CT Scan With Contrast

Posted , 4 users are following.

Hello,

Since April my lower left abdomen causes me a weird pulsing feeling & Pain after eating. Anyway I went to the ER where they Xray’d, IV’d, CT Scanned with contrast, diagnosed me with Colitis, prescribed Anti Biotics, recommended the BRAT diet, & sent me on my way.

Long story short, I finished the AB’s & the flare up still comes & goes routinely. I’ve been watching my diet carefully but still get that throbbing sensation & pulsing pain after eating.

Both the Constipation & Diarrhea are like a revolving door & my stool changed to a Bristol Chart Type 5 consistency lately.

What I’m getting at, is how accurate are CT scans at detecting if there is a blockage or a type of Colon Cancer?

Would the Doctor be aware of it seeing the CT Scan?

Any experience with this type of procedure & what the test shows would provide either preparation or peace of mind & be greatly valued.

Thank you.

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    CTs are highly accurate and should give you peace of mind. Ask your doctor if you need a colonoscopy if you are still worrying though. Your doctor will confirm these tests are accurate.

  • Posted

    A colonoscopy would give you a definitive diagnosis so for your peace of mind you might want to request one. But not all people can have a full one, including me. Instead I have had a barium enema and a CT scan, which both confirmed Diverticular Disease. The narrowing and thickening was what prevented the colonoscopy being completed and the disease accounted for the symptoms. I was diagnosed 20 years ago and still have the symptoms from time to time, but manage them with diet.

  • Posted

    Thank you for your timely responses. My follow up Dr appt is today & the ER Physician did not say the cause much further than inflammation.

    I'm 37 & should not be experiencing these types of problems but they are fierce & are not showing any signs of letting up after finishing the AB's.

    It's pain down around the Sigmoid Colon & I'm nearly completely backed up with laxatives & the waste removal/detox product, "The Cleaner" doing little to nothing.

    I eat very well but it's seems to be backing things up even more.

    I primarily posted to see people's experiences with CT Scans & what possibly they could overlook (if anything) & I'll get back to you later today.

    • Posted

      Antibiotics can cause your gut flora to get disturbed. Perhaps try yoghurt and other probiotic foods to reset your good gut bacteria.

  • Posted

    I got my referral to a GI specialist early July & labs completed today & doing a Occult test.

    Then the office called back 5 hours later saying they need more blood.

    They don't require fasting & I'm debating what about my test that would require more.

    • Posted

      Regarding the CT scan, if you were moving around when it was taken it may not be as easy to read and things can get missed. If you are worried something was missed, ask for copy of it with the notes the radiologist wrote. You can then ask for a second opinion from another radiologist. If they say it wasn't clear, request another CT.

      Regarding the other blood they want taking, ask them what it is for.

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