Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Cat Scan

bklyn

Recommended Posts

bklyn Enthusiast
bklyn
Posted

I like some opinions from this forum - I have to decide whether or not to have a CAT scan (with contrast) done this Monday. I've had stomach pain/nausea for almost 3 mos. I've tried many antacids (which seem to make me feel worse) and I've been to Celiac Center in N.Y. Also received antacids there. My GI doctor seems unsure what to do and wants me to have a CAT scan. I don't know if I should do this, I think he may be doing this to show me that all is OK. This test terrifies me and I not sure if I should expose myself to the radiation just because there is no definite answer to my problem. What would you do?

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


angel-jd1 Community Regular
angel-jd1
Posted

If you have a doctor willing to find answers and help you then why not follow what is necessary to find the answers?? Why sit around and be sick??

People have CAT scans all the time with no problems. Do you have a reaction to the meds or something???

-Jessica :rolleyes:

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

The doseage of radiation out of CAT scan may not be trivial, but you make life choices that affect your dosage of radiation all the time, and this is probably one of the ones you're most aware of. (Take any really long distance flights, like transatlantic? Being that high in the atmosphere gives you a higher dose of various forms of radiation than being on the ground does because there is less atmosphere to screen out the radiation. And that's just one example.) If you have a family history where cancer pops up in every last person no matter what, or have had thousands of x-rays already, or have other extreme reasons why additional radiation exposure would be highly detrimental to your health, then it's something to consider - but I presume you'd have told your doctor about any extreme health considerations.

You say "I not sure if I should expose myself to the radiation just because there is no definite answer to my problem," but what if this gives you an answer to your problem? And if it doesn't, it can be EQUALLY important to rule out other problems. (For instance, I have a problem with my tailbone and sacrum. It was causing pain to go down the back of my left leg past my knee. Fairly common symptom of sciatica, really. But given my age, my activity level, and so forth, the doc ran an MRI (and I had to be sedated; I hate confined spaces) with a contrast agent. It was neither cheap nor speedy, but he wanted to rule out, based on the one symptom, a tumor (benign or not) on my spine. The MRI found nothing. It was all clear. And knowing that was a very important thing!)

minibabe Contributor
minibabe
Posted
I've had stomach pain/nausea for almost 3 mos. I've tried many antacids (which seem to make me feel worse) and I've been to Celiac Center in N.Y.

I have had radiology testing done before. And the amount of doesage of radiation I dont think is very high, because when I have had other testing done for the radiation they only told me to stay away from my little brother for just the rest of the day. But I dont think that a CAT scan is anything to worry about.

I've been on more antacids then my dad, there was a point when I was on 13 pills a day. Two of which where antacids. but I was also diagnosed with a hiatial(sp?) hernia. But I was diagnosed with that from an upper endoscopy.

What would they be checking for with the CAT scan. I dont remeber what they checked for when I went, it was a while ago. But that is somthing that I would ask him, and bring up your concerns with him. Maybe it would ease your tension about the test.

I hope that everything goes well. Good luck!

-Amanda

minibabe Contributor
minibabe
Posted

I forgot to ask, but what is the Celiac Center in NY?

gf4life Enthusiast
gf4life
Posted

My oldest boy has been on the gluten-free diet now for just over a year, and has been having stomach pain/nausea/vomiting since November. All his blood/stool/urine tests came back normal and his upper GI x-ray was also normal. They are going to do an endoscopy/colonoscopy to rule out a lot of problems, but a Cat Scan is one they haven't mentioned yet. It might be the next step if this next test doesn't tell us why he is having so much trouble.

Can I ask you where the pain is? His is mostly in his left upper abdomen. Back in November when the pain started though it was in the right side, by his liver/gallbladder area. His seems to go in a cycle and it lasts anywhere from a week to a month before another "attack".

rmmadden Contributor
rmmadden
Posted

I say get the CAT scan. If it shows something then at least you know and can take steps to overcome it. If it comes up negative then that's one less thing for you to worry about.

Best of Luck!

Cleveland Bob B)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


Guest gillian502
Guest gillian502
Posted

I've had so many CT Scans with contrast I've lost count. It's no big deal at all, for goodness sake go for it, it could lead to some answers.

Bette Explorer
Bette
Posted

Sorry to through a cog in the wheel, with the general consensus to have the cat scan with contrast, but I beg to differ. Has nothing to do with the amounts of radiation (which in the big scheme of things or negilible) but more to do with allergies to the contrast medium. I have had a bad reaction to the dye when recieving an IVP once, and from that point on, I have it flagged in my charts, I cannot use the contrast, when having mri's etc. With all things consider keep in context of your own history, I have had multiple problems through the years, and allergies and cross senitivites is one. So even though a very non invasive procedure, consider your history, and alert the dr. if there may be a potential to having an allery to the contrast medium, other than that go for it. If it will help the Dr. Good Luck,

tarnalberry Community Regular
tarnalberry
Posted

Oh definitely. They should absolutely ask you about allergies - if you have a shelfish allergy, in particular, you are NOT a candidate for most contrast agents. And, of course, any contraindication that arises (or has in the past) needs to be taken into consideration. If they don't ask you about allergies with a contrast agent, I would grill them, very carefully. (I believe, at least in CA, they have to have you sign a form stating that you're aware of the allergy risks wrt contrast dyes. Anyone know if that's true in other states?)

aaascr Apprentice
aaascr
Posted

I was supposed to have ct scans with contrast (checking gall bladder etc).

Because the testing center was not a hospital-type facility where they could

handle an allergic reaction efficiently, I chose not to have the contrast nor did the technician feel comfortable about doing it. In GA they ask you if you have allergies on the paperwork. However, no one really paid any attention to it, but I starting asking questions prior to testing because I am allergic to so many things.

Eventually, I did ultrasound.

uclangel422 Apprentice
uclangel422
Posted

I just had a CT with IV contrast two weeks ago and had to go through this whole thing about signing forms and basically swearing on my life that i was not allergic to shellfish. I live in California and did have to sign forms.

I was so panicked before i had it but it was really not a big deal. If you even think that you might have a shellfish allergy, then do not do it.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):


  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      132,395
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Graceland.h
    Newest Member
    Graceland.h
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):


  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • Scott Adams
      Coeliac UK Research Conference 2025

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      Thanks for sharing this!
    • Scott Adams
      Shingles - Could It Be Related to Gluten/ Celiac

      By Scott Adams · Posted

      I had the same thing happen to me at around your age, and to this day it's the most painful experience I've ever had. For me it was the right side of my head, above my ear, running from my nerves in my neck. For years before my outbreak I felt a tingling sensation shooting along the exact nerves that ended up exactly where the shingles blisters appeared. I highly recommend the two shot shingles vaccine as soon as your turn 50--I did this because I started to get the same tingling sensations in the same area, and after the vaccines I've never felt that again.  As you likely know, shingles is caused by chicken pox, which was once though of as one of those harmless childhood viruses that everyone should catch in the wild--little did they know that it can stay in your nervous system for your entire life, and cause major issues as you age.
    • trents
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By trents · Posted

      Keep us posted.
    • Clear2me
      Gluten free nuts

      By Clear2me · Posted

      Thanks for the info. I recently moved to CA from Wyoming and in that western region the Costco and Sam's /Walmart Brands have many nuts and more products that are labeled gluten free. I was told it's because those products are packaged and processed  in different  plants. Some plants can be labeled  gluten free because the plant does not also package gluten products and they know that for example the trucks, containers equipment are not used to handle wheat, barely or Rye. The Walmart butter in the western region says gluten free but not here. Most of The Kirkland and Members Mark brands in CA say they are from Vietnam. That's not the case in Wyoming and Colorado. I've spoken to customer service at the stores here in California. They were not helpful. I check labels every time I go to the store. The stores where I am are a Sh*tshow. The Magalopoly grocery chain Vons/Safeway/Albertsons, etc. are the same. Fishers and Planters brands no longer say gluten free. It could be regional. There are nuts with sugar coatings and fruit and nut mixes at the big chains that are labeled gluten free but I don't want the fruit or sugar.  It's so difficult I am considering moving again. I thought it would be easier to find safe food in a more populated area. It's actually worse.  I was undiagnosed for most of my life but not because I didn't try to figure it out. So I have had all the complications possible. I don't have any spare organs left.  No a little gluten will hurt you. The autoimmune process continues to destroy your organs though you may not feel it. If you are getting a little all the time and as much as we try we probably all are and so the damage is happening. Now the FDA has pretty much abandoned celiacs. There are no requirements for labeling for common allergens on medications. All the generic drugs made outside the US are not regulated for common allergens and the FDA is taking the last gluten free porcine Thyroid med, NP Thyroid, off the market in 2026. I was being glutened by a generic levothyroxin. The insurance wouldn't pay for the gluten free brand any longer because the FDA took them all off their approved formulary. So now I am paying $147 out of pocket for NP Thyroid but shortly I will have no safe choice. Other people with allergies should be aware that these foreign generic pharmaceutical producers are using ground shellfish shell as pill coatings and anti-desicants. The FDA knows this but  now just waits for consumers to complain or die. The take over of Wholefoods by Amazon destroyed a very reliable source of good high quality food for people with allergies and for people who wanted good reliably organic food. Bezos thought  he could make a fortune off people who were paying alot for organic and allergen free food by substituting cheap brands from Thailand. He didn't understand who the customers were who were willing to pay more for that food and why. I went from spending hundreds to nothing because Bezo removed every single trusted brand that I was buying. Now they are closing Whole foods stores across the country. In CA, Mill Valley store (closed July 2025) and the National Blvd. store in West Los Angeles (closed October 2025). The Cupertino store will close.  In recent years I have learned to be careful and trust no one. I have been deleberately glutened in a restaurant that was my favorite (a new employee). The Chef owner was not in the kitchen that night. I've had  a metal scouring pad cut up over my food.The chain offered gluten free dishes but it only takes one crazy who thinks you're a problem as a food fadist. Good thing I always look. Good thing they didn't do that to food going to a child with a busy mom.  I give big tips and apologize for having to ask in restaurants but mental illness seem to be rampant. I've learn the hard way.          I don't buy any processed food that doesn't say gluten free.  I am a life long Catholic. I worked for the Church while at college. I don't go to Church anymore because the men at the top decided Jesus is gluten. The special hosts are gluten less not gluten free. No I can't drink wine after people with gluten in their mouth and a variety of deadly germs. I have been abandoned and excluded by my Church/Family.  Having nearly died several times, safe food is paramount. If your immune system collapses as mine did, you get sepsis. It can kill you very quickly. I spent 5 days unconscious and had to have my appendix and gall bladder removed because they were necrotic. I was 25. They didn't figure out I had celiac till I was 53. No one will take the time to tell you what can happen when your immune system gets overwhelmed from its constant fighting the gluten and just stops. It is miserable that our food is processed so carelessly. Our food in many aspects is not safe. And the merging of all the grocery chains has made it far worse. Its a disaster. Krogers also recently purchased Vitacost where I was getting the products I could no longer get at Whole Foods. Kroger is eliminating those products from Vitacost just a Bezos did from WF. I am looking for reliable and certified sources for nuts. I have lived the worst consequences of the disease and being exposed unknowingly and maliciously. Once I was diagnosed I learned way more than anyone should have to about the food industry.  I don't do gray areas. And now I dont eat out except very rarely.  I have not eaten fast food for 30 years before the celiac diagnosis. Gluten aside..... It's not food and it's not safe.  No one has got our backs. Sharing safe food sources is one thing we can do to try to be safe.        
    • Mmoc
      Blood tests low iGA 4 years later digestive issues

      By Mmoc · Posted

      Thank you kindly for your response. I have since gotten the other type of bloods done and am awaiting results. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.