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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 5/15/2009 1:21 PM (GMT 0)
The doctor told me the average UC patient has 10 CT scans in their lives and one CT is equal to 25 to 30 x-rays!

I have had 5 CTs in the last year! 1 head for sinuses, 3 for UC and 1 chest CT for my current lung pain. I have
back pain too and the doctor came in last night and said we are going to do an abdominal CT scan and I refused.
I've had 3 abdominal CT scans in the last 2 months. Enough is enough!

So, how many CTs have you had for UC if any?
Posted 5/15/2009 4:20 PM (GMT 0)
I've only had one so far, and come to think of it, I don't recall ever hearing the results of that. I had my colonoscopy (scheduled at the last minute) before the CT results came in and that (the scope) solved the mystery so it was like everyone just forgot about the scan. I'll have to ask my dr about it at my next appt in two weeks.
Posted 5/15/2009 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I had one but I also had a MRI which nobody told be before that it would take over an hour - that was not what I was expecting
Posted 5/15/2009 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
I had a CT scan for my kidney stones... which are proven to be related to UC.... so does that count? hhehehe
Posted 5/15/2009 4:44 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had one.
Posted 5/15/2009 5:03 PM (GMT 0)
I've never had one, but it's not like I've had UC all that long.
Posted 5/15/2009 5:20 PM (GMT 0)
I've had 2 CTs for kidney stones and one MRI of my head for migraines. All were within a 3 month time period.
Posted 5/15/2009 5:46 PM (GMT 0)
I've had one and it was one of the worst experiences of my life. I could barely keep the barium down and cried through the whole thing.
Posted 5/15/2009 6:09 PM (GMT 0)
In the 12 years of UC I only had one CT scan for UC. It was the final test to rule out Crohn's before I headed for surgery.

Sue
Posted 5/15/2009 6:35 PM (GMT 0)
I've had one in the ER when they thought I had appendicitis which turned out to be atypical right sided UC pain. One of the easiest medical tests I've ever had.
Posted 5/15/2009 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Well I don't know about the other replies in this trend, but I am completely with you on this one. I had a kidney transplant in 2001, a ruptured bowel in 2004, and now I have just been diagnosed with UC. I have also had many complications from the ruptured bowel such as blockages and severe constipation. I can’t even begin to tell you how many times I have been run through that tube (CT Scan), I would not be far off if I were to say at least 30. It is so concerning to me. Every time I end up in the ER, it’s always the same thing. "Send her up for a CT Scan". I was just released from the hospital yesterday after going through the ER and eventually me admitted due to my current flare up of UC.. I also had been in the ER the week prior where they did another CT Scan. Well on the ER visit (when they ended up admitting me) again they wanted to do a CT scan. I finally said NO! I told them “I just had one 5 days ago--go find that one.” I can’t keep being run through this radiation machine. I am sure this will catch up with me eventually (the excessive exposure to the radiation). It time for me-- like you, to start saying NO! But then you worry---how are they going to find out what’s wrong with me if I don’t let them run the test? It’s a catch twenty two. I sympathize with you.
Posted 5/15/2009 9:36 PM (GMT 0)
I've had UC for 6 years and never had a CT scan. What do they do them for?
Posted 5/15/2009 10:50 PM (GMT 0)
The first one I had lower right sided pain which ended up being UC but because I was on prednisone they were thinking appendictis because I had a fever (from the UC)
and prednisone can mask higher fevers and pain. The second one I passed something that resembled colonic tissue so they did the scan to check for perforation - again the result was just
UC. The third one I was running 101 fever and in severe pain with my UC, my primary care doctor sent me to the ER and thats the first thing they wanted to do - again results were UC.
A few days ago I went to the ER with a 102 fever and severe lung pain. They did a chest CT and found I have pleurisy which they said was caused by my Remicade treatment 2 days prior and again
all because of my UC. All four of these CTs were in the last 2.5 months
Posted 5/15/2009 11:42 PM (GMT 0)
I had one when they were first trying to figure out what was wrong with me. I had several rectal exams first (fun, fun...), stool samples, then an x-ray, then the CT, which showed inflammation in the large intestine, then the colonoscopy. I found the barium really awful to drink, too, because I was extremely sick with the UC at the time. The hospital didn't make me finish drinking it b/c I told them I couldn't drink anymore.
Posted 5/16/2009 1:11 AM (GMT 0)
Okay finally someone who couldn't stand the barium either! I had an upper gi series and a CT scan in the same visit and it was just horrible (but I was 15 at the time too)
Posted 5/16/2009 1:28 AM (GMT 0)
Yeah, that barium stuff is probably the nastiest concoction I've ever had to drink. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I think I'd rather drink the GoLytely stuff. I like your Maya Angelou quote. =)

That must have been really hard to deal with at 15. It was hard enough for me at 23. You must have been brave.

Posted 5/16/2009 3:47 AM (GMT 0)
I'd take scope prep over that stuff anyday!
Posted 5/16/2009 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Never had one. Around 10 years with this mess now.
Posted 5/16/2009 4:30 AM (GMT 0)
Never had one. Around 10 years with this mess now.
Posted 5/16/2009 4:33 PM (GMT 0)

callalily22 said...
Okay finally someone who couldn't stand the barium either! I had an upper gi series and a CT scan in the same visit and it was just horrible (but I was 15 at the time too)

That barium stuff is AWFUL! I gagged the entire time! uggh!
Posted 5/16/2009 6:02 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmmm.... I didn't have to drink any barium when I had my CT scan. They pumped some dye into me via an IV. Maybe I had a different type of procedure.
Posted 5/16/2009 7:28 PM (GMT 0)
I have had 3 cat scans, and 2 mri none was UC related. I must be strange I just have them mix it with water and not that sweet stuff and it not that bad. although with one of them they found out I have diverticulitise also. I cant do the dye but they say that it is no fun at all. My girlfriend had the dye said it felt like her hair was on fire.
Posted 5/17/2009 2:20 AM (GMT 0)
ack you probably were injected with iodine. I had that too. It feels like something warm in crawling through you veins and you feel like you have to pee but don't.
Posted 5/17/2009 2:31 AM (GMT 0)
I had the IV contrast (dye) AND the barium. I found out I was allergic to the IV contrast so they had to have a doctor come in and inject me with Benadryl!
Posted 5/17/2009 4:50 AM (GMT 0)
I had the dye and the barium too! My SIL had a very good friend in high school die because she was allergic to the iodine they injected. Scary...
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