CT Scan

Wow, I went innocently to the hospital for a "routine" CT Scan of my head. I keep getting dizzy and i'm left after each "episode" feeling a bit confused. Ughhhhhh!
Anyway, I was lying there in they what I call the huge donut and I began to shake! Then I started to itch! Then my tongue began to swell and I couldn't speak! I was having a reaction to the iodine that they had just injected in to my right arm. Needless to say I was scared, my heart rate went into the 170s and was getting fasted by the second. Thank goodness the test was short and they got their pictures. I was given a bucket load of Benedryl (sp?) and I had to stay there for the afternoon. My hubby had to come fetch me because I was too out of it to drive. It was awful! I spent the rest of the day sleeping!

I have no idea when I developed a reaction to iodine, I have had these test before, but now I am allergic. No more shrimp for me was the last thing they said to me.

As I have grown older I have developed a few allergies. I was fine with test and medications before I turned 40. What happened? Why is it that I feel as if I am falling apart. I try to maintain a good attitude, I try to focus on the happy parts of my life (there are plenty of them), but I keep getting pushed down by my own body! I'm feeling so let down.

I am coming to understand a little more about how other people feel who are battling some major illnesses. How do they do it is my question?

Pacergirl, still a bit itchy, but at least I can talk!

11 Comments

Carolyn65

by Carolyn65 - 2009-11-14 01:11:34

Pacergirl, so sorry you had that type of experience; how awful! Glad you are so much better.

Please help me understand. I was told or read in some of my tons of papers on PM info that I should tell anyone mentioning MRI to me that I had a PM and could not go thru the MRI machine. Is this true or am I just not understanding the "post & comments"? Isn't the "dye", etc. used when you have an MRI? I probably do not know what I am talking about here.

NO shrimp? OMGosh, gotta have shrimp this near the TEXAS Coast! ~ Carolyn G. in TEXAS ( : GO UT LONGHORNS today

MRI

by Tracey_E - 2009-11-14 02:11:23

Carolyn, MRI's are not the same as CT. We can have CT's because they don't use magnets,it's just a fancy xray. Sometimes they use iodine for contrast to get a better picture.

Reaction to Iodine

by pacergirl - 2009-11-14 03:11:58

Well, I thought I was doing better. Now I have a red rash on my face. I have taken some benadryl and I'm not in any other distress. I have a headache and I am home alone. If it gets worse or trouble breathing I will call someone. I feel very tired and I am resting on the sofa.

Carolyn, Tracey is right a CT scan is different than a MRI. I did have the test with the dye. As far a shrimp goes I don't want to have another reaction like this. It will only get worse if I do. I love shrimp as well, but at what cost? I am not a big fan of hospitals and I don't look forward to going back.

Pacergirl

CT dyes

by lenora - 2009-11-14 08:11:33

Sometimes if a patient's allergic to iodine and absolutely has to have a CT the radiologist will give steroids and benadryl before and after. There's also a non-ionic contrast that has a different chemical structure than regular iodine and it's safer. Noncontrast CT's are usually just wasted effort because you need the iodine to highlight the structure you're looking at. Hope you feel better soon. Lenora

susan

by jessie - 2009-11-14 09:11:33

what a terrible experience for you. my god! i too feel as if i am catching everything going and more. at present i am battling shingles which i never had before. it is very painful. one thing tho i caught it right away and got put on medicine to help reduce the symptoms and hopefully i won't have it too long. i am so sensitive right now and am not trusting to many people.benadryl oh yes loaded up on that and sleepy sleepy. so hope fully the tests were okay and they know more about you. xxxooo a bad year right now hugs and love,jessie

iodine

by Tracey_E - 2009-11-14 09:11:44

I had the same reaction! I had to laugh when they brought out this gigantic bottle of benedryl, I swear it was gallon sized LOL. Guess we're not the only ones. Er, I still eat shrimp all the time, was never told not to and have never had a problem and it's been 15 yrs.

I hope you feel better soon!!!! Take it easy and let that hubby pamper you.

Ouch !

by ppt - 2009-11-14 10:11:32

So scary ! So sorry ! Glad you are feeling better but what an experience. Hope you feel better real soon. Thinking of you and sending positive thoughts your way.

Benedryl

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-15 01:11:49

If they gave me that much benedryl I'd be on a ventilator for a week. Years ago I took a childs dose of it and slept for the rest of the day.

I just had a CT a few weeks ago and no problem with the contrast fortunately.

frank

Maybe Scallops?

by GMan - 2009-11-15 08:11:17

instead of shrimp!! Talk to your body....tell your body to CUT IT OUT! No I'm not crazy!! We used to do this all the time at the gym as we trained and pushed to incredible levels, actually training to failure.(When you do all you can do until you can't lift the weight another time) Armed with the knowledge that the muscle will give out before the heart is all we needed to know! And pray a lot! Get well soon(911)

Gary

That's good news!

by pacergirl - 2009-11-15 09:11:37

Hi Frank, that's good to hear. I wasn't so lucky, oh well. I am feeling much better today. I did sleep most of yesterday it wasn't a pretty day outdoors, so "sleeping it off" seemed easy enough to do.

Thank you everyone for your suggestions and comments. They are all most welcome.

Cheers!
Pacergirl

Gman

by ElectricFrank - 2009-11-15 09:11:58

Watch out..the heart is a muscle!!

frank

You know you're wired when...

Your heart beats like a teenager in love.

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