CT contrast drink--need more info

staceya
staceya Member Posts: 720
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hey All,
Need to get my regular CT this Friday.
However this time I am drinking some concoction or other, which I have not done before.
One small problem, I will be drinking this while running a webinar, any side effects I need to be aware of..imaging staff said not to worry, but looking for those with a more personal experience..

Thanks
Stacey

Comments

  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #2
    Just don't turn off the lights
    as you'll glow in the dark:) Seriously, you're probably drinking hypaque. In a delicious lemmony or cherry flavor. There should be no side effects at all. Enjoy!
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
    Hi Stacey
    I never done it before so just wishing you all the best while doing it.

    Hondo
  • Bigfuzzydoug
    Bigfuzzydoug Member Posts: 154
    #4
    I've always had contrast through IV
    I've never had to drink anything for a CT with contrast. I always got it injected directly through an IV. That stuff gives you a warm feeling all over and produces a metalic taste in your mouth.

    The only thing I've ever had to drink was for an upper GI series test.

    Sorry I couldn't be more of a help. Good luck!
  • jtl
    jtl Member Posts: 456
    #5
    Scan
    For me the CT was an injection for contrast and the PET was an injection of a radioactive tracer.
  • navy261991
    navy261991 Member Posts: 6
    #6
    PET/CT scans
    Stacey - I've had both kinds. Once with the procedure which includes drinking some sort of contrast substance and several scans which included insertion of the contrast substance through an IV. I don't think there is any difference in the quality of results and probably depends on the type of machines that are used. I've not had any side effects from either procedure.
    Dave - navy261991
  • ac
    ac Member Posts: 88 Member
    #7
    Barium suplate contrast
    Stacey,

    I've had this many times for gastrointestinal CT scans. Bearing in mind that every one is different, I've not had any issues. As far as I can remember, I had to drink 1 bottle an hour or a couple of hours before (can't quite remember the exact details), and another bottle just before the scan. Good luck with the scans.
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #8
    ac said:

    Barium suplate contrast
    Stacey,

    I've had this many times for gastrointestinal CT scans. Bearing in mind that every one is different, I've not had any issues. As far as I can remember, I had to drink 1 bottle an hour or a couple of hours before (can't quite remember the exact details), and another bottle just before the scan. Good luck with the scans.

    Thanks All! Looking forward
    Thanks All! Looking forward (not) to my breakfast drink..
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
    staceya said:

    Thanks All! Looking forward
    Thanks All! Looking forward (not) to my breakfast drink..

    Hi Staceya
    Just remember it could be worse, I had a Barium contrast that had to go in the other way, and I will leave it at that.

    Wishing you well
    Hondo
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #10
    Similar to BigFuzz
    For CT, I've only had the injection, half going in and the other half midway during the CT.

    PET I always have to drink a big orange ade type of drink plus an injected tracer prior to the scan.

    JG
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #11
    staceya said:

    Thanks All! Looking forward
    Thanks All! Looking forward (not) to my breakfast drink..

    Fish...
    Eat more fish...hehe

    BTW, you said goat I believe, but I think you are actually a sheep...LOL.

    JG
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #12
    Skiffin16 said:

    Fish...
    Eat more fish...hehe

    BTW, you said goat I believe, but I think you are actually a sheep...LOL.

    JG

    Yeah, I thought that looked
    Yeah, I thought that looked like a ram and not a goat. Lol
  • snowdancer
    snowdancer Member Posts: 9
    #13
    CT Scan
    Hi Stacey,

    As others have said there doesn't seem to be any bad side effects from drinking the contrast solution. I imagine they will also give you the IV contrast. I've had a number of CT scans and only the last few have I had to drink the stuff. I asked the lab personnel - why the change? I guess the IV helps the with head and neck and the liquid helps with the lungs and abdominal cavity. The reason they need to give the IV twice for some people is because it starts getting flushed from the body in about 40 seconds, so if they do one scan of the neck and one of the head, then they need to give you the shot twice. I hope all goes well for you.

    Bruce
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #14
    Skiffin16 said:

    Fish...
    Eat more fish...hehe

    BTW, you said goat I believe, but I think you are actually a sheep...LOL.

    JG

    Sheep Ba ba ba
    Da and I thought all this time it was Mary that had the little sheep
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #15
    sweetblood22 said:

    Yeah, I thought that looked
    Yeah, I thought that looked like a ram and not a goat. Lol

    Ding Ding Ding....
    Winner... :)

    JG
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #16
    snowdancer said:

    CT Scan
    Hi Stacey,

    As others have said there doesn't seem to be any bad side effects from drinking the contrast solution. I imagine they will also give you the IV contrast. I've had a number of CT scans and only the last few have I had to drink the stuff. I asked the lab personnel - why the change? I guess the IV helps the with head and neck and the liquid helps with the lungs and abdominal cavity. The reason they need to give the IV twice for some people is because it starts getting flushed from the body in about 40 seconds, so if they do one scan of the neck and one of the head, then they need to give you the shot twice. I hope all goes well for you.

    Bruce

    Flushed....
    Hmmmm no wonder I had that warm fuzzy feeling midway through the scan....LOL

    JG
  • staceya
    staceya Member Posts: 720
    #17
    Skiffin16 said:

    Fish...
    Eat more fish...hehe

    BTW, you said goat I believe, but I think you are actually a sheep...LOL.

    JG

    Goat? Sheep?
    I don't think sheep or goats eat fish. or crazy contrast drink either..
    I tasted it..ICK
  • D Lewis
    D Lewis Member Posts: 1,581 Member
    #18
    Interesting
    I've never had to drink any contrast solution, but I was given the fizzy lemony (kind of like an alka-seltzer) radioactive sugar beverage before my very first PET-CT. The two subsequent PET-CT's were done with the injection.

    Deb

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