questions about pelvic ct scan

[littlebitic]

I'm scheduled for a pelvic ct scan next week.Has anyone had one done? They gave me 2 bottles of barium to drink before the test I was just wondering what will happen if I dont consume both bottles? I was told after my cysto bout7 months ago my bladder is extremely small can only hold a tbsp of urine due to hunners.I know there,s no way I can drink both bottles and stay on the table long enough for them to do the test.doc told me my bladder has to feel"Uncomfortable full" it dosent take much for me to feel the need to run someone over that's blocking my path to the bathroom. also wondering if the pelvic ct scan shows more detail then a ultrasound? does endometrisos show up?HOW long does the test take? [img]confused.gif[/img] Thanx in advance

[Crzycatlady]

Little bit, I have a abdominal and pelvic Ct every 2 years. I have multiple kidney cysts, so my uro likes to make sure they are okay.

Here is my advice: Get a flavored barium. It tastes gross no matter what, but you have to drink it. I had banana last time, so it wasn't quite as bad as the original. The barium coats your intestines, so they show up better. Try to drink as much barium as you can. The most I have been able to consume is one bottle. (I know, bad, but the more I drink, I start vomiting.. and that wont help) The barium causes me to have diarrhea, so be prepared just in case. I haven't had trouble with the barium and my bladder. Maybe because it coats?

I get very anxious before the tests... my first one was a horrible experience, (at the time I only weighed 95 pounds (I was a sick girl then) and they gave me too much contrast dye.) so since then I freak out before. I took a xanax before my last ct. I just had a ct, not even a month ago. The xanax really helped. If you are nervous, the dr can give you a valium or xanax. I would ask if you feel like you need one. It helps. The nurses and the dr might say the ct isn't that bad, which it isn't but they are not the ones going through it. The total tests takes about 15-30 minutes. Its not that bad...

They will hook an iv up to you, so they can inject contrast medium. This will make you burn all over. It isn't pleasant... but it only lasts 5-10 minutes. Your bladder will also burn...

Make sure you tell them if you are on blood thinners (heparin is), and tell them what meds you are on, if you have any allergies to shellfish. MAKE SURE THEY GET YOUR WEIGHT!! They need to adjust the dose according to wt. If you don't weigh that much, make sure they don't give you the full contrast!

Sometimes they have saline running through the IV, to flush you out, which makes you very cold, and the bladder feels very full. My last one they didn't do the saline, so my bladder was not as bad. The saline also makes you pee alot the rest of the day.... For being cold, on one ct, they layed warmed blankets over me. That was nice.

All in all the ct isn't that long. You lay on a skinny table, and they move you through a donut shaped machine. They make you hold your breath for a few seconds, and release.... If you get a nice nurse they make all the difference.

Some hospitals will make you undress from the waist down, some will only have you remove your pants. At my last one, I didn't even have to undress, or take off my shoes at all. (I wore sweats) I would recommend wearing sweats, or pj bottoms. Dress as comfortable as you can!

Little bit, I hope this helps. If you need anything at all, just ask...

And please let me know how it went!!

Good luck... my thoughts are with you..
<img src="graemlins/kissing.gif" border="0" alt="[kissing]" />
Jen

[littlebitic]

Catlady, Thanxs so much for the detailed description.I had the ct scan done on Mon.you couldnt have described it better.its almost as if it were day jah voo, when I went because of your awesome description of it. I did manage to drink 1 1/2 bottles of the barrium coconut flavored and yucky it was thick.I have a doc opp on fri to get the results.I,m not really sure what the doc was looking for when he ordered it. he said he thinks something is secondary to the i.c but cant pinpoint it.I have i.c /hunners pretty severe.Ive tryed eveything from heprin/dmso to oral meds but seem to be decling rapidly.tommorrow will tell the story....Thanx again soo much <img src="graemlins/grouphug.gif" border="0" alt="[grouphug]" />

[Crzycatlady]

Well I'm sorry I didn't find your post until the other day!!
Hopefully the dr will find out what is wrong!! A ct is so much better than an ultrasound. It shows much more detail..
I take it you made it through yours okay!
Let me know how your doing and how the dr appt went!!
Jen <img src="graemlins/jester.gif" border="0" alt="[jester]" />

[Jo]

Little Bit, you asked if endometriosis will show up on a CT scan. The one I had about 10 years ago didn't show the endo but when a laprascopic was done in 1996, my doctor said I had extensive endometriosis. I had a complete hysterectomy in 1997. Hopefully, the CT of nowdays will show if you have it or not. Good luck, Jo Ellen

[littlebitic]

catlady, doc said nothing showed up on the ct scan. when I showed him how distended my belly was and told him I look like I'm ready to deliverer he's response was "how old are you?" I knew where he was going from there. I told him Im very active,I'm 5"0,113 lbs,34yrs old. I work full time,Have 3 children, keep house etc. He said It's not uncommon to loose stomach muscle at this age. who knew at the ripe old age of 34 Id start loosing muscle mass <img src="graemlins/lmao.gif" border="0" alt="[lmao]" /> I'm still having major pelvic pain,frequency and back pain. He said keep taking amitriptiline 10 mgs at bedtime and gave me ditropan xl to try.He gave me the option of having another hydrodistention but last one didn't work so I opted not to have another done. I was basically told you have a very severe case of i.c and your not reacting well to any treatments weve given you. "were running out of options".just what I wanted to hear [img]frown.gif[/img] .I push my body everyday to get threw a "normal" day and keep brain washing myself with thoughts of they just havent hit on the right meds,The pain is temporary,someday you will go into remission,This will get better,it could have been a life treatning illness etc . I was told in may when diagnosed by doc "I cant believe you still work full time etc,you must be in pain 24/7 do you want pain meds,(which have never been presribed) I feel for you,were gonna make this better I promise. now the tune has changed to weve done everything we can,dont know what else we can do,you have to learn to live with the pain <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[banghead]" /> I thought thats what Ive been doing [img]confused.gif[/img] hello not like you ever prescribed pain meds. needless to say Im feeling very discouraged. but I refuse to give up.Im too dame young and stuburn to let i.c beat me.

[ICNDonna]

If you haven't specifically asked your doctor to order pain medications for you, you will likely need to --- they don't usually volunteer to order them.

Have you tried elmiron? It takes a long time before it helps, but may be worth a try for you if you haven't already. Also, you are probably already on the IC diet, but if not --- that's a good step to take.

I hope your tomorrow will be a better day.

Warm hugs,
Donna

[littlebitic]

Donna, I did try elmiron for 2 months. I had really bad hair loss/mingrains which I never experienced before. instilations 1st was heprin,solumedrol,marcain and barcob that was once a week for 6 weeks... not much improvement .......... tryed dmso, marcain,barcob which made the uclers bleed another 6 weeks still no improvement...detrol caused retention, hydro 7 months ago more pain then before the hydro. Im pretty good about following the diet although I do cheat now and then [img]biggrin.gif[/img] I truly believe the reason Im not responding is because took many yrs to get the right diagnoses.I think it just too late to much damage has been done.bladder capacity is only 1/2 teaspoon. [img]frown.gif[/img] as far as pain meds doc says" we need to work on stress managment"and if I relax several times a day ,use a heating pad,and watch my diet I should be o.k. <img src="graemlins/lmao.gif" border="0" alt="[lmao]" /> YEA RIGHT.I work for a living.I can just see myself at work no I cant do that at the moment Im using my heating pad and must lie down right here on the floor. <img src="graemlins/scream.gif" border="0" alt="[scream]" />

[Crzycatlady]

Little bit, I feel for you. I work full time... It is so hard some days. And my dr wont give me pain meds. I called her office on friday, I was in so much pain. I asked for a pain med.... she gave me pyridium. I already take pyridium plus at night!! duh. And I'm on Urised already. I'm so frustrated with this ic and my drs and the mean nurses. Heparin isn't helping, my insurance company wont pay my claims (preexisting condition)!! AHHH <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[banghead]" /> <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[banghead]" /> <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[banghead]" /> <img src="graemlins/banghead.gif" border="0" alt="[banghead]" /> <img src="graemlins/toilet.gif" border="0" alt="[toilet]" /> <img src="graemlins/cussing.gif" border="0" alt="[cussing]" />

Hope you are feeling better. Did the dr say the pelvic pain was from the ic?
Jen

[littlebitic]

Catlady, Im with you ic stinks! I dont know which is worst <img src="graemlins/toilet.gif" border="0" alt="[toilet]" /> back pain,the pelvic pain , the strict diet,the docs or the constant med changes [img]confused.gif[/img] . Are you getting heprin injections or instilations? have you tryed dmso? How often do you get flares? I would give anything for a flare never had one just constant pain <img src="graemlins/scream.gif" border="0" alt="[scream]" /> uros punishment I think we should put a heavy lead jacket & weights on THIER bladders and lower backs have them drink gallons of water with no bathroom access . <img src="graemlins/eek.gif" border="0" alt="[eek]" /> and ask them if there in pain and discomfort <img src="graemlins/lmao.gif" border="0" alt="[lmao]" /> then tell them to accept this feeling its just another ic day [img]wink.gif[/img]

[littlebitic]

Donna , what is a bathroom access card?

[ICNDonna]

The bathroom access card is available from the Interstitial Cystitis Association at http://www.ichelp.org It's just a plastic card, much like a credit card, that explains that you have a painful bladder disease and need restroom access. I carry one, but rarely need it.

Donna

[littlebitic]

Donna, Thanx for the info. I found the site very informative and interesting. I think the card would is a great idea. <img src="graemlins/hi.gif" border="0" alt="[hi]" />

[Crzycatlady]

Liitle bit, thanks for that post. That made me laugh. <img src="graemlins/lmao.gif" border="0" alt="[lmao]" /> I feel the same way about my dr. I often say that if my dr could go around in my shoes for just a day, she would treat me dfferent!!! I am having Heparin instillations... but it has made ic worse for me.. Although sometimes its hard to tell. I've been in a constant flare now for about 1 1/2 months. I think. I lose track! I am switching to a new dr, someone I heard is just wonderful... so wish me luck!!!!! I need to get the bathroom card. Wouldn't that be great if it automatically cleaned the bathroom?? I hate some of the pottys I have to use. I once had to pee at the border in Tejuana&lt;sp&gt;. NOW THAT WAS GROSS!! HEE HEE <img src="graemlins/lmao.gif" border="0" alt="[lmao]" />

[pegster]

about pain meds..Its a long story but I was flat denied pain meds..I decided that I was going to fight to be heard....I went home and wrote a letter to my doctor that was very factual spelled out my pain in terms of 1-10 and also how it affected my life and that I needed to be on non malignant pain theraphy to try and live a normal life as possible...end result I got a pain contract with tylenol-3 and oxycodone for bad flares. So if your dr isnt treating you correctly and they arnt if they are not willing to prescribe than write them..this is documentation that they have to face at a later time should a law suit come about....Dont be nasty but just spell it out to them and ask for a written reply to your response to put in your records. ifpain meds were meant for those in pain so if your in pain its a duh ANSWER FOR THE DOCTOR. I would ask if im in this kind of pain then I wonder who is it that does get pain meds. Drs are not God and you have to stick up for your rights. Plus it is a medical fact that pain left untreated will change the way the nerve endings react to pain which is worse than a normal person that might experience acute short term pain, Hugs peg...Oh I go in for a pelvic ct tomorrow and I already have diareah!!!!!Oh dear