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Seniors - Kidney CT Scan with Contrast Dye
My Experience With CT Scan with Contrast Dye - B.B. Male Age: 55
After blood was discovered in my urine a CT scan of my kidneys and bladder using contrast dye was ordered.
The day of the scan I was told to not drink or eat anything several hours prior to the test. Upon arrival at the clinic, I was given two glasses of water to drink to hydrate my kidneys.
After changing into hospital pants I was taken to an x-ray room where I lay on a table and two standard x-rays were taken of my kidneys and bladder (I believe). I was then taken to a room where an I.V. port. was attached to my arm. A small amount of saline solution was inserted which caused a slightly medicinal taste in my mouth and throat. I then waited for CT scan machine to become available.
The CT scan machine is a narrow round tube with a table that moves through it. When it was my turn for the CT scan the nurse had me get on the CT machine table. I was run though the CT machine three times. My I.V. port was then connected to a machine that dispenses the contrast dye and a small amount of dye was injected.
After the contrast dye was injected there was a 12 minute wait for it to move through my system. After the 12 minutes had past a larger amount of dye was injected. This caused a mild burning sensation primarily at the back of my throat but also in my pelvic area.
I was run through the CT scan machine one more time, then returned to the standard x-ray room for two additional standard x-rays of my kidneys and bladder.
Following that I was allowed to dress and leave. A [very] slight burning sensation at the back of my throat from the contrast dye continued much of the day, and eventually disappeared. I had no other issues.
The risk/benefit of CT scans has come into question recently and as this is my third CT scan it most certainly is a concern for me. I can only trust that my doctors are not exposing me to uncessary risk.