The scan is of my abdominal/pelvic area. I’ve had the sensation for about 10 months of “something” in my lower right quadrant-- something small, maybe ping pong ball size-- that’s not painful, but that feels like it shouldn’t be there.
I went to an ob/gyn about seven months ago thinking it was ovaries or other lady parts, and she removed three intrauterine polyps in September, but this feeling of something there hasn’t gone away. Hope she figures out what it is and that it’s no big deal. Ever since my breast cancer diagnosis, I go into these tests with a little more trepidation than I used to.
I’ve gotten minimal instruction from the radiology department re the scan. Just don’t eat or drink two hours before. It’s at 8:15 tomorrow morning, so I hope to be asleep for one of those hours. There will be an i.v. contrast-- as far as I know, I’m not allergic. I understand I’m to drink lots of water afterwards to flush it out. I messed up when I had a colonoscopy and didn’t drink lots of water the day after, and on the third day, I felt absolutely awful (from dehydration, I presume).
I’ve had many CT’s with contrast. No biggie. First they should do bloodwork to check your creatine, something to do with how your kidneys can handle the contrast. That test takes a while. While waiting they will give you the contrast to drink, mixed in about 12-16 oz of flavored water, still tastes like cough syrup to me.
When you are in and they inject the contrast, you will fill a really weird warm flush, starting at the ears and working down. You will more than likely get the sensation that you just peed your pants, seriously.
You will be in the tube for only a short time then it is done. Like I said, no biggie and way better than an MRI. A lot shorter and a bigger tube.
I was told this before my one and only CT scan for the same general area. I found it to be a major understatement, as I literally thought my vagina had been set on fire for about two and a half seconds. It passed quickly and most people don’t seem to report the heat being that strong, but forewarned is forearmed, and all that.
I had a CT scan last year in the same area. They make you breathe in and hold your breath while they scan. It’s never more breath holding than you can handle - just think of all the people who have actual breathing problems who manage to do it!
I had a follow-up MRI after the CT and I agree the CT is much more pleasant. It doesn’t take that long, it’ll be over in no time.
I have a scan annually, and it is just not a big deal. There’s some preparatory fiddling around before the scan starts, but the actual scan takes 15 minutes or less. For me, the warming sensation is almost non-existent.
ThelmaLou, they have you drink some thick stuff when you get there, then you also get IV contrast while you’re lying on the machine. The breath holding is about ten seconds and you’ll probably have to do it two or three times. The machine lets you know a few seconds before you need to hold your breath, tells you when to hold it, and there’s a countdown so you know exactly how long you have left. The IV contrast makes me sneeze and I end up holding my breath and sneezing, and still my scans come out fine. The techs always tell me I’m the only person they’ve had who sneezes from the contrast so don’t worry about that.
You’ll be fine. I hope your scan is “unremarkable”.
Not to mess you up or anything, but I’ve had CT with contrast and not had to drink anything, so it may just depend. (I will not make a joke. I will not make a joke.) You will get a burning sensation and may feel like you have peed yourself, but you haven’t. It is miles better than an MRI. Much more open and not nearly as loud. Faster too I think.
The sensation was so bizarre that I instantly barfed. Not an allergic reaction, just a psychological one, I guess. I was extremely embarrassed, but other than that there were no negative consequences of my upchuckery.
I’ve had both MRI and CT multiple times, and I’ve found the experience to be rather relaxing (in that I’ve always fallen asleep at least momentarily and had to be prompted to wake up to do the breathing properly). So I’d say, don’t freak out, it’s a non-invasive procedure, no worse than getting an x-ray. But I swear something in the MRI was extra-relaxing. Seriously, don’t stress out about it. It’s not bad at all.
I see others have answered but I feel it would seem rude if I didn’t respond.
Yes, as others have said, you do both. And again, as others have said, it really isn’t long, or very bothersome. If you are lucky, they will insert an IV when they draw blood, one poke.
The CT scan was a piece of cake. The contrast did make me feel warm, but thanks to the good advice I got here, when I felt it, it made me smile, 'cause I was so prepared. I had i.v. only, nothing to drink. Both technicians that I dealt with were lovely.
Because I was such a good patient, I’m treating myself to eggs Benedict for breakfast at The Egg & I.
Here’s the medical miracle part: my appointment was at 8:15. They called me at 8:10. I was out of there by 8:35. :eek: Whoever heard of such a thing? It gets better. When I got to the pay booth in the parking garage, it was closed, and the gate was open. I need to buy a lottery ticket today.
I hope the scan doesn’t find anything bad… that’s part B.
I hope your scan is “unremarkable”.