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Cabbage stopped my scan

35 replies

LaBelleSauvage123 · 27/10/2020 23:18

Booked for a PET-CT scan today, which meant I had to eat a very low carb diet yesterday and nothing after 5pm until after the scan today except water. I was given a very specific diet sheet to follow which I thought I’d read carefully and didn’t find too difficult to follow because I’m low carbing anyway.
Got to the hospital and had to list absolutely everything I’d eaten down to the last ingredient: omelette for breakfast, chicken salad for lunch, no-carb lasagne for dinner, a Michael Mosley recipe which uses cabbage leaves instead of pasta. At the end the nurse said ‘I’ll have to check this as cabbage is on the banned list’, and went off to check with the consultant. While she was gone I checked my phone for the list and there it was - no potatoes, carrots, beans, lentils, peas ....and cabbage. When she came back she said the consultant had vetoed the scan, saying the cabbage would affect the results too much and I’d have to come back next week. I was really embarrassed and apologised profusely but all the time I’m thinking ‘cabbage? CABBAGE?’ Why in gods name is cabbage a problem when Brussel sprouts ( ie tiny cabbages ), cauliflower and broccoli are all on the OK list?
Any drs, PET Scan technicians etc on here who can shed any light?

OP posts:
TheHauntingOfHebeMumsnet · 28/10/2020 12:59

Afraid I am no cabbage expert, OP but just had to come on to say that this is my favourite thread title of the day and hope you get your scan soon.

RandomMess · 28/10/2020 13:02

I thought this was going to be about self scan food shop!!

Curious to know the answer too...

dudsville · 28/10/2020 13:02

I too clicked for the great title. Hope this bump helps you get an answer.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

BadJanet · 28/10/2020 13:06

Grin The title

It’s like a gentler follow-up to Frank Zappa’s Weasels Ripped My Flesh

AllPlayedOut · 28/10/2020 13:07

No idea unfortunately but that's interesting, especially as cabbage is one of the recommended foods here. www.spectrumhealth.org/patient-care/services-and-treatment-detail-pages/pet-ct-scans/what-to-eat-before

KurriKawari · 28/10/2020 13:08

Oooh I like lasagna, I like cabbage, I dont like pasta sheets - thanks op!!

FizzyGreenWater · 28/10/2020 13:13

Yes how weird, and hope you get your scan asap BUT I'm sorry to say that your thread title has absolutely made my day. I'm imagining you as the lead headline on 'Take A Break' complete with sadface as you hold up a giant cabbage Grin

AllPlayedOut · 28/10/2020 13:13

And cabbage is recommended here https://www.pcofiowa.com/files/3014/4950/5396/PrePETTCTMeallIdeas.pdf and https://marybird.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/2014picconlinetemplateePET-CTmbpccc_FINAL.pdf and on many other sites. Are American cabbages different?

Pineapplemonkey · 28/10/2020 13:39

Have no idea about the cabbage but I'm very intrigued you were told to follow a specific diet before the scan. I had a pet scan a few months ago and I wasn't told to do anything special, think I just had to stop eating 12 hrs before hand. Are there different kinds of pet scan? Does the advice depend on what they're looking for?

Couchbettato · 28/10/2020 13:42

If you find out OP do update us

homemadecommunistrussia · 28/10/2020 13:44

I am waiting for the head tilted, sad face picture.Grin

MrsRexVandeKamp · 28/10/2020 13:47
  • goes off to Google cabbage lasagne -

Damn cabbage, no idea why sorry but it's a winner headline OP

AintPageantMaterial · 28/10/2020 13:55

I’m not wearing my glasses and thought cabbage had stopped your scaM. I clicked for the title but thought a crime had been thwarted by cruciferous vegetable. I’m off to find my specs.

HaudMaDug · 28/10/2020 14:07

From my last experience of cabbage, its probably due to gassious build up.

CabbageStoppedMyScan · 28/10/2020 14:14

Sorry, I had to take it Grin

TheSunIsStillShining · 28/10/2020 14:33

not a doc, but long time gastro autoimmune patient and unwilling nutritional expert by now.
Cabbage leaves when going through the digestive tract create gases which in turn distort the scans*. It has to do with how long it takes to break down the components in the colon. The harder to digest = bigger chunks make it to the colon. The longer it takes = more bacteria are involved and the more gases are created.
Brussel sprouts are different in nature that they are less thick fibers and they are broken down more quickly. Hence not creating that much (or any) gas.

In Hungary cauliflower and broccoli are also on this list, as they have the same properties, weird that here they are ok.

*Normally gases are somewhat equally distributed in the colon. When we eat something that takes time to digest a lot of bacteria gather around one piece and as they do what they create more pronounced gas bubbles. These bubbles are then picked up on the scans and can be mistaken for other things.

TheSunIsStillShining · 28/10/2020 14:34

@Pineapplemonkey

Have no idea about the cabbage but I'm very intrigued you were told to follow a specific diet before the scan. I had a pet scan a few months ago and I wasn't told to do anything special, think I just had to stop eating 12 hrs before hand. Are there different kinds of pet scan? Does the advice depend on what they're looking for?
It depends what they are looking at. Usually any gastro related scans will need fasting or at least dieting. Some will require cleansing. But a liver scan might not have that protocol.
jessstan1 · 28/10/2020 14:35

Have you had a Coronary Artery Bypass Graft, op? CABG referred to as 'cabbage'.

It does sound as though they meant something else though.

HaudMaDug · 28/10/2020 14:36

@TheSunIsStillShining

not a doc, but long time gastro autoimmune patient and unwilling nutritional expert by now. Cabbage leaves when going through the digestive tract create gases which in turn distort the scans*. It has to do with how long it takes to break down the components in the colon. The harder to digest = bigger chunks make it to the colon. The longer it takes = more bacteria are involved and the more gases are created. Brussel sprouts are different in nature that they are less thick fibers and they are broken down more quickly. Hence not creating that much (or any) gas. In Hungary cauliflower and broccoli are also on this list, as they have the same properties, weird that here they are ok.

*Normally gases are somewhat equally distributed in the colon. When we eat something that takes time to digest a lot of bacteria gather around one piece and as they do what they create more pronounced gas bubbles. These bubbles are then picked up on the scans and can be mistaken for other things.

That makes sense as I had to let my belt out 2 holes to feel comfy after my cabbage experience.
orangenasturtium · 28/10/2020 14:48

The low carb diet/fasting is because you need the correct glucose/insulin levels when you are given the radioactive glucose that is used as a tracer for the scan. Cabbage should have been fine.

The only reason I can think of is did you eat the cabbage right before you started to fast at 5pm? Maybe because it takes a long time to digest, it will effect your glucose levels after a longer period than other more easily digested foods.

Saucery · 28/10/2020 15:04

One of the reasons I stay on MN is that occasionally you hit on a thread like this and learn something Grin

I suspected it was gases from the cabbage but not exactly how.

Rodent01 · 28/10/2020 15:04

I’ve had numerous PET-CTs in the last 2 1/2 years and nobody has EVER asked what I have eaten!!!!!!

There may be different types, mine is an injection of radioactive glucose and the mean horrid nasty cancer cells gobble this up and glow bright compared to the normal cells.

No idea how cabbage affects this!!!!!!

Pineapplemonkey · 28/10/2020 16:11

@Rodent01

I’ve had numerous PET-CTs in the last 2 1/2 years and nobody has EVER asked what I have eaten!!!!!!

There may be different types, mine is an injection of radioactive glucose and the mean horrid nasty cancer cells gobble this up and glow bright compared to the normal cells.

No idea how cabbage affects this!!!!!!

Maybe it just depends on the company doing the scan? I had radioactive glucose injected just like you but as I said, no special diet pre scan was mentioned - odd!
LaBelleSauvage123 · 28/10/2020 18:16

So pleased everyone is as intrigued as I am! I did eat the cabbage lasagne for my early eve meal, so maybe that was the problem. Very interesting info about the gasses (though Brussel sprouts and broccoli affect me far more than cabbage, flatulence-wise). My scan is to check for cardiac problems rather than the digestive system though. I do remember the info about glucose from the booklet I was sent - but was also confused by the fact that other websites ( like the ones linked above) said cabbage was fine!
Love all the comments about sad face cabbage photos.
For those of you interested in the cabbage leaf lasagne recipe, it’s in the Fast 800 Blood Sugar Diet book - I’ll try to find a link. I actually prefer it to normal lasagne, though not feeling so kindly towards it since I’ve realised how disruptive it is of my internal workings...

OP posts:
LaBelleSauvage123 · 28/10/2020 18:18

thebloodsugardiet.com/recipes/red-lasagne/

OP posts:
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