck!

Cleveland Bob

[Guest gillian502]

I've had so many CT Scans with contrast I've lost count. It's no big deal at all, for goodness sake go for it, it could lead to some answers.

[Bette]

Sorry to through a cog in the wheel, with the general consensus to have the cat scan with contrast, but I beg to differ. Has nothing to do with the amounts of radiation (which in the big scheme of things or negilible) but more to do with allergies to the contrast medium. I have had a bad reaction to the dye when recieving an IVP once, and from that point on, I have it flagged in my charts, I cannot use the contrast, when having mri's etc. With all things consider keep in context of your own history, I have had multiple problems through the years, and allergies and cross senitivites is one. So even though a very non invasive procedure, consider your history, and alert the dr. if there may be a potential to having an allery to the contrast medium, other than that go for it. If it will help the Dr. Good Luck,

[tarnalberry]

Oh definitely. They should absolutely ask you about allergies - if you have a shelfish allergy, in particular, you are NOT a candidate for most contrast agents. And, of course, any contraindication that arises (or has in the past) needs to be taken into consideration. If they don't ask you about allergies with a contrast agent, I would grill them, very carefully. (I believe, at least in CA, they have to have you sign a form stating that you're aware of the allergy risks wrt contrast dyes. Anyone know if that's true in other states?)

[aaascr]

I was supposed to have ct scans with contrast (checking gall bladder etc).

Because the testing center was not a hospital-type facility where they could

handle an allergic reaction efficiently, I chose not to have the contrast nor did the technician feel comfortable about doing it. In GA they ask you if you have allergies on the paperwork. However, no one really paid any attention to it, but I starting asking questions prior to testing because I am allergic to so many things.

Eventually, I did ultrasound.

[uclangel422]

I just had a CT with IV contrast two weeks ago and had to go through this whole thing about signing forms and basically swearing on my life that i was not allergic to shellfish. I live in California and did have to sign forms.

I was so panicked before i had it but it was really not a big deal. If you even think that you might have a shellfish allergy, then do not do it.