Cat Scan

Submitted by KTrina on December 21, 2007 - 1:00am
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I am getting a pelvic/abdominal cat scan tomorrow. It is for my severe pelvic and abdominal pain I have been having..my doctor is afraid I have gall stones (which apparently is common in women who have given birth)
I told him of my prolapses, since I've been having terrible groin pain, and thats when he ordered a pelvic scan too...and he said he's really interested to see the scan.
Is he interested because he'll be able to see my prolapses? I am not too familiar with them, since I've only ever had a few on my neck..I didn't know it could show all that though.
I actually can't wait to see the scan itself then. I'd love to know what it looks like without having to use a mirror in the bathroom!

(sorry for the pointless post, I'm rather nervous, since I do run out of insurance on the 31st and I'd hate to need surgery on my gall bladder and then lose my insurance)

AnneH

December 21, 2007 - 8:20am

I don't see how they can see the prolapses if they do the scan with you flat on your back, but maybe the tissues are arranged differently than in non-prolapsed people. I really don't think such scans are used to detect prolapse. They'll be looking for masses that don't belong there.

jmqphd93

December 21, 2007 - 2:06pm

You might want to read this article before going for your CT scan...

http://www.boston.com/news/health/articles/2007/11/26/radiation_risk/

Perhaps there might be other less risky diagnostic tools. I had pelvic/abdominal scans for mild abdominal pain (no other diagnostic tests had been done). The only thing the doctor diagnosed from the scans was my prolapsed bladder - which my primary and/or my gyno should have discovered during routine pelvic exams. So, I was unnecessarily exposed to all that radiation (and blissfully unaware of it at the time - I thought it was comparable to a regular x-ray). Incidentally, the abdominal pain subsided after a brief period of time.

J.

AnneH

December 22, 2007 - 9:59am

J, your scan may have been unnecessary to diagnose your prolapsed bladder but no doubt the doctor was also ruling out things such as ovarian cancer, which can cause abdominal pain, and can be rapidly fatal. We have to keep all things in perspective. Abdominal pain of UNPROVEN cause requires extensive investigation although I agree he may have been too quick to use the CT. MRI is a safer alternative.

Whenever a doctor suggests CT in a non-emergency situation, people should inquire whether an MRI would suffice. Some things are pictured better with CT, others with MRI, but if the doctor is sending you for a CT just because that happens to be the machine his practice owns, then perhaps you could gently insist he send you over to the hospital for an MRI.

Everyone should be aware of cumulative radiation exposure. Like a lot of things the CT or CAT scan is a tool. It can be of great benefit and should be used judiciously with all risks and benefits taken into consideration.

louiseds

December 23, 2007 - 8:22am

Hi AnneH

I had a transverse vaginal ultrasound and a renal system ultrasound for uterine pain about a month ago. The doctor was looking for tumours but found nothing. I know I have pretty seriouse cystocele, rectocele and prolapsed uterus. The ultrasounds showed no abnormalities, and that I had only 15ml urine left after emptying my bladder (the Wholewoman way), which was acceptable. The radiographer did pick up the uterine prolapse with my bearing down (actually 'up' when in the stranded cockroach position), but no other prolapses. Yes, the ultrasound exam was done in a ridiculous position on my back with bum up on a pillow, and the radiographer agreed that it was a pretty stupid position if they were looking for prolapses, but there you go!

I was glad that my doctor was thorough enough and cautious enough to order the tests, but the exams did not show anything we did not already know, and missed the rectocele and cystocele completely! So much for hi-tech tests, eh? Well, at least there was nothing sinister, and it did give me a good laugh and did illustrate that I am emptying my bladder well.

Cheers

Louise

AnneH

December 23, 2007 - 5:50pm

Well then what irritates me most about such tests is how liability makes doctors order them even though the odds of you having something serious are remote. It isn't funny but your comment about the stranded cockroach position made me laugh.

KTrina

January 2, 2008 - 5:20pm

I got my cat scan results...two days too late since I have no insurance anymore.
Its an ovarian cyst that they now want an ultrasound for.
But, I fell over in pain yesterday, thankfully my boyfriend was home, and I wasn't holding the baby. So I believe my cyst already ruptured. I get cysts almost every month, but this felt completely different and was much higher..
I suppose my anatomy is much different now that I've had a baby.

granolamom

January 2, 2008 - 6:27pm

a ruptured ovarian cyst can't be good!
is that a 'see your dr asap' situation?
take care of yourself, I'll be thinking about you

KTrina

January 3, 2008 - 10:54pm

oh no, not at all. it'd only be an emergency if I got an infection, which I believe is rare.
Every woman that ovulates gets a little cyst, mine just happen to get rather big and painful and stick around too long. I've had them rupture before, sometimes it causes bleeding, most of the time not though.
I did have one while pregnant, and was in soo much pain from it for the first trimester!
Thanks for asking though :)

granolamom

January 4, 2008 - 10:14am

I don't know all that much about cysts, was just remembering back to when my sister had one. hers was rather large and the drs were putting the fear of 'rupture' in her. obviously a different scenario than yours.
good to know you'll be ok : )

Zelda

January 4, 2008 - 10:45am

as a teenager. I fell off my horse bareback riding and jarred everything pretty
hard. The next day at school I was having extreme back-aches and felt strange.
I was in emergency surgery before the day was done. A cyst the size of a "small
grapefruit" had encased my ovary and they couldn't save it.. or wouldn't.
I spent the next 10 years or so pretty anxious I would have more of the same,
in part from the Dr. saying some people are cyst makers. I had many ultrasounds,
and only one showed a slightly enlarged ovary. Something to watch if you have
the resources to do so...
Did I mention Castor Oil packs ? ; )
Zelda