Radiation exposure

[Starfish125]

Hi just wondering if someone can calm me down that may have some experience with this!

Basically I'm a health care assistant on the hospital. The patient had a small injection of radiation for a scan, came back to the ward and was 'radioactive' for 24 hours. I didn't spend much time with him, except for taking his blood pressure afterwards. I've since found out I am pregnant so I was 5 weeks gone when I was with him! I'm terrified it damaged the baby. I did speak to the radiographer who just shrugged it off as probably low risk. But has anyone here been in the same situation and everything been ok?

I believe it is repeated exposure to very low levels of radiation that can increase chances of childhood leukaemia rather than one off. If you are worried why not speak to your GP.

I understand why you're worried but there's probably nothing you can do about it now. Worth remembering that air travel exposes us to radiation but nobody worries about that and loads of people fly during early pregancy and with new babies. I'm sure it's low risk since it was a brief exposure. Congratulations by the way!

I worked as Radiation Protection Manager & I agree with PP saying that in the worst case it would be similar if you'd been on a flight, or visited Cornwall! (extra background radiation due to the granite).

I had to have a VQ scan last week (at nearly 18 weeks pregnant) - they said the risk was of course there as had radiation injected into me but that the risk was very minimal and much more risky to not have the scan! Obviously you wouldn't want repeated exposure but as others have said it is no more dangerous than flying or spending a fair amount of time in Cornwall!

Please don’t go down this rabbit hole. The only effect of EMFs on the body is heating. The effect from all our devices has no measurable effect. The only people at risk are people who work on powerful transmitters etc at very close range for their working day.

The patient’s injection was ionising radiation, which is completely different from EMFs. You’ve had reassurance from a radiation protection professional on here. If you’re still worried talk to another radiographer, a radiologist, or ask to speak to the H&S advisor or radiation protection advisor for the hospital. MN is full of people who mean well but do not have the expertise ended to advise you.

expertise *needed