I’ve had way too many CT scans. Radiation anxiety!!

[Radiationworries 0]

Hi guys...

I’m really anxious over the amount of radiation I’ve received from CT scans, xrays and other radiology tests over the past few years. 

The worst part is NONE of them showed anything, so they were essentially for nothing. I felt so pressured by doctors to have them performed “just to be safe” so I did, but I’m regretting it a lot now after reading how dangerous they are.

I’ve had:

-1 head CT (because of persistent headache and lack of balance)

-1 high res chest CT (because of coughing blood)

-1 abdominal CT (with and without contrast) (because of severe abdominal pain and bloating) 

-About 6 abdominal xrays

-So many chest X-rays I can’t count

-Plus a gastric emptying test and small bowel follow through test which both contain radiation.

I’m 27 y/o and all of these scans have taken place in the last 4 years. I’m very thin and female which are apparently most at risk, yahoo.

I feel doomed to get cancer now and I can’t get over how I may have ruined my body with excessive over testing. I know there’s no sense in having a mental breakdown over this because I can’t go back in time and change it now. But I feel as if I’ve failed myself...

I guess I’m just looking for a bit of support or reassurance, from those experienced with honest statistics on radiation risks or from those who have had multiple tests themselves. I would really appreciate it as this is causing so much stress.

Also, does anyone know if it’s common practice for doctors to have information saved on how much mSv was used in each exam so I could have an accurate figure of my own exposure? 

Thank you 🙁
 

 

 

 

 

[MARC 431]

When you fly from coast to coast you are exposed to radiation not quite the amount of a chest xray. We are all exposed to radiation. I have read that vitamin c, vitamin d, eggs, beans, carrots, fish, peas and apples help the body get rid of radiation. My mother smoked for 60 years and never got cancer. My father smoked three packs of cigarettes a day until he was in his 50s and lived to 93 and never had cancer. I would do what you can to avoid excess radiation exposure in the future and I believe odds are you will be fine. 

[AOKAY 0]

I sympathize with your radiation worries and offer you my own experience. 
Back in the late 1960s I was diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease (what is now called Crohn’s Disease, but called terminal ileitis back then). The only way to confirm the diagnosis in those days was with barium enemas and what they called complete bowels series of   X-rays. My first was in the hospital at age 15.  They were done on a regular basis after that with an upper GI barium swallow study thrown in on occasion. My gastroenterologist had the equipment in his office and I cynically believed that he was paying for the machine just with my procedures alone. This was before the public was made aware of the relative dangers of X-ray exposure. 
These X-ray studies continued until scopes became available when I was in my 30s. I cannot even count the total X-ray procedures I endured over a period of 20 years as my slender body developed into maturity. 

When I was 50 I needlessly requested a thallium stress test to evaluate my heart.
Six years ago I had CT scans to confirm kidney stones and then the stones were removed laparoscopically under X-ray.
And over the years I have had my share of chest X-rays.

Today I am 68 years old with Crohn’s Disease in remission and kidney stones small enough to pee out. My health is otherwise good. Do I worry about the radiation I’ve received?  Sure.  I am a hypochondriac. But I cannot undo the past.  Lately if a doctor recommends any procedure requiring radiation I ask for alternatives.

You are young.  Live your life and enjoy it.  Odds are good your X-ray exposure won’t impair or shorten it.