Anyone have a reaction to CT scan?

Seraphima

Hello all,

Just wondering if anyone else had a reaction to the CT scan? It's almost depressing, I had JUST started feeling somewhat normal physically (except for ongoing pain in my arm, maybe cording). But I felt pretty good when I went in for my appointment.

Some hours later, I developed a high fever. My breast turned deep red. I later saw a patch of deep red on my back. I had a migraine. I was nauseated. My breast swelled and started draining a little. I had gastrointestinal symptoms. The fever went down a little after 24 hours, but everything else is still going on.

I called my surgeon's office, thinking it was an infection. Not very happy that the on-call doctor never bothered to return my call.

I found a study online that I couldn't read but skimmed over, some images noted that symptoms typically begin resolving at 96 hours - so I wonder if that means I have another day and a half of this.

I've never heard it mentioned. Just wonder if anyone else experienced?

NancyD

I had a reaction to the contrast dye they use with CT, but not the CT scan itself. That sounds very strange. I hope your issues resolve before the 96 hours.

NatsFan

I also had a reaction to the CT contrast, but have had a CT with no contrast since then and it was fine.

If the symptoms aren't improved a lot by now, I'd definitely call the surgeon's office back.

Seraphima

Saw the surgeon today. He seemed a little puzzled too.

Red, inflamed breast and fever - infection of surgery site. So I asked why I had a large red patch on my back too, and he said he didn't know. And that it was too long post-OP to be reacting to any of that.

I did find a study published here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC287591...!po=46.0000 that talks about reaction to CT scan with contrast as opposed to without contrast. But only 1 person (in almost 300) without contrast had a skn reaction, and as far as I can tell, no one had as dramatic a reaction as I did. If that's even what it is.

And my daughter also correctly pointed out to me that a single study is not much to go on.

Thankfully, my headache is much better, just a little one now. Nausea settling down. Still dizzy, still red, still heat from red areas. But I have learned that severe headache and nausea are the symptoms I hate most, so by comparison I am feeling MUCH better.

I don't know if I'll know what it is. I think I'll be careful of any CT Scan in future. And I'll ask if they used any contrast. I don't thnk they did anything at all, no IV, and I didn't drink anything, but the surgeon seems to think they would have.

This may be pointless info, but in case anyone is ever searching for it. That one article is the only thing I turned up involving no contrast.

Doctor gave me 10-day course of antibiotics. I'm taking them in case it IS an infection, and even if it isn't, the skin appears to be blistering, so if I end up with a bunch of open sores, at least it might help prevent infection.

It may be irrational, but this is making me pretty afraid to begin rads. The last three days have been awful. If I had something like that or worse for six weeks, I'm not sure I could handle it. Cancer isn't for sissies. And I'm starting to feel like one.

Thanks for the replies.

Anonymous

ok guys, why do some Rads CT scans involve contrast dye and some don't

Seraphima

I would answer if I knew, but I don't. People may not really be reading this one? I'm sure your RO could tell you, or probably the tech or nurse. You might ask in a new thread, or post in one of the more active ongoing RADs threads?

Keepingitreal

Hi Seraphima,

Just looked through this thread and was wondering how you're feeling now that it has been a couple of weeks? Did they ever figure out what caused your issue? I'm not an MD, but when I hear about some of your symptoms, shingles comes to mind. Just a thought. I hope you're doing much better

Seraphima

Thanks, Keepingitreal.

No, they are totally mystified. No idea what the cause could be. Pretty much every step of this process has involved something rare, some small chance of occurrence, or something they can't explain.

I am having minor skin issues, and my RO says it's too early to be the rads (I had 6/30 today). But it's helping to remind me to take care of my skin so I'm hoping it will lessen effects later on. I still have skin peeling on my breast and the area of my back that was affected. A little redness and itchiness. Nothing else I can identify as being part of that. I have some fatigue that comes and goes, small headaches that also come and go, rare minor nausea, and some joint pain and stiffness that is probably unrelated to cancer treatment, unless it's just decreased activity. But I'm doing pretty well, much better than the surgery recovery period.

I had shingles once before during a period of major stress - much worse than the stress of the cancer diagnosis and treatment - my husband was (mis)diagnosed as having a brain tumor and I was told he had only a short time to live - we were not much beyond being newlyweds - he was in hospital far away, I was in a city he had been transferred to away from my family and friends, he lost his income, and my job laid me off.

I don't know if shingles presents in different ways. Mine was many smaller lesions, each one producing a stabbing pain every few moments. This was more like a burn that covered an area a little larger than my breast in front, and wrapping around to an area slightly smaller on my back, with pain consistent with a burn - itchy and blistered skin that peeled.

Anyway. I think I'm just weird. I've seen doctors look puzzled and eyebrows go up quite a few times during this process. I'm just glad it hasn't been over anything really scary like the general anesthesia.