VQ Scan in pregnancy - can anyone advise/reassure? I’m terrified

[Pregnantandworriedx]

Hi there.

To cut a long story short I ended up getting a VQ scan to check for blood clots on lung at 27+6 weeks pregnant, a couple of days ago.

The results came back negative and I’m now full of regret and anxiety that it was unnecessary - I can’t stop going over and over how it came about, as I didn’t want to get it done and really didn’t feel I had a PE/clot. I’m annoyed as my bloods didn’t suggest clotting, and I don’t think I had that many symptoms - but they went straight to the VQ scan (didn’t get a choice of CT scan).

i have really bad health anxiety (like really bad) and im now beyond terrified as to what effects the VQ scan could have on my little baby girl. I haven’t slept since I had the scan and I can’t stop crying, I’m just filled with dread and feel So sick about the radiation exposure and the impact it could have.

Does anyone have any professional or personal experience of this, and can reassure me? Does anyone now have older children that are ok?

I got both parts of the scan - the dye and the gas. I’ve since read they can sometimes just do one, and I feel so annoyed at myself for not pushing for this.

I’m really worried that I will be anxious the rest of my life about this. As it’s not something that’s ever going to go away… I am going to ask to speak to peri natal mental health to try and help me amanhe this worry but I would so so appreciate words of advice from anyone else.

thank you xxxx

Hello,

I'm sorry you're experiencing this. I had the same at around the same time in pregnancy. My DC is school age and has had no ill effects from this scan as far as I can tell. I also didn't feel like I had a blood clot. One of the consultants researched for me and said that they use the lowest dose of radiation possible and it was equivalent to the levels you'd experience on a long haul flight or if you lived in Cornwall (?). It was a long time ago and I was quite emotional so I can't remember exactly but it was along those lines. She also said that any potential 'risks' to baby were completely theoretical as there was no definitive research. I was advised to drink plenty of water and wee frequently to flush it out of my system.

I understand it is a very common test on pregnant women due to the increased risk of clots so there are many people in a similar situation. It does still play on my mind a little on occasion (I am still an anxious person) but I remind myself that the doctors considered the risk/benefit and decided this was the right thing for both of us at the time.

I hope sharing my experience helps.

you kind of just need to reframe how you think of this - if you hadn't had the scan your options would have been either to carry on for the next 12 weeks on therapeutic anticoagulation (because if there's diagnostic uncertainty the safest thing to do is treat for the worst case scenario), or to carry on without knowing if you had an untreated PE. Therapeutic anticoagulation is exactly the right thing if you'd had a PE, but if you didn't, all it does is expose you to a significantly higher risk of haemorrhage. Or, the alternative would be to have no treatment at all but if you had had a PE that could have presented with a cardiac arrest as a worst case scenario, and a possible untreated PE would have significant implications for how you'd have been able to deliver. So, by agreeing to the investigation you've reduced your risk of exsanguinating, and can be reassured that you're pregnancy is no higher risk than usual.

The diagnostic alternative to a v/q scan is a CTPA, which comes with a higher dose of radiation, so you've had the lowest dose diagnostically useful test. The usual blood tests that are done to exclude DVT/PE are not useful in pregnancy so the decision to investigate is based on signs, symptoms and risk factors. The radiation dose that your baby has actually received is also only equivalent to a few weeks of background radiation (or a couple of weeks in Cornwall), or a couple of flights to the USA and back, or about 3kg of Brazil nuts - it's really not like spending a week in the core of the sun!

Hi OP, I'm glad your scan was negative thank goodness you don't have a clot. With these things it always comes down to benefit versus risk.. the risk is tiny and the benefit to you is huge. An undiagnosed and untreated clot in pregnancy is life threatening so not doing the scan would not have been wise.

Do you know what's brought about this level of worry? Did you read something? Any risk to baby is actually miniscule. I hope your hospital gave you some accurate information rather than reading something online. Health anxiety is no joke so linking with perinatal mental health will do you the world of good. Your baby will be fine.

Sorry, i haven’t ever actually posted on mumsnet before so wasn’t sure how to reply directly to posts! Editing this as it was a repeat of the reply below xxx

Thank you so much for sharing your experience, I really appreciate it. I also think that I’ll always be worried about it, so I can understand it playing on your mind if you’re an anxious person too.
Did you have both parts of the test - the injection and gas mask? Thats really getting to me - the fact I could have asked to at least start with just one and see what the results were. But it was all a bit of a rush. Deep down I’m worried it was my anxiety giving me chest pains and that’s making it all even worse, the thought I basically brought it on myself / am to blame 😞 Thank you again for sharing, it really does help xxxx

Thank you so much for your reply, it really means a lot.

My hospital were rubbish with giving information so I was kind of left to look into it myself. They did say it’s low risk and it’s about weighing it up, but they didn’t give me any solid information. I’m a researcher in my job so I can’t help but look for more information. And I do know about looking for credible sources but it’s also hard to not be scared by seeing other things. Even though you know it’s maybe not 100% reliable info, it still sticks in your head. But I’ve basically seen a lot about how radiation can affect dividing cells and that nobody really knows the true risk / the risk even in years to come. But it’s not helpful to look for this stuff, so I think I really need to stop now 😞 I honestly think this has the potential to make me anxious forever. Im really scared about the long term impact on my mental health.

Thank you for posting the above - surely if it was that awful they wouldn’t do it? They kept saying that the VQ scan was better in pregnancy than a ct scan, and when I said that it actually seems to be worse for the baby, despite the overall lower dose of radiation, they didn’t seem to know that, which didn’t fill me with confidence 😞 xxxxx

Thank you so much for this, I really appreciate you taking the time to reply. I had PPH in my last delivery, so I was also terrified about being on blood thinners, so you’re right, it was good to avoid that unnecessarily. I’m just annoyed as I kept saying that I really didn’t feel it was a clot / lung issue - I had chest pains and a stabbing sensation in my heart but it very much felt like a heart thing to me. And all my bloods/blood pressure etc were ok. But the way you’ve framed it is helpful, thank you xxx

Hi OP I had to have this exact same procedure with youngest at 8months pregnant. I also felt in absolute turmoil and still look and think did I make the right decision. But I did have a PE and that the consequences of not having it would be worse. Leaving my eldest without a mum and my baby in utero. Remember you and medical staff will have balanced the risk. it's come back clear and that is great news! Every decision about our pregnancy and after will be a choice hopefully next time it will be more informed for you. Are you under the peri natal team?

Hi OP. I had this at about 14 weeks pregnant. I was extremely worried too.

DC is fine and is currently at secondary school.

Btw she's in school and doing really well now 😊

Thank you for this. No, I’m not but I was in my last pregnancy and I’m going to be asked to be referred again. I’m just annoyed as my anxiety had been fine this time around, and I feel like I’ve just given myself something to worry about for years to come 😞
Im sorry to hear your test was positive - but that’s good it was found. When did you have the test and has all been ok with your youngest? Thanks again for posting xx

Thank you for posting. That’s great to hear. Do you still worry about it or is my level of worry really extreme? I do have health anxiety so this is basically my worst nightmare - but I can’t tell if I’m really overreacting or if it’s as scary as I think it is? Thanks again for the message xxx

@Pregnantandworriedx had the test nearly 7yrs ago now! She's currently eating dinner 😁. Pregnant again now and I'm on meds to prevent a PE and pre eclampsia but I would do the scan again if I had too. Peri natal team are great with anxiety and previous pregnancy trauma.

For me, the anxiety around it did pass. But it was pretty bad initially as it came at the tail end of a bunch of other stuff that first trimester so I was already mentally fragile.

It isn't something I've dwelt on or worried about in the subsequent years.

But it does sound like you are struggling. It is probably worth chatting to your midwife. Being pregnant can open up a whole bundle of worries - as you're now worrying for two. Be kind to yourself and let those professionals around you support you.

Thank you for this. I’m definitely going to ask to speak to someone - I already have a two year old, and I don’t want him to be picking up on this anxiety. I keep bursting into tears out of nowhere, not in front of him but they pick up on more than they see don’t they. Thanks again and glad all is ok with you xx

Hi, I am in exactly the same situation you were in. I’m 29 weeks pregnant and just had a VQ scan, which thankfully showed no PE. But I deeply regret exposing my baby to radiation. I have really bad anxiety and can’t stop overthinking about all the possible harm that might happen to my baby. I would really appreciate it if you could share how your baby is doing now. I truly hope your baby is healthy.