WORRIED: CT scan Dangers

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Originally Posted By: radtech91
Originally Posted By: SumpChump

Doc wants entire aorta and heart as well as main vessels in groin legs. Think neck to ankles. He used a fancy term meaning "trailing off at the ankles". I think he is also looking at and around the "Vagus" nerve for growth or things that could be pressing on it due to some slipped beats and flutters I have had...as well as the aortic family history. Kind of a two birds with one stone reasoning to hos CT order.

No idea on the contrast or amount. My understanding is many places dont even have a radiation minimization protocol and some places amp it up just to have nice resolution. It seems to be a very loosly regulated part of the CT "business" nationwide... no real radiation dosing rules.


Dude really? Each State should have a radiation dose that is allowed for each exam and even by weight. Has to be complied with and is audited every year. We have to be certified by Ohio each year. Plus depending on your facility they may have a dose saver, ours saves 12-20% on each exam. We have a physicist that comes a few times a year and monitors all that as well.
As long as your facility has trained and registered CT Techs with the ARRT you will be fine.

How much the general public actually knows about radiation is unbelievable, just reading through these people posts is quite funny and sad how much these people “think” they know.

Seriously talk to you doctor and you can eve ask the technologist at the hospital your questions. I’m a CT tech, you really need to talk to people that actually know what they are talking about.


Besides the radiation, the contrast is scary. I had a double kidney infection 6 years ago and kinda have doubts how great they are.

Back on topic. ...Out here in rural Wi most hospital techs as just "push the button" level drones. Should i call and ask for the CT rep to ask by phone? I have a feeling i'll get a deer in headlights look from tech laying me down when i get in there. Is there anything to ask and that if they cant answer I should ...run not walk out of there? Thanks for your tips!
 
Originally Posted By: SumpChump
Originally Posted By: Leo99
I had a cancer scare a few years ago. CT scans, PET scans, MRI. I finally got into a fight with a doctor and stopped the scans.

Doctors practice defensive medicine. If the chances are 1 in 100 there's a problem, are you willing to roll the dice?


I'm afraid of rolling the dice. 1/100 is pretty scary odds. And the cancer tends to be 15-20 years out. Just as I arrive 57-60 and he is long out of the profession having enjoyed his Porsche. Bye bye to my retirement fun then.

He’s not telling you that there’s a 1/100 risk of cancer.

Let’s find out what dose of radiation you’re getting and go from there.

One additional thought: I lived in a very isolated and rural area for far too long. The hospital was atrocious. You should consider traveling to a big city for anything more serious than a hangnail. You’re more likely to get better staff and newer, more andvanced equipment at a large hospital with a good reputation.
 
Doctors don't want to get sued. If the standard procedure for your symptom is to get a test, doctor has to do it or if things hit the fan you or your survivors will sue, and his liability insurance won't cover. So don't blame it on the doctor.

CT scan is X ray, so it does have some radiation, however the image processing is much more powerful today so your x ray and CT scan are much lower radiation and much safer than before.

I think you go through the same sort of radiation when you go through airport security. If they can see through you it is an X ray. Or whatever beyond UV that can pass through your body which is ionizing and can damage your cell.
 
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You'll only need the scan if your insurance covers it. Otherwise, you're okay. But you are right being worried about the process. If you've got a symptom, a family history, and healthcare insurance then he's got a procedure, a test, an injection, an appliance or a pill. You can completely ignore living a healthy lifestyle. Just keep coming back to see your doctor.

----------------------------------------------------

One day a man takes his dead dog to the vet. The vet says that he's sorry but the dog is dead.

The man says that's not good enough. He wants a second opinion. The vet brings out a cat. The cat walks up to the dead dog and says, "Meow".

Still not satisfied the man demands another opinion. The vet brings out a labrador retriever. The lab looks at the dead dog and says, "Woof".

The vet looks at the man and says that'll be $500, $300 for the cat scan and $200 for the lab work.
 
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Stop being a chicken, CT scans are safe.


Do CT techs stay around machine as given or avoid them like X-rays?
 
Originally Posted By: Dallas69
Don't get all worked up .
Why don't you ask your doc about the risks?
You don't get massive amounts from a scan.
I've had over 20 in the last 10 yrs and no ill effects.
The first thing my Oncologist told me was don't read the internet.
It will just scare you.


Your oncologist likely told you that because it's easier for him to deal with uninformed patients.
I got the skinny from a doc in training (as mentioned above) and part of what they learn is how to bend the patients to their will.
Of course, don't blindly believe what you read on the web, either.

I do not remotely advocate ignoring doctors, just to make them justify what they want to do. I saw a close family member completely ignore a doctor's strong recommendation and try to cure a serious issue with bogus herbal "cures" and vitamins, which led directly to an early death. Just make them treat you like an adult and tell you their plan in detail with justifications for every step.
 
Originally Posted By: sleddriver
Wow....irrational fear of radiation once again raising its ugly head. Just discussing this issue in another thread.

Just remember you breathe Oxygen, which is very corrosive, causes the formation of free radicals and greatly accelerates combustion.


You think that stuff is bad, wait until you read up on dihydrogen monoxide.
 
Originally Posted By: SumpChump
Besides the radiation, the contrast is scary. I had a double kidney infection 6 years ago and kinda have doubts how great they are.

Back on topic. ...Out here in rural Wi most hospital techs as just "push the button" level drones. Should i call and ask for the CT rep to ask by phone? I have a feeling i'll get a deer in headlights look from tech laying me down when i get in there. Is there anything to ask and that if they cant answer I should ...run not walk out of there? Thanks for your tips!


Before they do the scan, they will take a small sample of blood and check your creatinine and GFR. From there they can see how much of the iodine contrast and also the concentration of it.
If you just had kidney infections and that was 6 years ago you will be fine. Don’t worry about that. After the test just drink plenty of fluids for the next 24 hours.

Are you diabetic?

Oh ok, I see, I get that. Even if its a smaller hospital they should have at least 1 tech there that is certified. I can’t remember if it was July last year or its July this year, every tech has to be registered with the ARRT to do CTs. They have to take their boards to do it. Before you have the scan scheduled you can go talk to the dept. The supervisor or even the director of radiology should be able to answer your questions. Their radiologist may even come to talk to you. I know ours have done that before. If you don’t feel that they are qualified then don’t get it done there.

Since they want you to get the whole aorta and runoff down to the feet, you would be getting about 200mL of the contrast, and right after that should be about 100mL of saline bolus injected.

Any exposure to radiation isn’t necessarily good. There is no direct answer if your exposed to this many CTs or X-rays that you will get cancer. You could have one chest X-ray and get something and have 6 CTs and not, its variable, stochastic is what they called it in school.

But, especially dealing with your aorta, you can die from an aneurysm, either dissecting or rupturing, if you have family history it may be good to get that checked out.
 
Originally Posted By: madRiver
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Stop being a chicken, CT scans are safe.


Do CT techs stay around machine as given or avoid them like X-rays?


Rad techs are not the patient so they are in the control room.
 
Originally Posted By: supton
Originally Posted By: sleddriver
Wow....irrational fear of radiation once again raising its ugly head. Just discussing this issue in another thread.

Just remember you breathe Oxygen, which is very corrosive, causes the formation of free radicals and greatly accelerates combustion.


You think that stuff is bad, wait until you read up on dihydrogen monoxide.
Amazing the lack of coverage this substance receives....
 
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