CT scan, what does it involve?

[olivo]

Just had an appointment through for a Ct scan to loo at my sinuses. What will it involve? I have had MRI before but never CT.

[youmaycallmeSSP]

When I've had them done it's been very straightforward. Go in, loe down, have a cannula put in my arm and an isotope dye injected in, arm stays hooked up to the drip, go forwards and backwards through the doughnut a few times listening to the instructions to hold my breath/breathe, have cannula out and go home. I've always had to drink a fair amount of water first but I don't know if you'd need to do that for sinuses.

[youmaycallmeSSP]

Oh, and I've always had to change into a non-revealing hospital gown in a private changing area first.

[CMOTDibbler]

You lie down on a couch, they do a small amount of adjusting you, and then you'll move quite quickly through the machine. You won't need contrast or to change - compared to an MRI its a doddle

[olivo]

Cannula? I won't need that for sinuses, will I?

Happy for it to be better than an MRI, I wasn't keen on those!

Thanks

[LIZS]

I had one and it was basically like an x-ray . You lie flat within the scanner and it moves to and fro.

[magso]

Sinus CT is quite quick- a few minutes only. I did not have to change cloths or have contrast. I think my head was padded to make it easier to keep still. I seem to remember some sort of (quiet) humming from the machine as if it was thinking. Its much like a very quick very quiet MRI.

[olivo]

Thank you everyone. Good to know what to expect. Shame I have a stinking cold , may not be a pretty picture there!