Did you know that you cant have a PET scan ever again

[DancingUntilImDead]

This was a problem that I didn't know existed.

If you've ever taken WLI's you are never allowed to have a PET scan in the future. I was told this during a consultation today as I have these scans often and not being able to have one in the future would be a massive risk for me. No WLI for me then sighs

Not strictly true

you need to tell the consultants so they know how to read th scan as images could show different colours

and don’t take on the day

but you can still scan or else would mean anyone diabetic couldn’t have a scan

Interesting but I can’t see anything to back this up, just that the WLI can alter results of a PET scan.

This is not true and it’s important to correct it to prevent others being misinformed like you have been.

GLP-1s can sometimes (not always) cause bright spots to appear on the scans that would usually be a cause for concern and highlight a need for additional diagnostic tests to rule out or confirm a diagnoses, but if you tell them before hand that you are taking the medication then they take that into account. This is for both PET and CT scans. The important thing is to ensure you are notifying your medical practitioner of the medications you are taking but that’s important regardless of what medicine it is.

Someone misinformed you.

It looks like there was a research presentation at a conference last year (ie not even a publication) of ongoing research that shows that GLP-1 agonists MIGHT cause false positives for tumours in scans.

The conclusion was NOT that people should stop the medication or not have scans. It was that those interpreting the scans need full patient medical histories.

There was NO suggestion that people should avoid life-saving treatment for diabetes and obesity.

If someone actually told you anything so thoroughly stupid you need make a complaint.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1100522

Well I've had an Mri a CT and a Pet.. you just stop a week before unless it's emergency .. they are used to dealing with people on other diabetic medication... this is NOT true and scare mongering.

Not true OP.

Reported

This is particularly idiotic, ridiculous scaremongering because not only is it not true for people on them, you also imply that the effect is permanent even if you stop taking them. Reported.

Why would you report? I was told this by my doctor yesterday and they have told me I can't have WLI as a result. They said the injections can cause issues with scan results.

I had a quick Google and there seems to be some truth to it. I'll need to go for a second opinion to clarify what my doctor said.

Perhaps you can't use WLI, due to your specific need for regular PET scans and the issues that changes in the imaging results might cause for diagnosing your specific medical issue.

Stating that WLI can cause issues with PET scans is absolutely not the same as saying that anyone who has ever used WLI can no longer have PET scans! That's a really strong claim to make based off being told that using WLI can affect PET scans. It is scaremongering to come onto a board like this and make such a definitive statement with nothing to actually back it up. Which is presumably why someone reported the post, for deliberately posting medical misinformation.

most people would simply tell their doctor they were on the medication in advance so that they know this when interpreting the results. They might be told to stop the injections for a couple of weeks first depending on the urgency of the scan.

Ever taken, like 2 years ago? How about 5 years ago. Come on. Doesn’t sound likely.

Well use your common sense, how do you think diabetics have scans when they need them?

And you said 'cant have a PET scan ever again', this is total scaremongering

I took WLI around 5 years ago for about 4 months, I didnt get on with them as I didnt like injecting. I would of course be able to have PET scans or any other scans I need

Does no one have any critical thinking these days?

There is some suggestion that they 'may' affect the imaging although some research has also shown this isn't the case. And it is only for certain types of PET scan.
Regardless, the advice I found is tell medical practitioners that you're on wli so they are fully informed, do not stop taking the wli as it's not necessary.
Whoever told you that you can never have one again is seriously over-reacting.

The may cause false positives, when taking the medication.

You can still have the scan, and the scan isn't missing cancers or creating additional harm. Just the WLI need to be taken into account when reporting. And it's only if you currently rake the medication not if you ever taken it

@InfoSecInTheCity thank you for this explanation. A few years ago I was prescribed dulaglutide for diabetes control I was unaware of this info and have had a CT scan since then. No issues but not certain my consultant would have been aware.
Due to supply issues some time ago I was taken off the injection and have a daily tablet - Rybelsus- instead.

It's scaremongering and false information

You weren't actually told you could never have PET ct again if you started WLI, but it might affect the results of the PET CTs you already need so shouldn't take it.

Surely if this were true then there would be a much greater awareness. Doctors would be wary of prescribing a medication which completely prevented a common and reliable diagnostic tool.

If it were true, then every single prescribing pharmacy would need to have a clear highlighted disclaimer to this effect before prescribing to anyone, and it would also be in the patient information leaflets and in all the online information about WLI.

Op are you sure your doctor told you thay if someone has ever taken wli in the past they can never ever have a pet scan in the future. This seems hugely unlikely. And a quick google says it’s bullshit.

Wow so much aggression on here!

How am I to know that my doctor is spreading misinformation? When they tell you something like this, why wouldn't I take their word for it? I had no reason to doubt them.

I was told it's a massive new issue they are facing as a certain % of the population are now on them and they can't have pet scans as a result. It's not exactly far reached to believe otherwise.

Common sense would tell me to listen to my doctor as they are the ones with the medical knowledge.

I'm not trying to scare anyone, I wanted to make others (like me) aware, that this was a potential issue. It obviously is a real issue or a doctor would not have mentioned it. I'm glad I spoke with my doctor first rather than having a consultation with an online pharmacy or similar. If I had not known this I could have faced problems in the future. Obviously this will vary between everyone because of course we are all different and not everyone will need a PET scan in the future.

@InfoSecInTheCity Thanks for the clarification. It seems my doctor wasn't talking bull the way others are making out and there is the potential for issues with WLI and PET scans.

A quick Google actually backs up their claim as does the clarification from another poster on here.

Can you link it then? I didn’t manage to find

It wouldnt be that so much it would be like the list of dos and donts and the medical questionnaire you get when you go for a CT or MRI about pregnancy, health conditions, medications etc, its for the scanners and interpreters of the scans to know the information

I had countless scans for a number of issues last year, almost one a month, I wasnt asked about WLI

What was the results of that quick google then because I couldnt see that. It would affect me as someone who took them 5 years ago

But as I say, not such a massive issue if its not even asked about on the questionnaires before scans