Should I get a ct scan

[eddarun]

My doctor offered me an abdominal ct scan but im afraid to do it because it causes cancer.  Have any if you regretted doing it?  I dont know if its a good idea

[Slangevar]

Is this for your digestive issues?  Is the doctor a GI doc?  When I had those symptoms, I went to a GI doc who started with blood tests (for celiac disease & inflammation) and then moved on to a sigmoidoscopy, a colonoscopy and an ultrasound. I never had a CT scan (and wouldn't really have wanted one). 

[eddarun]

Yes, I kind of get the feeling my doctor is only doing the scan to give me some peace.  I think ill ask if he wont do a us or an mri instead.  I know ill be obsessed the rest of my life wondering if Ive given myself cancer! What a dilemma:(

[Slangevar]

What kind of doc is it, a GI doc?  If so, the first course of action is usually what mine did - blood tests followed by things like a colonoscopy, ultrasound, barium swallow, scopes, etc. 

You're absolutely right... a CT scan to "give you some peace" is a terrible idea.

[lawkcrabb]

I agree...a CT scan for piece of mind is not a good idea.  Have you done any other testing?

[eddarun]

Blood tests and colonoscopy...

[Slangevar]

Your symptoms are bloating, unformed stools and maybe cramps?  And you've had two colonoscopies and blood tests?  I see why your doc "offered" the CT scan... aside from maybe a motility test (to test how fast things are going through your system), he's sort of out of tests. It really sounds like anxiety and/or hormone-inducted IBS.

Have you tried adding more soluble fiber into your diet?  I once had a bad episode of super loose stools and bloating when I started drinking more water and eating fewer carbs. As soon as I added in a piece of bread or some Citrucel, the symptoms stopped.

Before you go in for more testing, I would also try managing your anxiety and stepping up the exercise and diet. If your symptoms continue for weeks after you've been eating right, exercising and feeling calm, then you'd be right to ask for more tests.

[hypomom]

I am in total agreement with Slangevar

[floridaguy65]

Hi e:)

What is your reasoning, currently, that your med testing and Doc visits, to date, are not enough medical intervention...in your opinion?

Before you go in for more testing, I would also try managing your anxiety and stepping up the exercise and diet. If your symptoms continue for weeks after you've been eating right, exercising and feeling calm, then you'd be right to ask for more tests.

Yes, this:)

I would wait, though, for a few months, perhaps, while learning how to embrace some new habits and actions. Hopefully, you'll feel that you do not even need further med testing by then. But, keep in mind that HA peeps WANT tests and WANT reassurances most of the time. A major key in seeking out some lasting peace is to not allow having some of these intrusive thoughts (the faulty thought patterns) steer us into fear-driven habits and actions. Unneeded medical testing is the bane of HA peeps. There will always be justifications in an amped up, scared mind as to why we should go get some reassurance. What could it hurt? This is is how an HA mind operates a lot of the time. Well, it can hurt our chances of getting some firmer footing on a healing path for our mental health challenges. And, it is these anxiety issues which are, overwhelmingly, creating a majority of our struggles and lifeflow interruptions.

If a Doc tells you that you can have 'xyz' testing just for your "peace of mind", decline it, IMHO. Tough to do for an HA person, I understand. "Peace of mind" is fleeting, at best, and the longterm harm, so to speak, for your anxiety / health anxiety dealings outweighs almost all potential benefit. This isn't just my opinion...this has been shown time and time and time again throughout the history of HA and is relayed by many peeps through their own personal experiences here on The AZ....including my own med testing stories:)

What's going on in your anxiety help? Self-help?

Peace and Feel Well:)

[sassparella]

I agree with the others if it's for peace of mind then you probably don't want to get a CT scan.

If it's necessary however, then the increase in risk of getting cancer from one CT scan is minuscule so if your doctor feels you actually need it then you should get it done.

[bertybotts]

CT scan will never give peace of mind. CT scan finds little benign things that hypos think are immediatley cancer.
Ask anyone who's had a CT here

[Evlangel06]

I was told by my drs that the chance of getting cancer from a ct scan only increases after the third one. If he thinks u need one, do it. If something is seriously wrong it won't matter that u had one done. Better safe than sorry.

[Slangevar]

CT scan finds little benign things that hypos think are immediatley cancer. Ask anyone who's had a CT here

Agreed... many of us have to deal with "probably benign" liver spots that showed up on our CT scans. Meh.