Anyone have a CT Scan with contrast?
 

I am scheduled for a CT scan next week and wonder how it was if you had to drink that Barium icky stuff. And what happens after - do you feel poorly the rest of the day?

The next day I am going to the Road to CA quilt show and I want to feel well for that...I will even reschedule if I won't be up to snuff!

What is your experience?

They used to make you drink that stuff for GI xrays. I could be wrong, but I don't think you have to take it for CT scans.

If you do though, don't worry about it, I had it a long time ago and can't remember it making me feel ill or anything like that. Just do what the nurse tells you to and it'll be fine.

I had a couple of them and never had a reaction. They had me drink 8 oz at 15 minute intervals because it is filling but not enough to make you sick. I believe mine was what they called orange flavored. It wasn't horrible but it wasn't something that you would say, "Wow, that was yummy" either. It doesn't stay in your system for very long either. I was able to work the next day without any problem.

I remember getting something similar done and don't know if i drank the Barium or if they "filled" me up. i do know before i could get off the table, they gave me an enema!! Then i visited the bathroom. No problems afterward though.
perhaps you should call the office and talk to someone. i'm sure they help patients all the time with questions on procedures.

I had the scan with contrast in the Spring. about it not staying in your system long, the attendants "forgot" to give me the paper with the "side effect" listed on them. My caution would be to go home as soon as possible. Do not stop for shopping on the way. and stay close to your bathroom. it was not so much fun! And the clean-up was something we won't talk about. ASK is the best advice I can give you......before you go have this done. Phone the hospital since I have found that sometimes Dr's office does not know what the hospital is using. Get your information from the people who administer the tests. What I drank looked like water...and every 15 min but it tasted like the plastic cup it was in. Not all tests are using the same products. I was told they no longer use barium.

June in Cincinnati

YES!! I'm an expert at these.....seriously.
 

I've had probably had 8-10 CT Scans with contrast in the last 5 years due to a cancer diagnosis, surgery, and chemo.....Here's the tips I've learned:

1. Get the Contrast the day before. The local hospital here will give it to you so that you don't have to show up 2 hours before your scan and chug it down in their waiting room. (Be sure to see if they have a choice of flavors....I once was able to get a Berry flavored one and it was 300% better than the orange.)

2. PUT IT IN THE REFRIGERATOR. You can then almost convince yourself it is an orange milkshake or smoothie.

3. Get a straw from McDonald's. They have the largest diameter straws of any fast food joint. It's easier to suck it down with a straw.

4. Hold your nose and suck it down with a straw....straight down your throat....don't let it touch your taste buds....trust me on that one....

5. The contrast didn't really affect me after getting it down....No mad dashes to the potty or feelings of nausea....I have gone shopping and done other things after the scan...

I'm coming up on my last 6 month scan...In slightly more than 3 weeks, I'm going to be 5 years cancer free and waiting a whole year before another scan...

I worked for 8 years for a radiology facility and had a CT scan. Was told by one of the doc's that an extremely small percentage of people react to the contrast given orally for abdominal and pelvic CTs. Believe it was one in 60 people. I was one that did. Nothing frightening but a lot of diarrhea for the rest of the day, I'm guessing until the stuff was out of my system. Ohiobuckeye's suggestion of chilling it and drinking with a straw works out nicely. Best wishes to you.

I have one annually also since I had cancer. I have no problems with them or the contrast. Lately they haven't been that horrible to drink and they are not requiring me to drink the whole bottle. Just enough to show up on the scans.

The most uncomfortablest part of the whole exam for me is when I am going thru the ct machine it warms my body and it feels like I am wetting in my pants. I know I am not but the heat from the radiation makes it feel that way.
Good luck.

I had one this past Wednesday.Had no discomfort whatsoever although the prep tastes awful and is hard to drink

I couldn't have said it better. I've had a similar number of scans with contrast, also for a cancer diagnosis. It did cause diarrhea for me, but only until it was out of my system. Can't say that it tasted good, but cold is better.

I just had one done, last Friday, yes the 13th.

The drink doesn't taste good, but suck on a candy afterwards and it's not a big deal. No mad dash to the bathroom! How did I feel afterwards, like always, just fine. May be the taste lingered awhile, but that was all.

No need to reschedule your appointment. You'll be just fine.

good morning, I too have had CTs with contrast and the worst part is the drinking but pretending it is a shake will get you thru. I am so far 3 yrs and free but do scans every 6 mos. Glad they have them and super blessed it was found. Best of luck to you and pm. me if'd you'd like

Aren't some CT Scans with contrast done via "dye" that they inject?

I've had a few; of my chest and of my brain. Normally for the most part there are no side affects. I've only known one person who was alergic to the contrast. You should be fine for travel.

The contrast is normally given now thru IV (around here it is) so no drinking ucky stuff.

I had one done in December. I got the Berry flavored barium. Had to drink one the night before and the other shortly before the test. They were not bad. I put them in the fridge and had them cold. The "contrast" is given during the test via IV. You will feel a "flush" of being warm for a few minutes, nothing else. (unless you are allergic to it, that's why a DR needs to be in house, Just in case) No problems the next day whatsoever! Your BM may be a little chalky white for a couple of days. You should be good to go for the Road to California Quilt show.
BTY I and 4 other friends will be there. I will be in a wheel chair though. Can't walk much with out pain.

Wishing good results to those of you who've mentioned your cancer battles and I hope your future scans will show nothing! And to OHIOBUCKEYE congratulations on moving to the once-a-year-scan schedule. I remember how happy we were when my husband went from every three months to every six months and finally was told "come back in a year". Good health to all of you.

They gave me a shot for the contrast for my CT scan. What am I missing here?

Rann, you're not missing anything. Abdominal CT scans with contrast typically have you drinking the chalky stuff and also injecting something during the scan. At least all mine have been. Depends on the diagnosis, what they are looking for, and which part of the body they're checking out.

I have frequent CTscans with contrast to check for reoccurrence of cancer (every six months). Nowadays the stuff they give me is almost like a smoothie. I get a berry flavored one. There is no problem afterwards - just need to drink a lot of water.

I have had several CT scans with contrast because of lung cancer and breast cancer diagnosis almost 4 years ago. All of mine were by injection. It didn't seem to bother me at all. Good luck.

I have had 6 or so CT scan with contrast it taste nasty like unsweet cool-aid. I always have to have an IV that is the most uncomforabe part........oh waiting for the results is harder. Try to relax.............

I have had several and had no after effects at all. Good Luck

I had a CT scan with contrast when I had a kidney stone, but they injected the dye into me. It was not unpleasant.

I think I drank some orange drink, not barium.

It depends on what they are targeting to scan, if it is like you back they insert the dye thru a needle stick,you will not be feeling poorly after. I have had many of these due to back problems and so I am talking from experience on that kind.

The most important thing for me is that I have a straw AND that the drink is cold, very cold. If you can get it the day before, put it in the coldest part of the fridge.

Taking pills is easier with a straw also.

Thanks for all the input and encouragement! As long as I am good for the quilt show - all the rest is do-able! If I could get immediate results I would be even happier.

I had one about 6 months ago, though I think it was an MRI, anyway, no problems. Way different than the stuff you drink to clean you out before a colonoscopy. That stuff is awful and the results are predictable. The barium (berry- flavored) was tolerable with no effects or after effects. I drank it before I went at whatever time they told me to, then when I got there, they had me drink several more ounces before going into the machine. The whole thing was a nonevent for me.

The CT Scans I have had are for my back. The first one was terribly painful, had contrast thru IV and did not like next day, I was only in 30s then. The last couple I have had in last six years have been a lot easier. Went to work right after. As for ct scan of functioning and cancer, I did not have any reaction to the barium stuff or the cancer one. IT was realatively easy and went to work right after. I guess it depends on the clinic doing the procedure and what you are having done. If were me, that would not stop me from going to quilt show if I got to go. To be sure, I would rescedule till got back if you can wait and does not affect your doctor appointment.

I had a CT scan with injection and so many other things were going on at the time, I couldn't say if that was the bothersome thing or not. The actual scan and injection weren't bad.

congrats!!!

when I had a CT scan with contrast, they started an IV & injected the dye through that

I have had alot of CT scans with contrast. Years ago they made you drink a bunch of stuff. But I have had several this last year and they just hydrated me and made me drink a couple of glasses that look like water. I feel fine afterwards. They have to prep me with some medicine before because years ago I had a reaction to the dye but hasn't bothered me since. You will be able to enjoy your quilt show.

I had one last year for my stomach. I was feeling really lousy and the hospital was in a rural area. They were so kind to me. I drank the liquid and then they told me I had to wait like 3-4 hours before the scan. They told me to go home and come back later. I lived one hour away so they took me to a patient's room that is used by the nurses and I was put to bed and covered with warm blankets. They woke me up later for the scan and then I went home. I was already ill, but the liquid I drank did not contribute to my discomfort. I think you will be fine, unless you have other problems which I did. Turned out I went off some medicine cold turkey, will never do that again !! This hospital gave me a drink which was like a milk shake and a big straw. The sensation makes you think you are wetting your pants, but it goes away quickly. As tests go, this is not a bad one. Just had a colonostmy today, that's another story !

the stuff you drink for a CT is not the pasty white Barium you are thinking of It usually looks like a cool-aid. My only advice is drink a lot of water after to help flush it out of your system-good luck with your test

I have had the barium for upper GI and the other stuff for a colonoscopy. Neither one had after effects. Good luck.

I had one just last month, and had to drink the stuff the night before, then before I went to the hospital, I was fine, I went to work after the Cat Scan. and I travel 125 miles a day, and I was fine, and you will be too.

ditto on what ohiobuckeye said , i just had one done a couple weeks ago and do make sure that you can pick up the drink they day before it is easier to drink it at home ,i cheated and didnt drink all of mine but did get most of it down i fessed up when i went in the office and the nursr said i was lucky i had enough in me , the scan worked , i also was sitting in the waiting room waiting for my turn and this young girl had been there for a 1/2 hour and was sitting there in front of everyone try to drink her contrast !! i felt so sorry for her , the contrast was out of my system by the next day !!

I've had about 6 CT's with contrast after a cancer diagnosis in 2008. Where I get my imaging done all they have is the horrible, milky, vanilla flavored stuff. I have to drink two bottles and it takes all my willpower to get them down. I hold my nose, suck it down and pray that it stays down! Other than the God-awful taste, it doesn't bother me.

I had this done in December. My hospital gave it to me cold with a straw. It was white and tasted like pina colada, no problem at all. Also no gastro problems and if the issue is there, I usually get it. you should be just fine.