[Jupiter]

I'm getting a CT scan Monday, and I've never had one before. What can I expect? Is it usually a very long process? I'm a little freaked out, but I'm sure that's to be expected.

I would really appreciate any help you guys give me.

[7Corners]

You get to drink two very large cups of Barium before going in. They taste like shit, and you will absolutely shit your brains out later that day. Just make sure that when you get up to flush that you plug your nose, otherwise you might add a bit of vomit to the volatile mixture in the toilet bowl.

CAT scans really arent that bad, considering the worst part of it is the Barium when it exits your body. It's exactly like getting an x-ray.

[Salisobres]

you will absolutely shit your brains out later that day.

It's mean, but that made me laugh.

[Quila]

i didnt' drink any barium when I got a CAT scan.

And depending on the machine they use, if you're claustrophobic you might want to request a sedative.

I got to be scanned by an open machine (It was a big circle with a thing you lay down on in the middle of it and the circle goes over your head a few times) which was great, because if I had to go into one of those ones where you're in that little tube, I would have freaked the fuck out.

It's not that bad though. It lasts at the most 45 minutes and you just have to lay there.

[7Corners]

I had to do the barium because they injected some kind of chemical into my blood stream that made the barium glow to make it easier for them to see my innards.

[Rarz]

The barium is a contrast medium which means that it makes certain things stand out when you're being scanned. It's usually if you're getting scanned in areas where the density of the tissue being scanned doesn't vary very much so it makes it easier to differentiate. I can't confirm or deny the whole shitting thing because I haven't had it done...but I'd take Eric's word on that.

And a CT scan is basically like an x-ray just it's done with three dimentions instead of two like a normal x-ray. The round part that Vanessa mentioned that goes around your head or whatever part is being scanned emits x-rays but in 360 degrees and depending on how dense the tissue is in a particular are, that is how much of the x-ray will pass through to the detector on the other side. The readings of absorbancy from all angles are added up to give a total absorbancy for each "slice" the machine scans and then the slices can be put together to give a 3D image. The barium that Eric is talking about would have been introduced to allow for more sensitive imaging in that a supposed tumour or whatever may be only slightly denser than the surrounding tissue and in a normal x-ray or CT scan it wouldn't show up. The barium affects the contrast to make it more obvious.

I'm sorry if that's too technical...it's the most basic kind of understanding of CT scans because we were just studying it in physics . Otherwise I would have had no idea. If you do want me to explain any more of it I can try. Or I can ask my dad because he's a doctor. He'd probably write an essay on it because he loves to talk.

You'll be fine though. No need to stress.

[song_of_serenity]

i didnt' drink any barium when I got a CAT scan.

And depending on the machine they use, if you're claustrophobic you might want to request a sedative.

I got to be scanned by an open machine (It was a big circle with a thing you lay down on in the middle of it and the circle goes over your head a few times) which was great, because if I had to go into one of those ones where you're in that little tube, I would have freaked the fuck out.

It's not that bad though. It lasts at the most 45 minutes and you just have to lay there.

This was my experience as well. However, I SWEAR they missed something, because I still get the same kind of pain that made them give me a CAT scan in the first place.
~*Janelle~*

[minara]

I had one done in September for brain tumors...all I had to do is lay on a bed thing and they strapped my head down so I wouldn't move...and this weird rotating ring went around my head for 3 minutes taking pictures.

I did have one done when I was like 15 because I accidentally got electrocuted, and I was actually in the MRI machine that is like a coffin.

The whole procedure was painless, although I do distinctly remember the coffin one smelling like burning.

[7Corners]

The barium is a contrast medium which means that it makes certain things stand out when you're being scanned. It's usually if you're getting scanned in areas where the density of the tissue being scanned doesn't vary very much so it makes it easier to differentiate. I can't confirm or deny the whole shitting thing because I haven't had it done...but I'd take Eric's word on that.

And a CT scan is basically like an x-ray just it's done with three dimentions instead of two like a normal x-ray. So they usually will inject you with a radioisotope which will decompose in your body to emit (and I'm sorry if I'm getting a bit too technical here...I'll try and make it simple) what is called a positron. You've probably heard of electrons? Well basically positrons and electrons are the opposite of each other. Both of them have a tiny mass...so it's basically negligible and then they have charges which are equal and opposite to each other. You have electrons in your body normally and when the radioisotope breaks down into positrons, they react with the electrons to produced gamma rays. These gamma rays are what come out of your body and are able to be detected by the CT machine to generate the scan. The reason why it's circular is because the gamma rays emit in all directions, hence why it's a 3-D process.

I'm sorry if that's too technical...it's the most basic kind of understanding of CT scans because we were just studying it in physics . Otherwise I would have had no idea. If you do want me to explain any more of it I can try. Or I can ask my dad because he's a doctor. He'd probably write an essay on it because he loves to talk.

You'll be fine though. No need to stress.

yeah that's basically what i was trying to say...except your highly intelligent post made mine look like verbal garbage. but hey...i got the shitting part right.

[Rarz]

yeah that's basically what i was trying to say...except your highly intelligent post made mine look like verbal garbage. but hey...i got the shitting part right.

Well together they make for awesome information.

[7Corners]

Oh yeah, and your shit will also be white, just like the barium mixture you drank.

[BassetCase]

I had a CT scan and I didn't drink barium. I think depending on why you are getting the CT scan is whether or not you will have to drink anything or anything will be injected into your blood stream.
I thought you only drink something for Upper and Lower GI's. Not for CT scans. I am not quite sure though.

The CT scan doesn't hurt. I wouldn't worry.

[7Corners]

Nope, I had a CAT scan in my abdominal region (they thought I had a tumor in my liver).

[BassetCase]

Nope, I had a CAT scan in my abdominal region (they thought I had a tumor in my liver).

Oh okay. When I think of a CT scan I think of an X-ray of your head. I guess you could get it anywhere though.

[jmig]

i didnt' drink any barium when I got a CAT scan.

And depending on the machine they use, if you're claustrophobic you might want to request a sedative.

I got to be scanned by an open machine (It was a big circle with a thing you lay down on in the middle of it and the circle goes over your head a few times) which was great, because if I had to go into one of those ones where you're in that little tube, I would have freaked the fuck out.

It's not that bad though. It lasts at the most 45 minutes and you just have to lay there.

I didn't have to drink barium either

def. get the sedative or the open machine if you are at all claustrophobic - or better yet get the sedative and the open machine

it is a little noisy but no big deal overall - my 2 year old just had to have one and she was fine

no worries

Nope, I had a CAT scan in my abdominal region (they thought I had a tumor in my liver).

oh - yikes - assuming all was good?

[Monica]

They taste like shit, and you will absolutely shit your brains out later that day.

The imagery.

[7Corners]

oh - yikes - assuming all was good?

yeah, it ended up being a torn oblique muscle

The imagery.

Yes, I tried to paint a vivid picture for you all.

[showgirl]

I had a CT scan and I didn't drink barium. I think depending on why you are getting the CT scan is whether or not you will have to drink anything or anything will be injected into your blood stream.

Agreed.

I have had 3 types of CT Scans, all different.

1. In the coffin/tube thing for a full body scan after a Motorbike accident.I will say it was rather unpleasant and quite noisy.I am not afraid of enclosed spaces at all but this did scare me a little.It's just so unnatural to be in such a small space and then told to remain perfectly still. Certainly not painful..just uncomfortable.Lasted over an hour.

2.Open scan on my pelvis while 8 months pregnant.Lasted 10 mins.

3.Recently a scan on my Thyroid Gland.This was probably the most uncomfortable.I was injected with low dose Radiation then waited for 10 mins for it to work.I lay on a normal hospital bed and the panel they were using was lowered to about 2cms from my neck.Having to stay in the same position with a huge panel right in face was awful -but necessary.Lasted 1 hour or so.

I wouldn't worry there is no pain involved.

[jmig]

yeah, it ended up being a torn oblique muscle

sounds painful but a hell of alot better than a liver tumor!

[JthomasZ]

I lacerated my spleen and had to get CAT scan a couple years ago, but they didn't make me drink that nasty crap.. They did injected some clear stuff into my IV though... When i came back in for a check up, about 2 weeks after they let me outta the hospital, they made me drink that nasty (i got the apple flavored) white smoothie type thing..

I'd say the worst thing about it all, was the stuff they made me drink...so nothing to worry about. (in my opinion)