Cat scan with contrast - Digestive Disorders Message Board

Hamilton92 · 07-16-2007, 07:43 PM

I am scheduled for another cat scan of my abdomen and pelvin with contrast.
The last time I had this done I had a severe allergic reaction to the drink, my body felt like it was on fire all over and I got these red splotches on my hands and face. I was so scared! It wasn't the nasty barium chalky drink but a crystal light sour lemonade tasting drink.
I couldn't go through with the iodine injection for fear of another allergic reaction.
Now I've gotten the second opinion of another gastroenterologist and he wants a cat scan also.
I scared to drink the drink again and I have swallowing problems and don't know if I can even swallow that chalky thick barium without choking or getting sick.
He recommended pretreatment with steroids before the cat scan but I can't swallow pills so I cant take them.
Is steroid pretreatment available via injection?
Has anyone had to go through this?
Please help.

My symptoms ongoing for 3 years are:

Swollen stomach
Nausea
Severe burning in my stomach around my belly button area and just above.
Sometimes a slight pain on the right side of my stomach.
My stomach will burn really really badly for a few days and then I'll get diarreah for one day usually and then the next day I am tender and swollen in my stomach and have constipation.
I can't swallow solids, the food gets stuck as soon as I swallow it.
I sometimes even have trouble with soft foods like mashed potatoes etc..

sam78 · 07-17-2007, 06:22 PM

Hamilton, I am allergic to contrast as well and yes steroids are available via injection however, you have be pretreated for 13 hours with steriods. You have two options, go into the hospital to get these steriods IV for 13 hours prior to your scan and then be discharged, orrrrr you can have your pharmacy make it into a liquid. They have steriods for children in liquid form but I will tell it tastes extremely nasty, but considering your options it might be best. Also you can talk to the place that is going to do you CT scan and tell them your reaction and your swallowing problems and they may be able to give you a different type of contrast, or just mix it in with something you can drink, like a protein shake or something. It depends on if the place you will be having this done at has the appropriate types of contrast or not. Also my last CT scan they gave me a different type of IV contrast that was not iodine that is used for people that are allergic to iodine contrast. I was still pretreated but handled it very well. Hope this helps.

Hamilton92 · 07-27-2007, 09:39 PM

Thanks so much that makes me feel better. I haven't had the Cat scan yet but I fear the contrast drink. I've never been allergic to anything in my life until then. You say the pharmacy has a steroid liquid they can give you. Do you have to go to a special pharmacy to get that or just your regular everyday pharmacy has it available? I am not for staying in the hospital for 13 hours on an iv! I am scared to death of doctors, hospitals and all.
I have been suffering endlessly for 3 years now with no relief.
I am so scared now that my insides of my stomach and esophagus are so eroded and scarred that I am going to be beyond help when I finally get a diagnosis.
I constantly burn everyday all day. I go through a bottle of Gaviscon a week and it doesn't really help, it eases the burning for a few minutes right after swallowing but then its back to burning again.
I don't understand what is going on. I just want it to stop. I have constant worries now that something is going to happen to me soon and I'm going to die and I'll won't get to see my kids grow up. I am getting really really scared and desperate here.
I dont' have medical insurance and I've tried to get state help with Medicaid insurance and they tell me they only help people in poverty or pregnant women with insurance and I'm neither so I can't get help.
I don't know what to do.

sam78 · 07-30-2007, 09:29 PM

Hamilton, sorry to hear about your problems. Yes you can get the liquid at your regular pharmacy. The other thing you can do, which I heard might be a better way to do it, is to get the pills and then crush them and put them in something you can take. I know it sounds horrible tasting but the liquid is just as horrible tasting and that way you wouldnt have to take so much. It sounds like you need a scope more than you do a CT scan. Scope would show more, so if you are that afraid of doctors, hospitals, etc, you might try to convince your doctor to do a scope than put you threw tests.

hopesprings2 · 08-09-2007, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamilton92

I am scheduled for another cat scan of my abdomen and pelvin with contrast.
The last time I had this done I had a severe allergic reaction to the drink, my body felt like it was on fire all over and I got these red splotches on my hands and face. I was so scared! It wasn't the nasty barium chalky drink but a crystal light sour lemonade tasting drink.
I couldn't go through with the iodine injection for fear of another allergic reaction.
Now I've gotten the second opinion of another gastroenterologist and he wants a cat scan also.
I scared to drink the drink again and I have swallowing problems and don't know if I can even swallow that chalky thick barium without choking or getting sick.
He recommended pretreatment with steroids before the cat scan but I can't swallow pills so I cant take them.
Is steroid pretreatment available via injection?
Has anyone had to go through this?
Please help.

My symptoms ongoing for 3 years are:

Swollen stomach
Nausea
Severe burning in my stomach around my belly button area and just above.
Sometimes a slight pain on the right side of my stomach.
My stomach will burn really really badly for a few days and then I'll get diarreah for one day usually and then the next day I am tender and swollen in my stomach and have constipation.
I can't swallow solids, the food gets stuck as soon as I swallow it.
I sometimes even have trouble with soft foods like mashed potatoes etc..

THEY CAN LOOK IN YOUR TUMMY WITH A TUBE.WITHOUT CONTRAST
THEY PUT U IN A TWLIGHT ZONE .......I CANT AND DONT DO CONTRAST EITHER