CT scan tomorrow - what to expect?

[rainbowhairchalk]

As the title says really. Do they always inject a contrast dye? I'm not in the UK so I guess it could be different from country to country 🤔 I hear it's not as loud as an MRI which I've had before so that's good. I wonder what they'll find...

Sorry you're in this situation... what part of the body are you having scanned?
I've had chest and abdomen a few times and had the dye injected as well as the liquid to drink (but they stopped that since Covid)

Good luck, hopefully nothing will be found.

Neck, chest, abdomen and pelvis I think. I wonder why they stopped the liquid? Thank you, I know they'll find something, I've got an initial diagnosis of a type of lymphoma and there is definitely something going on in my stomach area.

It's quiet & a lot quicker than an MRI. The fluid you are injected with will give you a sudden urge to pee. You don't & it goes away quickly. Rather weird!
You go through a big open circle rather than an enclosed tube.
It's not uncomfortable.

Sorry you are going through this. Wishing you all the best 💐

The dye gave me a warm feeling - not unpleasant at all. And it really was easy - the scan itself isn't anything to worry about at all.

Good luck, OP.

Thank you 💜

It's super quick, super quiet and the contrast dye gives you a heat sensation that makes it feel like you've wet yourself. You might have to hold your breath a few times but they'll tell you when.

Hope it goes as okay as these things can.

DH says it's much quicker than an MRI as well as not as loud, and you're just being slid through the middle of a doughnut rather than being completely enclosed. He's always nervous of the MRI machine but not the CT.

Hope all goes well. You will be amazed at what you can handle when you have to. Maggie's is a good place to go if you/someone close to you wants to talk to someone who won't pull the "oh shit, cancer" face.

The CT is not enclosed so is much easier - like a donut that spins as you go through on a bed.
Sending you all the best for tomorrow xx

Had a CT because I have breast cancer. Scan was from head to top of legs.

CT was like having a ring doughnut shaped thing move over me.

I had to drink a litre of water when I arrived.

The dye feels like a warm flush.

Had to hold my breath at points.

It was over very quickly.

Hope it goes ok for you.

Had the scan, now been called in to the hospital next Thursday and will need a blood test beforehand. I don't know what it means and it's freaked me out a bit 😭

@rainbowhairchalk How did you get on?