i realized something today. It is not the LLMDs or alternative doctors who will kill me in the long run. It's conventional medicine and endless radiation.
I had a CT-scan today of my chest, abdomen and pelvis ordered by a hematologist I'm seeing. I was referred there by my ID doc for some abnormal blood work.
I'm really, really scared as I tally up the number of different catscans done on me over the last 3-4 years. I asked the hematologist 3 times if he felt it was really necessary to do this scan and he said yes don't worry about the radiation. Is this ignorance on the doctor's part, over worry from me, or both?
I also had many X-rays done too on my chest and a few other areas. I know CT scans really put out radiation though even though the machines are getting better. I've had a lot of contrast as well with some scans.
Here's what I had done:
April-11 Catscan (Chest & Abdomen & Pelvis) with Contrast October-09 Spiral Catscan Chest June-09 Catscan (Cervical Region) with Contrast June-09 Catscan (Thoracic Region) with Contrast June-09 Catscan (Abdomen & Pelvis) w/o Contrast February-09 Catscan (Abdomen & Pelvis) - with Contrast January-09 Myelogram Cervical Region w/post Catscan January-09 Myelogram Lumbar Region w/post Catscan March-08 Catscan (Abdomen and Pelvis) January-08 Catscan - Sinuses December-07 Catscan (Brain) without contrast November-06 Catscan - Sinuses April-04 Double Contrast Catscan - Right Shoulder March-04 Catscan - Sinuses March-98 Catscan - Lumbar Region
I'm about done with testing I think. The risks are too high. I'm just hoping it isn't too late already. I'm sure the hematologist/oncologist doesn't care because if I get cancer, hey I'm just another cancer patient for them, right? BS. Nothing significant has ever come up on these either except for a cyst on the liver. I don't know what the hell they're looking for. Posted by Lymetoo (Member # 743) on :
I think they ARE rather dangerous to some extent. I think I've had 5-6 in my lifetime. Hope I don't need too many more!
There is recent research on this. Maybe you can Google it.
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
And for the rest, I myself would always be very suspicious of the ignorance of anybody who told me that *any* radiation at *any* level is safe.
Best, CI
Posted by Shahbah (Member # 28735) on :
radiations are very hard on your tissues, especially with all the inflammation going inside of your body, stop that!!
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
No worries. I'm done with them unless life or death. I'm done rolling those dice at the table. To most doctors, these are done to cover their A##, not because they truly care. It's a dangerous game to play. They should have a damn good explanation as to why they need to do them every time IMO.
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
Seekhelp, just so you know...
There is information about radiation exposure and the remedy in Paul Pitchford's book Healing with Whole Foods. He is one of the top nutritional authorities, and is really good.
The Pubmed study with milk thistle above, refers to UV exposure but there are additional Pubmed studies in which the herb is used as adjunct in cancer radiation and chemotherapy, to minimize side effects.
Thought you might like to know about that.
Instinctively I think of chlorella too but I would want to read up more first.
Best wishes, CI
The above information has not been evaluated by the FDA and does not diagnose, prevent or cure any disease.
Posted by Rumigirl (Member # 15091) on :
Wow, that is a lot of CT scans! I wouldn't let them do anymore, unless the test is absolutely critical, and there were no other test possible. And even then . . .
I just had my first one last Aug. on an ER visit. I wasn't happy about getting that one. But it looked like I had meningitis, and they said that the HAD to do it before doing a lumbar puncture. Well, I'm sure they didn't HAVE to do it, except to make sure, blah, blah, blah.
Posted by Lemon-Lyme (Member # 19229) on :
That is a lot of catscans. A bit odd your doctors ordered so many repeats. I'd think one of each area would have been more than enough.
I've also had a lot more radiation that I'd like -- an angiogram, nuclear stress test (which is more radiation than doctors like to admit), a head CT scan and an abdomen CT scan. The abdomen CT was a prety hefty dose of radiation and not really needed, sort of annoyed I got it done. One of those things where you go to the ER with extreme pain and docs say you may have appendicitis, so you get the test done just to make sure you won't croak. But afterward, you realize a simple x-ray would have given the same results... kidney stone.
If you need more scans, ask for MRIs or ultrasounds. Depending on the area scanned, one of those tests may be good enough.
They also have some high-speed CT scan machines nowadays, but probably best to hold off on those unless you really, really need it.
Posted by Nancy2 (Member # 95) on :
My LLMD told me that one CT scan is equal to 500 X-rays and not to have any done unless ABSOLUTELY necessary!
Posted by feelfit (Member # 12770) on :
I would just refuse them. Esp the June of 2009 when you'd just had the same area scanned in Feb.2009....4 months earlier....and then before that March of 2008, same area 11 months apart.....
sheesh! that is a lot of scans of the abdomen/pelvic area!!! I would just say 'no'...or if absolutely necessary, ask for an abdominal ultrasound as someone else mentioned.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Feelfit, the doctor who ordered the CT scan of the abdomen in Feb-09 stupidly didn't use contrast and the other doctor needed that to better see the growth on the liver. It was a tough situation since the 2008 one was the first I had to ever ID the cyst. At the time, it had to be determined if it was growing and more than a common cyst with a repeat scan.
The spiral CT scan of the chest was to rule out a pulmonary embolism. That is life threatening so I guess you don't have a choice.
Regardless, I'm done now unless life or death. Yes, I'm scared about the radiation and could pay later. IF I make it that long with Lyme and company.
I thought a CT scan was equal to 50 x-rays. If 500 x-rays, that's really, really bad. I wish I didn't read that. Posted by karenl (Member # 17753) on :
Seek,
you are so right. I do no scans, no MRIs, just say you are allergic. That helps.
I refused all testing since years and doing better. You can do a full body thermagram. Ultrasound is good and also you can do cancer bloodtest markers.
Posted by map1131 (Member # 2022) on :
Recently I was sent a email about mammograms and the thyroid.
It said to ask for thyroid protector. Told myself with my upcoming mam Friday, I'd ask for this protection.
Didn't remember until afterwards?????
My thyroid is dead gland already. It's already a problem. Wish I would of done more research on this recent email.
Pam
Posted by bigstan (Member # 11699) on :
Hey Seek just one CT abdominal is equivalent to 400 chest x-rays. And it's 2.7 years the amount you would get from normal natural background radiation. So you have had your years full for sure.
Here's a pretty good link to different body part ct scans radiation:
I don't know about milk thistle - the study was more for UV radiation. It probably won't hurt but there may be other herbs or supplemets to consider as well.
I haven't tried any of the products I posted here. I've just read about them & they look interesting to me.
I'd stay away from the catscans. You really had alot.
Posted by Lemon-Lyme (Member # 19229) on :
The newer CT machines may have given you less radiation than some of the older ones. I was told an abdomen CT scan was 300 chest x-rays when I had it. Still a lot, but better than 400.
No point in crying over spilt radiation though -- we can hope the theories on radiation hormesis is correct -- and it'd be a plus, in an odd way.
Posted by average joe (Member # 26091) on :
I would question why Ct scans as opposed to MRI. While the contrast is similarly harmful in both cases the MRI machines do not emit radiation. Simply put, they rely on radio waves and magnetic fields to produce the images.
From the looks of your extensive list many of those tests could have been done with an MRI which IMO is far more accurate and contrast could have been avoided in most as well.
Let's not forget the insurance companies though. Typically an MRI, while the cost has dropped in recent years, is significantly more expensive. It does not matter to them how much radiation you get so long as they don't pay any more than necessary.
Posted by sk8ter (Member # 8671) on :
MRIs are better and you can get them without contrast.
Posted by seekhelp (Member # 15067) on :
Yeah as Average Joe said, insurance hates to pay for MRIs as they are more costly many times. They really don't care about our health, just keeping expenses manageable. Tough call.
Posted by chiquita incognita (Member # 30381) on :
Sparkle, Seek, et al
Milk thistle is anti-tumor and is known to be an even better cancer herb than liver herb, according to the co-author of the recently penned book Herb, Nutrient and Drug Interactions when I attended a drug-herb interaction seminar of his. This book has been praised by an NIH researcher and other docs as being "exhaustively" thorough and unbiased.
There are numerous studies on Pubmed about the use of milk thistle as anti-tumor herb, in cancer therapy to reduce side effects of radiation and chemotherapy alike, et al. 106 studies come up about the herb in cancer therapy, if you go to pubmed and enter milk thistle+ cancer into the search box.
You'd have to be taking the right dosage and work with a medical professional who knows what they are doing, of course.
Not a bad idea to take it in the meanwhile, before such a need ever occurs. HOpefully it won't! It's a potent free radical scavenger and thus may help the body to reduce the chances of developing cancer. Additional things may be necessary, as a cluster....
Seek, where I in your shoes, I might be seeking hte help of a really top-notch ND or master herbalist who is really high ranking and knows what the heck they are doing. You may be able to bolster your body's defenses to minimize the likelihood of any problems later on.
Note that I use the word "may". I do not ever make carte blanche guarantees for anybody, including about the common cold. That said, with no guarantees or claims made, I still have faith.
best wishes, CI
The above information has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, cure or prevent any disease.
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I asked the hematologist 3 times if he felt it was really necessary to do this scan and he said yes don't worry about the radiation. Is this ignorance on the doctor's part, over worry from me, or both? ![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
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