My story need advice about CT scan

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Tiffany

Joined
Apr 12, 2011
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Hello everyone. Sooo I'll just get right into my story. I've always had bowel issues since I was a child but after a bout with a nasty stomach bug when I was 11 years old I started getting horrible pains along with diarrhea. I would have weeks of pain and diarrhea then I would feel fine for a couple weeks. Finally when I was 16 I went in for a colonoscopy. Everything came back normal. I continued having periods of pain and diarrhea until I went to another specialist in 2010 and had another scope, again everything came back normal and I was diagnosed with ibs. Since October things have got a lot worse, I have been having daily diarrhea sometimes with blood and mucus, I have lost 15 pounds and have right side pain, sometimes I will have what some call constipated diarrhea, I also get low grade fevers and night sweats. My doctor is convinced something else is going on and that IBS does not cause some of my symptoms. I have an appointment on Tuesday to get an abdominal CT scan with contrast and an appointment with a GI specialist on May 30th. I am praying they can help me, I've tried a lot of different medications and diets and nothing helps. I just lost my job because I'm too sick to work, I'm just getting so depressed. Did I mention the nausea!!! It's so bad first thing in the morning I throw up 2 - 3 times a week and I also get it right after eating. It's so bad I never know which end its going to come out of.
So to make a long story short, has anyone had a CT scan with oral and IV contrast? Does the IV contrast really feel like you are peeing yourself when it's injected? And can anyone relate with my symptoms. It would be really nice to know I'm not alone.
 
Tiffany yes it really does feel as if you are peeing yourself but it only last like 2min , they give a contrast to drink before the ct and during the ct they inject you with contrast. Hope this helps
 
Hi Tiffany
Sorry to hear of your troubles. Sounds like you have put up with being unwell for a long time now, poor thing. I had symptoms pre diagnosis similar to yours. I lost a lot of weight because it hurt to eat and I was also throwing up several times a week.
The CT scan is a good test so I hope you get some answers as to what's wrong with you. The oral contrast is a bit yukky, but it's not thick so you should be able to get it down. The injection is weird. It's like a sort of hot flush that starts at the top of your body and washes down in a wave and yes, it does feel a bit like you've peed yourself.
Let us know how you get on.
 
Thank you so much everyone for responding. Fingers crossed I can get some answers soon. I do have one other question. So today has been a horrible stomach day. I have gone to the bathroom over 10 times today and the last few times were nothing but blood and mucus, although I'm a little concerned about losing so much blood, I will be in the hospital tomorrow for my CT scan. I am more worried about the pain In my bum! it's burning so bad from the constant washroom breaks. Is there anything you can suggest to ease the pain? I tried taking a warm bath and started started using baby wipes instead of toilet paper but it's so raw down there I don't know what to do.
 
Hey I actually do CTs for a living. The contrast that you drink is kind of gross. There are a few different types so hopefully you get one of the good ones ;). When they inject the contrast you'll get pretty warm, get a funny metallic taste in your mouth and you might feel like you're peeing your pants (it is for a very short time) They're really a pretty easy test. I would recommend putting vaseline on your bum every time you go to the bathroom. Or Aquaphor. Also always use baby wipes when you have diarrhea. It helps me a ton.
 
Hi sorry you are suffering so badly. You could try vasaline around you bottom inbetween visits to ease the burning. It did help me a bit. Try to pat the area rather than rub when wiping yourself. I was dxd by ct scan (yep it does feel like you have weed) so i hope it helps you get a dx too. Best of luck.💕
 
Thank you everyone!
The contrast I have to drink is called telebrix.... Hopefully I spelled that right. Hopefully it goes down easier than the barium yuck! Anyone have to drink telebrix? I couldn't find much info on the taste online.
 
I was diagnosed after a CT scan. I had to drink the horrible liquid and had the IV, but it was fine. Nothing bad at all.

I had most the same symptoms as you from the sound of it. If you have inflammation in the small bowel the colonoscopy might not be able to see it hence the scan.

Hope you get some answers.
 
They warned me I might feel like I was peeing but I didn't have that feeling really. More of a sudden warm flush all over my body for about a minute. Kind of like when you have a fever you someone's feel really warm for a bit.
 
I was also told I'd possibly feel that I was weeing, but it didn't happen. The warm flush feeling was actually really pleasant and relaxing, I enjoyed it (despite being told that might be a bit unsettling).
 
Thank you everyone! I really hope I can get some answers. I'm so tired of being sick and not knowing why. My husband was the one pushing me to get some more tests. He knows my struggle all too well as he was diagnosed with crohns in 2010. I am a little scared of the test but I know I will make it through just fine. I heard from a couple people that the contrast can cause diarrhea. Has this happened to anyone?
 
Yeah I got diarrhea. I would reccomend hanging out in the hospital do 20-30 minutes afterward. Especially if you live far from your hospital.
 
So it's 3:30am and I haven't slept in 2 days because my stomach pain and diarrhea. I have to be at the hospital for 7am. I can't stop crying. I don't want to be in pain anymore. My husband is trying his best to help me out. Getting me clear fluids to stay hydrated and a heating pad for my stomach. I'm so sorry to be venting but I'm feeling awful and low right now.
 
Hey Tiffany has your doctor ever taken a stool sample from you to test for cdiff infection? It's very common for people to pick up after antibiotics if you were ever on any in the past. I went two years without a cdiff diagnosis and got very sick with the exact same symptoms you have. Turns out I had cdiff and crohns combined all along and it's been a long treatment process but I got relief from requesting they take a stool sample along with my ct scan.


Tiffany said:
Hello everyone. Sooo I'll just get right into my story. I've always had bowel issues since I was a child but after a bout with a nasty stomach bug when I was 11 years old I started getting horrible pains along with diarrhea. I would have weeks of pain and diarrhea then I would feel fine for a couple weeks. Finally when I was 16 I went in for a colonoscopy. Everything came back normal. I continued having periods of pain and diarrhea until I went to another specialist in 2010 and had another scope, again everything came back normal and I was diagnosed with ibs. Since October things have got a lot worse, I have been having daily diarrhea sometimes with blood and mucus, I have lost 15 pounds and have right side pain, sometimes I will have what some call constipated diarrhea, I also get low grade fevers and night sweats. My doctor is convinced something else is going on and that IBS does not cause some of my symptoms. I have an appointment on Tuesday to get an abdominal CT scan with contrast and an appointment with a GI specialist on May 30th. I am praying they can help me, I've tried a lot of different medications and diets and nothing helps. I just lost my job because I'm too sick to work, I'm just getting so depressed. Did I mention the nausea!!! It's so bad first thing in the morning I throw up 2 - 3 times a week and I also get it right after eating. It's so bad I never know which end its going to come out of.
So to make a long story short, has anyone had a CT scan with oral and IV contrast? Does the IV contrast really feel like you are peeing yourself when it's injected? And can anyone relate with my symptoms. It would be really nice to know I'm not alone.
Click to expand...
 
I would recommend hospitalizing yourself. If you explain your symptoms they will almost instantly put you in there. I spent time in the hospital two weeks ago and as much as it sucked, I left feeling a lot better than before and with the correct diagnosis.
Tiffany said:
So it's 3:30am and I haven't slept in 2 days because my stomach pain and diarrhea. I have to be at the hospital for 7am. I can't stop crying. I don't want to be in pain anymore. My husband is trying his best to help me out. Getting me clear fluids to stay hydrated and a heating pad for my stomach. I'm so sorry to be venting but I'm feeling awful and low right now.
Click to expand...
 
Thanks everyone!
I'm at the hospital right now drinking my prep for the CT scan. I already can't stop running to the toilet with lose bowel movements. But the good news is the telebrix isn't bad at all.
 
Best wishes to you.It'll be over soon and you be home before you know it.
Hopefully your results won't take long and you will be on the meds that will help you feel better.
 
I'm home now. Oh my goodness does this stuff make you go to the bathroom a lot. They told me it has a mild laxative effect. I feel like I'm prepping for a colonoscopy!
 
Im happy everything went well, i did not have diarrhea with the contrast just peed allot as its allot to drink yuk , i hope you get some answers soon:)
 
So it's 2:30am and I still have really bad diarrhea :( anyone else experience this after drinking telebrix? I have gone 30+ times. And a few times I couldn't even make it to the bathroom on time. Hopefully I'll feel better soon.
 
I expect it affects all of us differently,much like crohns.It did cause D., for me,but once I was home it eased off.Are you feeling unwell ? If so,or if it goes on much longer,phone your G.I. or his secretary for advice.I get Loperamide on prescription,and that always works for me.Be careful what you eat but drink plenty liquids in case you dehydrate.
 
I sometimes get bad diarrhea after oral contrast.. Not always.. Don't be afraid to take an anti diarrheal.
 
Yep. By the next morning I was okay but from 15 minutes after until about 8 hours later the diarrhea sucked. (I didn't have telebrix but I'm sure it was a similar one).
 
Well I sure did, on top of that the contrast made me need to go to the bathroom really bad!

I was so glad to have had it though, it was the results that made my Dr start taking this a bit
seriously again.


Lauren
 
So I thought I would keep you updated. My CT scan was mostly normal but they found some fluid in my abdomen so I am getting a colonoscopy in June. One step closer to a diagnosis.
 

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