CT scan tomorrow - issue with prep today

[Shambolical1]

I'm booked for a CT scan (bowel) tomorrow morning at 10.15 and have two drugs to take in preparation. The first one is the contrast medium. I've had about half the first dose and can't get any more down, the stuff that is down is threatening to come back up.

I often have poor drug tolerance but this stuff is evil.

Prep was supposed to begin at 8am but I've not started the other drug - to empty me out - as I can't reach anyone at the hospital who can tell me if they can still go ahead with the scan without the contrast medium. Also don't know if I'll tolerate the second drug either or if I'll have enough time to get over it and be able to drive to the hospital.

Waiting for a call-back from NHS111 but am a bit miserable and wondered if anyone else knew or had any tips. Apart from 'don't ever do anything like this at the weekend again'.

Call the hospital and ask to speak to the CT radiographers. They might be able to give you some idea as to whether or not they would proceed with a scan tomorrow if you were only able to drink half of the contrast. They will probably help but - if they don't - ask for the superintendent radiographer. They can walk around the corner and speak to the duty radiologist if they aren't certain or don't want to advise you directly.

Even if they are willing to proceed, there is a higher risk of the radiologist missing what he/she is looking for, having to repeat the scan, and/or needing a colonoscopy without sufficient contrast. It is probably worth persisting even if it is horrendous.

The bowel prep is awful as well but the whole thing is probably (I think so, although thankfully haven't been through either) better than a colonoscopy, which is likely to be the alternative if this option isn't available.

Good luck!

I've tried the hospital - many times - and there's no answer. It seems there are no radiology people there on a Sunday.

So difficult as I really don't want to go through it twice.

Most hospitals with an Emergency Department will have a CT scanner running today. Who are switchboard trying to put you through to? There won't be any receptionists/secretaries in radiology today and there should be radiographers unless it is a tiny hospital.

If you really can't contact anyone, call the closest large hospital and ask to speak to the radiographers operating the CT scanner.

It's an automated phone system and the hospital doesn't have an emergency department.

I'll try another hospital and see what they say, thank you.

No joy. 111 no help either.

Think it might be too late to start the prep alone, now, anyway. Says 8am on the paperwork.

I'll have to cancel tomorrow and see what they say. Scary (very) as I don't know what they can do if I can't tolerate it and annoying because arrangements were made so today/tomorrow could happen and they will now be wasted.

This makes me so angry. Do you have any idea how many people are waiting for procedures and tests on the nhs. You should have just done it. If you spewed so what. You wouldn’t have been the first.

You’re being ridiculous. Start the bowel prep now, there’s plenty of time for it to work. Yes it tastes horrible, but you can mix some juice in with it, hold your nose and down it. Same with the contrast. Even frail elderly folk seem to manage this. Cancelling tomorrow means no one else can use your slot and you’ll have wasted hundreds of pounds of nhs time.

There will be ways around it, after all in an emergency situation there is no time for prep. Continue as per your instructions. Dm couldn't tolerate it all well and did not manage full dose but it was sufficient for the tests.

Woah there people. This is someone struggling.

Have you tried adding ice to the contrast? And drinking it alongside icy water? It can really help.

The best thing to do is give it your best shot. Also badoit sparkling water settles the tummy a bit-could anyone up and get you a bottle? Again if you ice it, it's less fizzy and can help you keep things down.

Do you need to drink the big jug of contrast tomorrow? If you do, take some ice with you.

Best of luck-hope it works out for you.

Its not too late to start the prep.
You are given an early start time to allow adequate time for it to work and also for hiccups like yours along the way.
Please do not cancel...you obviously need this.
It is also very unfair as this time could have given to someone else.
It is not pleasant for anyone.
So what if you vomit.
I have seen elderly frail people just getting on with it
Go to your pharmacy and get something for the nausea.

big girl pants on OP and power through. you really need to just get it done and show up for the appointment and let them know how much you managed.

I'm an HCP - after with others that you need to take the bowel prep stuff now regardless of the contrast.
CT scans can be done without contrast although results not as good, and you can have IV contrast via a drip if needed. You need to arrive early for your scan tomorrow and explain you couldn't tolerate the oral contrast.

Tried, but can't get the prep down either; nor, at the moment, ordinary fluid.

Throat has gone into spasm.

Can you try with a straw? I’m awful at taking liquid meds and usually puke it back up but if I have a straw and can get the straw as far back in my mouth as possible it’s easier to swallow

I haven't had to take any liquid meds for many years. I do have MS-related swallowing issues at times but wasn't expecting this.

I tried the straw method (thank you for the suggestion) but the options seem to be choke, or don't take the stuff. The contrast is going nowhere in the right direction and the other stuff sets off the choke/gag as soon as it hits my throat and then it takes ages to calm down before I can swallow even water.

If today were a weekday I'd have been able to phone first thing and get definitive advice and/or cancel so the scan appointment could be reallocated. But it isn't.

@Draylon I must have been spoilt by the hospitals I've worked at... I don't think I'd cope without a "radiologist down the corridor" 24/7.

I feel for you OP. 

Here is something that may help you to drink it.

1. Have the drink next to you. Have a second drink of something nicer next to it.

1. Close your eyes and begin very slow deep breathing - breathe in for the count of 10, hold for count of 5, breathe out for the count of 10. Do this ten times.

1. Meanwhile begin remembering a beautiful time in your life - maybe a special time you had as a child, or a time by the sea with your partner as an adult, skiing down a snowy mountain, or holding a child of your own - the memory can be anything at all, just recall the finest details that you can remember, the sights, sounds, smells, how warm it made you feel so inside . As you come to the end of the memory, start it all again and feel it even more deeply and vividly, as if you are actually there re-living that beautiful moment again.

1. Keep the picture and feeling in your head. Reach for the drink and swallow it quickly.

Good luck. I'm rooting for you.

I had a not dismilar situation except I was vomiting the prep. Part of the reason why I was having the scan was due to chronic vomiting. I had warned them but they thought I’d manage it. Anyway, I tried my best. I wasn’t able to keep it all down and some times were later than others but they were able to ahead with the scan.

My tips - pop the prep in the freezer for a very short period of time (don’t let it freeze), it tastes better when very cold and drink it through a straw. Pop on some nice music or watch something good on TV and sip as you go.

Best of luck.

@Draylon - I am a trauma doc and have only ever worked in Major Trauma Centres. I am used to scanning (CT + MRI) all night and rely on casual access to a radiologist for advice. I could work with someone on a beach in Australia but there's a risk that I might then want to re-train and switch specialty!

@Shambolical1 - Hopefully you were able to go ahead with the meds and they'll be able to do the scan tomorrow. It sounds as if today has been pretty miserable.

Sadly not. Couldn't get any of the prep down all day other than about 15ml of the contrast and an initial swig of the prep.

For whatever reason my throat just closed down on me. Nothing but a choke and gag fest. It took me nearly six hours, in tiny sips, to get down a pint of water today after the difficulties with the 'stuff'. I normally drink quite a lot during the day (fluids, not booze) so this is not usual for me and is rather frightening.

Working on more water now but can't actually bear to be in my kitchen, where the two lots of 'stuff' are, as I can smell it and it's really not helping. It's all well and good saying 'just do it' but once you're choking, you're choking.

Thank you for trying to help. I'll just have to speak to the hospital early tomorrow and hope they'll let me keep the next appointment (meant for getting the result) to discuss what might be done. There must be others with similar issues.

It’s psychological, you’re not choking. Choking is an inability to breath due to it being lodged in you windpipe. Your gag reflex is in overdrive due to feeling anxious.

Can you do some calming techniques ?

I do have issues with swallowing and if I get it wrong it will provoke a coughing, gagging, choking fit during which it is very difficult to breathe complete with roaring noises, red face, tears etc.. If I inhale a toast crumb it's bad enough but when it's liquid it's horrible. I'm careful how I drink as a matter of course (no tipping up of cups or swigging out of bottles).

There is undoubtedly a psychological element to it now too but that doesn't make it any easier to get round. The taste and consistency of the meds seems to have set something off. I don't have any calming strategies to deal with this.