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Advice on CT Scan

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Posted 6/19/2009 10:23 PM (GMT 0)
hi guys.. sorry to bother you all with my question/concern.. but i wanted to ask your advice or opinion on a stupid question that i have.

currently, I am seeing my GI doc every month.. routine labs etc.. and i see him monthly but my progress is going nowhere and right now i'm avoiding treatments until i am able to make a good decision on what i want to do next.

anyhow, one of my conditions that i have been dealing with is CHRONIC ILEUS, which my doc says is very rare and has no clue what to do for me for it.  I have had several CT scans etc..  and during my last visit with him, because my pain has been getting worse... I , me, suggested that i would want to do a repeat CT scan of my abs to see if things are getting worse.  Well anyway, he wrote the order and I just have to schedule the appointment and go.  But now that i'm thinking about it...  the test in itself is hard for me to make, hard for me to go through (they popped my veins several times and hurt so bad with contrast they had to stop the test etc...)  I just don't know if its worth it to do it again.  It was my idea...  so now come my next apt. with him next month.. do you think it would be OK if i just don't do it?  I do NOT want to make a huge deal of it and calling him etc..  I just don't do it, or will this look bad on my medical records?  because it was my idea, and there's nothing to do about illeus, whats the point?  and if things get so bad, i can always go to the ER, plus i have this standing one i can do outpatient as well...  but if they DO NOT GET BAD, my symptoms... would it be bad just to not do the test?

my whole point is avoiding calling him about this.  please let me know and please don't say CONTACT YOUR DOCTOR.. i know this, lol!!

thank you in advance!

Posted 6/19/2009 11:31 PM (GMT 0)
When was your last CT scan? The reason I ask is you might want to consider a couple things in making your decision:
1) The pain is worsening. It could be possible that something else is causing the pain and would show up on CT.
2) CT scans subject the patient to 100 times the amount of radiation received in a chest xray. If your CT scan was very recent, this might be a factor in determining whether to do it.
3) Your doctor would not have ordered it, nor would insurance pay for it, if it was not medically necessary. [To the doctor critics - And yes I know that doctors order unneccessary tets. I am assuming her doctor is not one of those.)
Posted 6/20/2009 12:10 AM (GMT 0)
My last CT was about 3 months ago. He was afraid in doing another due to radiation as well and i kinda opened my big mouth and pushed for it, not really thinking thigns clearly and he agreed. i just don't want to look like a bad patient now.. should i just not do it and explain to him this at our next appointment, or will he see our next visit as a waste? i was thinking of telling him i'd rather try a med called APRISO, something he had mentioned FIRST before doing another CT.. but i just don't want to look bad on paper for doctor records and disability etc.... i just don't see a point in another test knowing what i have, and no treatment
Posted 6/20/2009 12:12 AM (GMT 0)
When I get my CT scans done I don't have any constrast. Is this an option for you? I'm allergic to the dye or constrast...so I just take the chalky stuff without it. It's not AS good of a look ...but better than nothing.
Posted 6/20/2009 12:19 AM (GMT 0)
mine is WITH contrast and has to be that way. usually its soooooooooo painful and they always end up popping my veins. my main question is.. is it just OK to just not do it?? i just don't want to look bad.. it was my idea, after all..
Posted 6/20/2009 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
You might want to google a traditional chinese medication called Daikenchuto for chronic illeus. might help you out.
Posted 6/20/2009 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you. My own GI doc has no clue what to do. It's just very frustrating to have conditions and problems that cannot be treated. what do you think about doing the ct scan? kinda pointless? anyway---
Posted 6/20/2009 2:44 AM (GMT 0)
If you are having second thoughts and don't want to do the CT scan, don't. And yuo have an easy and valid "out". Just tell him you thought over what HE had to say about so soon after the last CT scan and the Apriso and realized that maybe he was right, its just that its so frustrating to be in so much pain and not knowing what is going on ......
Posted 6/20/2009 2:53 AM (GMT 0)
Your soooooo right. Do you know anything about Apriso? Should I just show up at my next apt. and tell him this or call the office and let them know? I am trying to avoid phone calls to doctors and bugging etc.. I do know what is going on, and i feel if things get THAT BAD, i can either go to the ER or use my order and go that way. I just was mostly concerned about if i didn't do it and does it look bad and will he be mad at me.
Posted 6/20/2009 2:01 PM (GMT 0)
I think the way C2 explained to tell your doc is right on. Good luck!
Posted 6/20/2009 11:56 PM (GMT 0)
I would discuss it w/him at my next appointment. I don't know anything about Apriso.
Posted 6/21/2009 2:22 AM (GMT 0)
Hi,

Holly here.  I say go with your gut instincts. They most always prove right. If you are having second thoughts, go with that thought. You can also let your doctor know that you just want to wait for a bit. I think they would understand. Good luck!

Posted 6/21/2009 3:47 PM (GMT 0)
OK , good. thank you for your advice. i just don't want to look like a bad patient for not doing something i guess i should and it goes on my medical records. for some reason, i'm always scared of getting cancelled, but i have medicare-- anyway.... thank you guys, you made me feel better!
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