How many X-rays/ ct scans have you had?

[cwf5020]

I'm 23 and I've got to be screwed for the future. I've had about 25 X-rays (mostly of hand, knees ect from injuring them), 2 CT scans, and 3 upper GI with SBFT.

 

[Lisa]

I've lost track of how many...various body parts, a couple of MRIs, CT scans.....and I'm still here!.....remember, the radiation is low anyway.....

 

[Mark63]

So many X-rays, that I have absolutely no idea. Two Barium Enemas and two follow troughs. No CT scans at all. MRI's I've lost count, but will be adding one more next week. Six ultrasound scans of various bits.

Occasionally I detect a faint glow in the dark!

 

[Jasonmh]

So many CT scans I have lost count, contrast is yummy!

 

[StarGirrrrl]

MRI's are magnets so no radiation

Personally so far numerous xrays. WBC scan, one CT and one SBFT (barium meal).

 

[Becca1991]

An xray on my finger and chest but only 1 CT scan which found mild wall thickening of the terminal ileum which turned out to be mild Crohn's Disease

 

[silvermander]

My goodness, I have no clue how many I've had!

Ankles when I was 4 years old, then through the years. Diagnosed with CD when I was 8, so lots there. Started flaring again at 16 and I've been in and out for upper gi/sbfts, cats, regular x-rays and all sorts of other stuff.

I think I'm afraid to know how many x-rays and the like I've had! Just the time I've wasted waiting for and having tests, never mind the radiation and everything else I've been exposed to!

We decided earlier that I must glow in the dark. Has to be what causes my insomnia.

 

[Entchen]

Not many. Let's see...

Ankle x-ray (I sprained my ankle...at church! Worse yet, at a staid Baptist church, not even one with any kind of charasmatic action going on!)

Lower GI series
Barium swallow with SBFT

And of course the infamous head CT, because Crohn's symptoms look more like a *brain tumour* to some walk-in physicians. :ywow:

 

[aliciars]

uke_r:

So many CT scans I have lost count, contrast is yummy!

 

[Grumbletum]

Several ultrasounds pre-Crohn's for an ovarian cyst and pregnancy. In the last five months I've had one ultrasound, one barium FT and am due for a CT scan. Won't be needing a bedside lamp at this rate!

 

[ThanksP]

It's the abdominal CT's that scare me and I've had too many to remember. Each CT scan of the abdomen is equal to 500 chest XRays (or so I have read). The worst part is that NO CT has ever helped in my Crohn's journey. I had two before I was diagnosed and neither showed anything. It was always the colonoscopy that showed disease. I will ALWAYS ask for an MR Enterography from now on. They don't carry the radiation risks and show much more of my diseased areas than a run of the mill CT.

 

[Grant]

So many x rays its untrue. Thus far no CT scans though. I've had many Ultrasounds that seem to be especially good for looking for strictures, much better than having a small dose of radioactivity by x ray.

1st symptoms 1983
Diagnosed 1985
1997 Right Hemicolectomy & Resection
2002 Laperotomy & Resection
2010 Laproscopic Ileocolic Resection

Been on Azathioprine & Pred

Currently on Entocort 3mg every other day
Humira 40mg every two weeks
Calcichew
Pentasa 4gm daily
3mthly B12 Jabs

 

[archie]

Not many. Let's see...

Ankle x-ray (I sprained my ankle...at church! Worse yet, at a staid Baptist church, not even one with any kind of charasmatic action going on!)

Lower GI series
Barium swallow with SBFT

And of course the infamous head CT, because Crohn's symptoms look more like a *brain tumour* to some walk-in physicians. :ywow:

your not serious, a head CT, what were they thinking it's hard enough to get one of these even if you do have the symptoms of a brain tumour... !!

I read somewhere that an xray is equivalant to 9 days normal exposure to radiation and a CT scan is equivalant to 3 years... I've had 3 and felt like I was cooking inside turns out that feeling was prob due to the inflammation!! don't forget the lovely scopes 1 each way, one under sedation the other not (why do they feel the need not to sedate you...) several x-rays, ultrasound scans and Small bowel series, haven't had anything now since the surgery thankfully

 

[StarGirrrrl]

I read somewhere that an xray is equivalant to 9 days normal exposure to radiation and a CT scan is equivalant to 3 years... I've had 3 and felt like I was cooking inside turns out that feeling was prob due to the inflammation!!

Did you have contrast dye for the CT scans? As that makes you feel all hot, is one of the side effects of the dye, not the actual scanning process.

Think the Barium is also equal to 3 years exposure. But sometimes you need these things and the benefits outweigh the risks!

 

[archie]

Hi Stargirrrl, yes I had the contrast dye everytime and yes it made me feel instantly hot inside and as if I'd wet myself!!! but i also felt warm for weeks after, bizarre really... Does the barium equal a further 3 years exposure on top of the CT scan exposure??

I agree with you the benefit of modern technology certainly is to our favour and we're lucky to have such an array of scanning equipment and investigation procedures.

 

[Grumbletum]

Arrgh! I'm due a CT scan to try to find out what's causing my bladder problems. Now I won't know if I've wet myself or not? Ah well, I guess they've seen it all.

 

[gmm]

had many scans and x rays but the ct scan with contrast was the most errr unusual? funny taste in the mouth and that warm i think im peeing myself feeling worst part was drinking the orange flavoured drink before, they should use that stuff instead of picolax, pity i had to go through it as id refused the surgery a few days before the scan was due but they still wanted it done, just watch out for the whooosh effect after lol, strangest scan was when they take blood iradiate it then inject it back into you never did see any scan pics though

 

[lulu2]

Not many. Let's see...



And of course the infamous head CT, because Crohn's symptoms look more like a *brain tumour* to some walk-in physicians. :ywow:

That made me giggle so much!!! Omg which med school did that Dr go to? I mean sure vomiting can indicate a space occupying lesion (ie tumour) but not diarrhoea and abdo pain.... plus you'd expect maybe a headache......

 

[Entchen]

That made me giggle so much!!! Omg which med school did that Dr go to? I mean sure vomiting can indicate a space occupying lesion (ie tumour) but not diarrhoea and abdo pain.... plus you'd expect maybe a headache......

In his defense, headaches do accompany my Crohn's, but I did emphasize the abdo pain and the other non-tumourish symptoms. Better yet, it was an *emergency* CT; I only waited about 3 days. :ylol:

 

[Zalanicht]

15+ xrays and 2 ct's

 

[StarGirrrrl]

Hi Stargirrrl, yes I had the contrast dye everytime and yes it made me feel instantly hot inside and as if I'd wet myself!!! but i also felt warm for weeks after, bizarre really... Does the barium equal a further 3 years exposure on top of the CT scan exposure??

I had SBFT Barium swallow with xray pics so I am not sure how that works for the one that uses CT scanner Leaflet for mine said it was like 3 years exposure.

strangest scan was when they take blood iradiate it then inject it back into you never did see any scan pics though

Oooh I had one of those, White Blood Cell Scan, never saw my pictures either!

 

[Pirate]

LOL I know how many I had today, and its just 1 more to be added to all the rest I've had over the last 27 yrs of this journey of mine with CD. If I had to guess it would be close to 100 on the x-rays and close to 20 on the ct scans. Haven't a clue to how many upper and lower GI's. I've totally lost count and would have to go back thru my records.

 

[lulu2]

In his defense, headaches do accompany my Crohn's, but I did emphasize the abdo pain and the other non-tumourish symptoms. Better yet, it was an *emergency* CT; I only waited about 3 days. :ylol:

OMG an EMERGENCY CT took THREE days!!!!!! God help anyone whose had a stroke.......

 

[Entchen]

OMG an EMERGENCY CT took THREE days!!!!!! God help anyone whose had a stroke.......

Not to worry - people actually at the hospital get in right away. This was "emergency" for people who are still able to carry out their daily lives.

 

[tiloah]

The standard amount of x-rays for my dental checkups.
Two CT scans for Crohn's (since Dx in 2008).
One ultrasound of my abdomen during this recent flare (suspected gallbladder as culprit).
One MRI for my brain when I was diagnosed with migraines.

 

[Jennifer]

I have no idea how many of anything I've had. Many x-rays since I was a kid (over 20 years worth), I think under 10 CT scans with and without contrast, one ultrasound of my heart if that counts, a few MRIs (do not stare directly into beam ). Good thing my health care covers it all.

 

[izzi'smom]

X-Rays ARE relatively low radiation...flying from NYC to Florida is like getting 200 chest x-rays in a row (we receive cosmic radiation)...think about pilots/flight attendants and the exposure they must receive daily.
Fluoro studies ("live" x-ray...barium studies) have a higher dose, although barium itself is not radioactive...it outlines your soft tissues that would otherwise not show up.
CT scans, however...just ONE pelvic scan increases a woman's risk of ovarian cancer. As an x-ray tech, I think that CT scans are overused due to fear of litigation if something is missed.

I also feel that it is our responsibility as patients/parents to be informed/assist in making decisions. I refused an abdominal x-ray for my daughters bloody diarrhea because they thought she had an infection...which does NOT show up on x-ray. However, her dr wants an enterography, which I will agree to, but I prefer MRI over CT given a choice.
The potential benefit needs to outweigh the potential risk- so no "routine" CT scans!
Here is the chart Archie mentioned:
http://www.fda.gov/Radiation-EmittingProducts/RadiationEmittingProductsandProcedures/MedicalImaging/MedicalX-Rays/ucm115329.htm