I am having a cat scan of my abdomen and pelvis tomorrow morning and I am scared to death!.
I was given instructions that I have to drink 8 oz of liquid and be injected with dye too. A double injection they call it.
I was told either I could have went and picked up a drink today and drank it at home an hour before my test or I could wait and go to the clinic where I'm having it done and drink a solution there that is silimar to crystal light.
I opted to drink the crystal light type drink at the clinic tomorrow morning. The technician I talked to said it tastes much better because the other, a barium drink she said is thicker and chalkier tasting and the crystal light type one is just like drinking water and is flavored.
Well I am scared that I'm going to get sick after drinking it and being injected too.
They asked me too when I was being scheduled if I was allergic to iodine because i guess thats what the dye is. As far as I know I'm not but what if I am and I don't know it then I drink the drink and get injected and have a serious allergic reaction.
I have a hard time swallowing as it is and I am also double nervous about just drinking down the solution.Has anyone ever had this test done?
Please be bluntly honest with me. Tell me everything to expect tomorrow so there will be no suprises.
How does the drink taste? Is it really bad? I asked how much and they told me 8 oz worth, like a bottle of water.
I have undiagnosed stomach problems and have practically had every other test done, endoscopy, colonoscopy, hida scan, ultrasound, every blood test my gastroenterologist can think of has been done and nothing.
He can't figure out why my stomach burns so far down, I burn around my belly button area, frequently get sick at my stomach but never throw up and I have been having green bowel movements sometimes, I have trouble swallowing, food gets stuck in my throat and even after it goes down it still feels like there is something there. I practically begged my doctor to dialate my esophagus but he said on my scope he didn't see any reason too. Well I gave him a reason, I choke when I eat!
I am giving this doc one last chance to help me then I'm finding someone new.

It'll be okay, I know how scary the anticipation can be. I had one done about a year and a half ago. It was my first one and I was so nervous. I didn't have the option of different types of drinks, so I had to drink the nasty barium.

The test itself was really quick and easy. Just know that when they give you the dye injection, it will make you warm and tingly. It felt as if I had peed myself for a very brief moment. :eek:

Good luck and I hope that everything goes well for you!

I've had all the digestive system tests and the Cat Scan was the easiest.
Eight ounces of drink will seem very little...especially if you drank the Colonoscopy stuff or had that foul stuff for a Barium Swallow. They insert an IV and after they start the scan they will inject some iodine into the port.
The iodine might make you feel warm, but that's it. They can see you and hear you during the scan and you can talk to them, so it's not like your being swallowed by the machinery! Good luck!

Hi, I had it done also about a year ago, and have had upper and lower GI both done as well as ultra sounds and MRIs.
I have to be honesst. I did not like this test. It was very uncomfortable.
I did have to drink the yucky chalky stuff, so that you won't have at least. but the dye burned when it went in me and was very uncomfortable I thought. I'm not a wimp. I've had two colonoscopies,and an endoscope, and other tests, but this one did me in. I went home and slept the rest of the day. Maybe I was sensitive to the dye?
Most people seem to do ok, and I'm sure you will too. Just try to stay calm and hope you get something diagnosed. good luck.

I never had the crystal drink but did have the barium and it tastes HORRIBLE! As for having a reaction--the people doing the scan can hear you and see you so if something does happen then they will be there to help you or have someone else help you. Just stay calm and you will be fine.

Good Luck!

Good luck, Lets us know how thing go!!
I am scared I have to have a Barium follow through next thursday, I will have to drink lots of that evil barium, this test can take up too 6 hours!!

Will be think of you xxx

God Bless...Mandy

I had a CT scan for my abdomen and pelvis few months ago. I didn't have the IV dye because I'm allergic to it. I drank the crystal yellow solution at the waiting room. It is a bit bitter. One glass every 15 mins, total of 4 glasses (a jug). They said drink it slowly but I didn't. If slowly, I would throw out so I drank quickly without breathing.

Just a reminder, after the scan I felt nothing and no reaction. I went to shopping.... Trouble it came. I felt like want to go to the toilet but "Pop" it comes. A very quick movement shootting out from my bottom. I end up with a big mess. Gosh! I haven't run up to the toilet yet but second, third were shooting out continously.

Good luck, don't forget to post your result and how well that you're going with your scan. Please let us know.

Pika

The green bowel movements can be from blue or yellow dyes in your food, this is the most common cause, I know because I had the same problem and freaked out!

Well I had the CAT scan done and I had an allergic reaction to the drink that they gave me.
I got half way through the drink, which didn't taste too bad by the way, tasted like lemonade crystal light like they said it would with just a bit of tartness.
Well I had noticed that right after I started drinking it my hands started to feel really cold and started to burn so I let the nurse know and she panicked and didn't know what to do so she went and asked the doctor and she came back with a big bottle of water and said the doctor told you to drink this.
Well I freaked out and wasn't feeling well, probably from very very high anxiety and my stomach was bloated and sick like it always feels so I panicked and refused even the iodine because I was afraid I would feel even sicker after that.
I also don't know if it was all nerves but I really had difficulty swallowing even the bottle of water they gave me to drink.
The nurses also said they have never heard of anyone being allergic to the drink either.
What is this from? Nerves or did the dye drink do this to me?
Well they went ahead with the CAT scan and so today I called my gastroenterologist and he said everything looked very faded because no dye was used and he couldn't tell what was what so he wants to repeat the CAT scan again next week.
He said he can prescribe me a steroid drug that many people who have been know to have reactions to the drugs they give you for this CAT scan, its helps them and is supposed to prevent a reaction. I would take a pill 12 hours before the test then 1 hour before.
Has anyone ever heard of this being done or had it?
Well I am really scared now. I don't know if I should take the pill, which I have trouble swallowing and I don't even know if I can swallow the pill. Well I am scared if I should try the crystal light drink or not or take the barium.
Is the barium really thick and hard to swallow? Which do you have to drink more of?
Please someone give me advice on what I should do. I am so scared!

Also just another quick question.
If I go ahead and go through with this the second time can my gastroenterologist prescribe me something just for that day for anxiety like a valium or something that will keep me calm so I can get through it?
Or will I have to go to my family doctor and get something?
I was already charged $2300 for the first CAT scan so on top of everything I'll already owe almost $5000 just for the CAT scans. Plus the steroid pill prescription before the test and the doctors visit to go see either the gastro doc or my family doc to get something for anxiety.
I don't have insurance and I just received a call tonight that I lost my job.
I work through a temp agency and I've been missing a lot of work because of having all this testing and doctors visits so the temp agency and the company I was working for decided to end my assignment.

If I were you I would ask for a few minutes to sit and talk with the doctor that performs the scan, so you know exactly what to expect. Find out what procedures are taken, if you have an allergic reaction. I would assume since you are at a medical facility, they can prescribe something for anxiety. Dentists prescribe them all the time. Did you have Versed when you had your colonoscopy and endoscopy? How did you react to that? Maybe they can feed a little of that into your IV tube. I would ask about the pill they can give you before you drink the crystal light drink. See if that works in most cases. Sorry to tell you this, but the barium milkshake is the most vile, foul tasting, burning, gassy, thick, nauseating thing to drink.....especially if you have stomach problems to begin with. I don't know what the usual dose is, but the procedure I had called for about 16-24 ounces of the stuff. I'd do anything to avoid it....but that's just my opinion. I'm sure others would say it was nothing. For me, knowledge is power, so talk to your doctor and find out the answers to your questions. If you think you would be more comfortable with some pre-med for anxiety, then ask about it. I'm sure a freaked out nurse did nothing to calm your anxiety! I hope your next round goes better than the first!