CT Scan

[Esmee20]

Hello,

I am wondering if anyone has had a CT chest scan and how this experience was?

I have been having breathlessness due to possible long covid for a while. The consultant I am with sent me for a 6 min walk test and now a CT scan. When my CT scan appointment came I called to speak with them as I was worried about the radiation exposure having had a different CT last year. She said my walk test results were positive and I could go for the CT scan if I wanted or wait and have a chest x ray later in the year.

I am now not sure what to do - I do not want unnecessary radiation exposure but likewise if the consultant sounded like it was vital I would go. The breathlessness has been slowly improving so I am not sure if I should just ask to wait and see.

I have goggled the radiation and it always says the consultant weighs up the risk so it was the 'go for it if you want to or I can order a chest x ray if you prefer' that has me unsure!

You can see so much more on a CT scan than a plain xray. I'd do straight for the CT - otherwise you might end up having a chest xray and then a CT.

I had to have a ct scan a couple of years ago as an ultra sound scan found something on my kidney. I was also concerned about the risk of radiation exposure but the staff assured me that it was similar to the amount of radiation exposure you get from a couple of aeroplane flights.

Thanks, I had a brain CT scan a few months ago so was worried about having another.

I think I will go, it was the relaxed vibe I got from the consultant that has made me question it!

My sister has just had two ct scans within a couple of weeks of each other, they said it’s fine. Good luck with it all.

Thanks for the reassurance @Septemberintherain do you know what she had scanned?

Hi I had a CT Scan two weeks tomorrow I’ve rung my GP for my results has I was told from the hospital the results will go back to my Doctors within one to two weeks for my results rung them today there not back at my Doctors so I rung the Hospital up to see what’s going on has I’m worried has it is these past two weeks she ask my name address date of birth all of that then she had a look on the Sistine that she said she is going to chace it up has they haven’t done the report to send to my Doctors for my results so now I’m having to wait longer probley more worrying Anexty does this mean there is something wrong I’m not sure he did say after I had my CT scan I would get my results back to my GP within one to two weeks no results been sent I’m not sure what’s going on and if it was something bad would they Contact me sooner or what I know my Doctor said they look at it the same day then if they see something needs sooner they ring your GP or send then a messaged or email then it goes to someone who looks at the CT scan more closely to make the report I went two weeks before my CT scan to A& E I had chest pain so they did the regularly checks bloods and ECG then I got sent to have an X-RAY I was told it was okey I’ve got fybromyalgia I have inflammation in between my rib cadge then get a call 2 weeks after to go for a CT Scan when I got there he said do you know why we are doing this I said no he said they found a shadow on one of your lungs were just checking that we may need to put the dye in your vains but if we do il let you know so I had a CT scan on my chest 15 minutes I think it took and then I said do I need the dye he said no the Radiologist said he dident need to do the dye I’ve never smoked in my life but I know that does not count for nothing these days I’m just sick of worrying all the time I’m hopeing someone on here has been through something a bit same so that I can speek to them thanks D Hope I’m just praying 🙏🙏🙏

That’s exactly what happened to my sister. They said they found ‘something’ on her lung. She needed a second ct scan for them to double check. It took FOUR months for the results to come back!! When they did they said all was normal. They had no idea what the shadow was but it wasn’t there on the second scan results! Good luck, I hope you get some answers soon.

I wonder if the fact that they're taking their time with the results mean that it's not urgent/emergency? I was under the impression that if it was a genuine emergency they would ring asap, but if they're taking a few weeks that's just the normal procedure and you should get a follow up letter soon? Something like that? Hope your results are good!

I'm in a similar situation with DH. He was scheduled in for an urgent CT with something that can be caused by a) nothing, b) cancer or c) an aortic aneurysm. It's been almost a week now and we're just waiting for the call but so far we've heard nothing. I know we were told two weeks but surely if he was walking around with an aneurysm or cancer they would ring as soon as possible? This is so stressful!