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How old do you have to be for ct scan

7 replies

BrokenRainbow22 · 18/10/2022 10:51

My sister has been in hospital for 5 days with unbearable pain in her abdomen and vagina region.. They have tested her urine, done bloods, given her a scan and also transvaginal scan. This has picked up nothing, everything is normal. She usually has a huge pain threshold but when her tummy was being scanned by sonographer she was crying in pain.
Her doctor is trying to send her home with some strong painkillers and said she's too young for a ct scan... She is 25, is that right? Can she refuse to leave?

OP posts:
OhWifey · 18/10/2022 11:01

My daughter had one at 13 months old. It's about risk. CT is a large dose of radiation. Doctors will have balanced the risk of that against the risk of having missed something via the safer methods of scanning.

BrokenRainbow22 · 18/10/2022 11:10

Surely if they are out of ideas to what is causing the pain they should give her one?

OP posts:
Bekindnotarsey · 18/10/2022 11:16

Hi
tbh I have never heard such rubbish in all my life. I used to work in the medical profession and any age can have a CT scan. My daughter had them aged two but with a little sedation because my DD had to lie still. I have had various CT scans since I was very young, and still having them now.

Hospitals mainly state too young because many people do not have high levels of importance or two young to have a CT scan because their bodies have young bones.

in other words saving money.

in this instance as someone who has battled the NHS, I would not give in, I would certainly ask to see a different Doctor/ Consultant, something is not right.
your sister needs to be strong, have support and state I know my own body and something isn’t right.

If it gets to it, hopefully not, complain to the highest medical professional in the GPS surgery or hospital.

But to answer your question, no your sister can have a CT scan, and they are good, will show up what is present in the stomach and lower regions. Be prepared to fight I’m afraid, but do not give in. Unfortunately this takes time, and whilst this is going on, your sisters pain will get worse or stable with pain.

Its a long shot, but have you thought about going to the local sexual health clinic? Random I know, but you can ring up and walk in, they can do a lot of different tests and can refer, the tests are more evasive maybe, but they are good for stomach/ vaginal pain..

Has your sister ever been prone to IBS or crohns or Diverticulitis? If so/ not maybe worth being tested for that. I have it myself and it’s awful pain and antibiotics relieves the pain, however mainly it’s things you eat that causes the pain.

i hope I have helped a little, so sorry YS is going thru this😩

Grumpsy · 18/10/2022 11:20

I had one at 11, yes it’s about risk, but surely if she’s in that much pain the risk is outweighed by the potential benefit.

vivainsomnia · 18/10/2022 15:14

CT scans involved a lot of radiation so are only done when absolutely required. By too young, they didn't mean not aged enough, but that they try to reduce the number of CT scans people get in their lifestyle to reduce exposure over the years.

Changingmynameyetagain · 18/10/2022 15:20

My DD is 16 and she’s had 2 CT scans, 2 MRI scans and about 70 X-rays of her spine. She has 3 X-rays every time she sees the consultant, which is twice a year.

octonautsmom · 18/10/2022 15:26

Has your sister got children op? Only asking because I have an ongoing problem with a fractured coccyx and my Gp has requested a few times for me to have a ct scan and then when I've got to the hospital it's been refused because in their words 'I'm of child baring age and it can risk fertility'. This is despite me having two children and insisting to them that I have no intention of ever having any more.

On the other hand I was given one quickly at 37 weeks pregnant because they thought I had a blood clot on my lung. In this instance I did have to sign a lot of forms to say that I understood the risk to myself and my unborn baby.

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