CT Enterography ?'s

[kateel]

Hi all,
I'm scheduled to have a ct enterography tomorrow afternoon. I have never had one before and am wondering what to expect. I have had a ct scan before, so I know about the machine, I'm just wondering about the prep for this one. For those who have had it done, did you have to drink an oral contrast? do an iv? or have an enema? Did you have any effects from it after?

Thank you!
Kate

 

[kateel]

...one more question. They said they wanted to do the ct both with and without contrast...how do they do this? Is this typical? Will they do one, then make me drink the contrast then do another?

 

[Crohn's 35]

HI there, your second post makes sense. Different hospitals have different methods, I have had two ways, one with a barium type drink and you lay on your side. The other is they take pictures in the Ct scan first then put the contrast (makes you feel warm and you gotta go pee) but you dont, they put in a iv direct to the arm vein and then they send the contrast through that. A few pictures more and you are done. Never had an enema.. either way it is a piece of cake, no worries. Good luck let us know how it goes.

 

[kjw1112]

remember if you sneeze or get hives/itchy when they inject the iodine to tell someone right away. apparently you can be allergic to that stuff and it can be very bad if they dont treat it right away! i dont know if its that common, but it happened to me.

 

[kateel]

kjw, thanks for the heads up! I will be sure to let them know if I feel anything...

 

[Crohn's 35]

remember if you sneeze or get hives/itchy when they inject the iodine to tell someone right away. apparently you can be allergic to that stuff and it can be very bad if they dont treat it right away! i dont know if its that common, but it happened to me.

Ugh yes, I forget that it does happen, not sure of the % but I have always been ok with it...but meds...I react to them all.:yfaint:

 

[sawdust]

Hi Kate. I think it depends on what they're looking for as to what kind of use they decide on for the CT. When I have had them, it was with and without contrast, which is just how Pen described - do a few pictures, then inject the iodine into your arm and do a few more. The IV was cool feeling at first, but then really made me feel like I had to pee and taste metal in my mouth. It's not a big deal.

I've also had to drink the barium before the CT. It's a thicky, milky solution, that - I can't lie - won't be your new favorite drink, but isn't the end of the world. I try not to think too much about it, drink it down quickly, and get it over with. I don't like using a straw, but I've seen others use one. I think it just prolongs the process, but, hey, whatever works. I've never had the enema, but I've heard it "threatened" to another patient who didn't want to drink his barium. (He drank it just fine)

Good luck, Kate! For after effects, if you have to drink the barium, I had some urgency and white poo for a little while. A little "stingy," but over soon. Sorry! You asked!

 

[DustyKat]

Matt had a CT Enterogram last December. He had to turn up 1 hour before the scan to drink about 1.5 - 2 litres of a sugary liquid that is designed to coat the wall of the small bowel rather than be absorbed or pass through. It is a different prep to barium or gastrografin. When drinking it they do tell you if you get diarrhoea then to stop at that point. You are also able to empty your bladder.

After the hour they will put in a cannula and do a run of films without IV contrast and then do a run with the IV contrast. The scan itself is no different to a normal CT scan in procedure and time. All Matt's CT's have been done without IV contrast first and then with.

Matt had no side effects from the oral contrast except needing to pee!

Good luck hun. I hope all goes well...:goodluck:

Dusty. xxx

 

[deedee]

When I had mine, I had to drink the barium stuff for like an hour or 2 before the actual procedure. Then, once inside the scanner, they injected some dye through an IV. It made me feel very hot, and felt like I was peeing all over myself (very strange feeling, even though they warned me about it!) But the actual scan only takes like a minute, and then it's over!