My experience with CT Contrast and everything that goes with it afterwards.

a reply to: mblahnikluver

Zofran is being linked to heart problems that is why you had such a pain getting it, and were not given as many.

a reply to: tigertatzen

I don't know...when I was in post-op the morphine was retarding my breathing. The alarms were going off non stop because my blood ox was to low.

In hospice care they give heavy doses of opiates to retard breathing, essentially causing people to die of suffocation. It's not talked about, and only whispered about by people that understand the dosages -- but it's a reality.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

Very true. It's a blessing. People who have never experienced the situation and empathetically felt the pain of these patients might not understand. I work in geriatrics, and there are patients that die that bring me relief.

a reply to: MystikMushroom

I don't know...when I was in post-op the morphine was retarding my breathing. The alarms were going off non stop because my blood ox was to low.

In hospice care they give heavy doses of opiates to retard breathing, essentially causing people to die of suffocation. It's not talked about, and only whispered about by people that understand the dosages -- but it's a reality.

I know what you mean...the first time I was hospitalized with respiratory distress due to severe pleurisy, I was brought in by ambulance (I stopped breathing in my kitchen) and as soon as I arrived in the ED, they met me in the trauma bay. I was awake and aware and I totally freaked out when I heard the doc order up 10mg morphine IV...a whopping dose for someone my size...I point blank asked him if he was trying to kill me. He just chuckled and told me no, that while morphine can suppress the involuntary muscles and cause a patient to "forget" to breathe, it also works to suppress the sympathetic response so that the feeling of "air hunger" would abate, thereby relaxing the muscles and allowing the lungs to actually expand...as long as I felt like I wasn't getting air, I was panting and struggling to breathe, which was causing my lungs to trap air, which further made me feel like I was suffocating and made attempting to breathe even more difficult. A paradoxical effect.

Since I was in no position to really argue and the crash cart was right by the bed with the trach tray in full view, I just let him give it to me, and it worked. I did have the sensation of having to remind myself to breathe, but I was actually getting air when I did so I just dealt with it. I presented with an O2 saturation of 68 and after the morphine my sats were up to 83...a vast improvement. It is contraindicated in elderly folks and those with COPD though, for exactly the reasons you've stated.

a reply to: mblahnikluver

am getting really sick of your accusations that are not true. I do not like being accused of things I did not do and it takes a lot to piss me off.

You know...I don't know you and you don't know me, yeah? This is a discussion forum, last time I checked, and when someone posts an OP that is open-ended, the other people involved in the discussion typically try to come up with plausible explanations for whatever the mystery may be. If the thought that you might have done something to jeopardize your own health bothers you, then why post a scenario that invites that possibility? No one has "accused" you of anything. You state that no one knows what happened to you...not the doctors, not the nurses...as if it's some kind of rare condition that has never been heard of before, and we are explaining, not only to you, but to others involved in the discussion exactly why that is not true. That is not accusation; that is education, so you can lose the nasty attitude right now.

I would think that someone who purports themselves to be the "Official ATS Chef" would remember the old adage about those who are unable to stand the heat staying out of the kitchen, but apparently the idea of people not agreeing with everything you say or allege on an open debate forum is a foreign concept to you. My advice? Don't ask for explanations if you are not fully prepared to deal with the feedback you receive.

a reply to: mblahnikluver

wow. i didnt read the whole thread but i went through almost the exact same thing 2 days ago.
crazy belly pain. other problems too.
i had an iv. they gave me a shot in the ass and 2 shots in the iv. then they gave me a GI cocktail. then i had to drink the contrast crap and they also injected me in my iv with some contrast material for the CT.

that injection made my body feel like it was on fire, i could taste it and i felt like i was pissing in my pants.

in the end i have an upper GI bleed. also known as peptic ulcer.

they gave me a script for zantac, some stuff called protoxin and i have to go to a specialist to get scoped.

it sucks man..

a reply to: mblahnikluver

Well I had my post op check up today and according to my doctor I had an allergic reaction to iodine. He pulled my chart from Saturday and said the symptoms were clearly an iodine allergy. I want to know WHY the ER doctor couldn't figure that out?! I mean they did ask me before they have me the drink if I had any allergies to iodine and I said I don't know I've never had it. So he told me no iodine and to list it as an allergy from now on. I also have a small hernia at my belly button. Not sure what or how those even form. It's nothing major so they aren't concerned about it.

I also got a cool picture of my insides lol gallbladder and all. It was laproscopic and they had 4 images of the procedure. I even saw part of my very nice looking liver. I was also given pics when I has my Fallopian tubes removed in May. Idk why but I find it cool they have me pics.

So thanks everyone for all your replies and well wishes! I am feeling much better now but still have to take it easy somewhat. My doctor did ask if I've tried eggs yet and I told him I'm afraid to. I'm afraid they will bother me and that will just suck because eggs are a big part of my diet esp breakfast. I'm known for my quiches! He said to wait a month or so then and then try eggs so that's what I'll do.

Again thank you everyone!

a reply to: tigertatzen

You gave feedback and I told you it wasn't my food yet you still kept going on with it. So no I wasn't going to listen to it. Sorry if that bothers you but when someone tells me no to something I move on. I don't continue to say the same thing after the person has already explained themself.

It was the ER and I am not surprised they didn't know. I usually get the basic answers when I go there anyways and even my doctor who I saw today said they have me the traditional answers when they don't know. He said they should have known it was iodine but it's over with now and now I know I'm allergic to iodine.

I appreciate your replies and insight.

a reply to: CardiffGiant

Oh wow that sounds horrible! I didn't get a rectal injection thank god. I imagine that would be quite uncomfortable.

I'm not a fan of contrast drinks now and I am terrified to get an MRI with contrast now. I can't take the gastrografin so I will have to do the other one and I really don't want to have that kind of pain in a place that isn't a hospital, it's an imaging center. I had a hidascan recently for my gallbladder and when they injected me with the dye omg I thought I was gonna die! I almost threw up, it was horrible but it didn't last more than maybe 5 mins.

Well I hope you feel better and get things worked out. I know peptic ulcers can be unpleasant my ex had one. Take care!

originally posted by: mblahnikluver
a reply to: mblahnikluver

Well I had my post op check up today and according to my doctor I had an allergic reaction to iodine. He pulled my chart from Saturday and said the symptoms were clearly an iodine allergy. I want to know WHY the ER doctor couldn't figure that out?! I mean they did ask me before they have me the drink if I had any allergies to iodine and I said I don't know I've never had it. So he told me no iodine and to list it as an allergy from now on. I also have a small hernia at my belly button. Not sure what or how those even form. It's nothing major so they aren't concerned about it.

I also got a cool picture of my insides lol gallbladder and all. It was laproscopic and they had 4 images of the procedure. I even saw part of my very nice looking liver. I was also given pics when I has my Fallopian tubes removed in May. Idk why but I find it cool they have me pics.

So thanks everyone for all your replies and well wishes! I am feeling much better now but still have to take it easy somewhat. My doctor did ask if I've tried eggs yet and I told him I'm afraid to. I'm afraid they will bother me and that will just suck because eggs are a big part of my diet esp breakfast. I'm known for my quiches! He said to wait a month or so then and then try eggs so that's what I'll do.

Again thank you everyone!

Glad you are recovering well! It def sounded like an allergy so thank gosh you know what it is now and never have to go through that again! with the hernia i have one from my last c section its not a umbilical one but just be carefull at first they weren't worried about mine so i went on doing normal things and then it got way worse i had to have a laproscopic repair done then that failed then i had to have an open repair and thats failed too but only because my surgeon messed it up and looped all the mesh and bowel together it is a nightmare i have 3 little kids and always in pain! They are usually from surgeries wher they have to be a little bit rough but geberally they do go away on their own just be gentle with yourself FYI i am totally fine with eggs since having my gall bladder removed, no problems there at all! I love quiches yum! i always make mini ones for my kids i need to improve my big ones though i can never get the pastry too cook properly on the bottom so i do them pastry less.. Lol. Thats cool you got pictures too!

a reply to: Shana91aus

Yea I was surprised they didn't tell me about the hernia at the hospital because they found it during the CT SCAN. They said they found nothing yet my doctor told me otherwise. He was even puzzled when I told them they didn't tell me that! Minor or not I would like to know these things.

I had an emergency c section last year and I had laproscopic surgery twice this year. Once in May to have my tubes removed and then my gallbladder so my belly button has been through hell. lol he pointed it out and it just looks like my belly button sprouted a head lol it's not bad but I'll watch it and just be careful. I'm really over being cut open lol!!

In a huge quiche person. I love cooking but I loathe making our crust so I but the premise ones that come two in a pack rolled up. The key is to pre cook the crust til it has set which is about 10 mins. I find this makes the perfect crust and it doesn't come out doughy.

I've made mini ones too in muffin pans. I used the crescent rolls and then just poured the egg mixture in. It's the only time I've actually used those rolls lol. They came out really good. I froze half of them and then just popped them in the toaster oven when I wanted one, after thawing of course.

Thanks for the well wishes and rely, much appreciated.

a reply to: mblahnikluver

Me too! Thats one of the many reasons i hate dealing with ED doctors, they are always so rushed and don't take the time to explain things properly! Umbilical hernias can cause issues and pain so they really should have let you know that you had one so you can take extra care of yourself!

My first C section was an emergency one too, i stopped dilating and labour wasn't progressing after 16 horrible hours and my daughter was going in to distress so they opted for that! I had been induced and it was at 38 weeks (i had pre eclampsia & Obstetric Cholestasis) so i think thats why i didnt progress as expected! I had the laproscopic surgery to remove my gall bladder about 11 months after my c section it was full of gall stones! They saw them when i was pregnant and were checking out my liver because of the Cholestasis but weren't concerned, they caused me hell from when my daughter was a few months old though the pain was like labour pain!
Omg i totally hear ya girl! I have had 3 c sections, 2 laproscopic surgeries (1 for gall bladder & 1 for hernia repair) and then the open surgery for the hernia, i was thinking they would have to do even more surgery but my new surgeon can't because of the mess my old one made! Kind of relieved for no more surgery but the pain i experience kinda sucks too live with! I hope your hernia goes away on its own! My laproscopic hernia repair was the worst recovery out of all the surgeries! My bellybutton has been through hell too, my whole stomach has, my bikini days are long gone haha! For the open hernia repair they cut down the middle from my bellybutton oh it looks really really bad lol. Anyway sorry for rambling! Lol.

Thankyou so so much for the tip! I will pre cook it next time i try i had never done that in the past because i thought that the mixture might not bind with the crust but im glad too know it works and will give it a go!
I do my mini ones in the muffin pans aswell, i just line with puff pastry and spoon the mixture in, everyone loves them! The crust always cooks really well too.
Yum they sound so good! I can totally see why your the Official ATS chef! I always try freeze the mini ones i make but they are always gone before i get the chance haha!

originally posted by: mblahnikluver
I'm not a fan of contrast drinks now and I am terrified to get an MRI with contrast now.

MRI contrast doesn't have iodine in it, and does not cause reactions that are associated with iodine base contrasts. Some people "react" to the thought of getting an injection. I've had a couple of patients "react" while I was still starting an IV... I hadn't even had the time to use a saline flush, much less give them anything... Always a time of great joy...

Unless there is an established history of anaphalaxis with a particular pharmaceutical or agent, I wouldn't be hesitant to undergo diagnostic testing or therapeutic treatment based on your experience with the Gastrografin. I think there could be more risk by not pursuing the course of action recommended by your physician.

originally posted by: mblahnikluver
Well I had my post op check up today and according to my doctor I had an allergic reaction to iodine. He pulled my chart from Saturday and said the symptoms were clearly an iodine allergy. I want to know WHY the ER doctor couldn't figure that out?! I mean they did ask me before they have me the drink if I had any allergies to iodine and I said I don't know I've never had it. So he told me no iodine and to list it as an allergy from now on.

I tend to disagree, true iodine reactions are rather specific in nature, and I would say your symptoms related to the ingestion of Gastrografin fall outside of that criteria. I don't doubt you had an adverse event, I just dispute it was related to iodine. Here is the definitive document regarding contrast from the perspective of the practice of radiology:

ACR Manual on Contrast Media 2013 V9

Page 55 would be a good place to start.

UCSF's latest thoughts on iodine sensitivity, including the issue of shellfish sensitivity.

My problem with claiming an iodine sensitivity is that it may preclude or delay a future procedure that is
emergent or life saving. Cardiac catherization is one that comes to mind, as would a thoracic CTA or a PE study. The prudent thing to do is to firmly establish an iodine sensitivity by a series of relatively simple tests.

Sorry to hear you had such a bad time with the contrast test. I have had so many of those its a wonder I don't naturally glow now. I am actually at the point where doctors are talking about cumulative effects. But enough about me...

Your pain sounded kind of similar to something I experienced after my first surgery. But it wasn't due to the contrast. It was the muscles in my abdomen around the surgery site cramping...badly...tragic cringing wailing bad... It still happens once in a while if I move wrong or over-exert myself, and its been a year and a half since that surgery. Nothing helps it. I have tried anti-seizure meds, muscle relaxers, etc.

As for your pain meds, I recommend taking the tramadol. Its not like a vicodin or other faster acting meds. It works for a longer period of time. I used to take the vicodin for the immediate pain and the tramadol to keep going when the vicodin wore off. By the time I had my second surgery I was taking a multiple narcotic meds just to get out of bed in the morning, followed by vicodin every four hours...and I was still ravaged by the pain.

I hope you never have to experience anything like that again. God Bless and good luck.

Sounds like the benzoates gave you some problems. They can be converted by some people to benzene which can give symptoms like that. Everyone has different enzyme concentrations and variations. I can't drink cranberry juice myself because my body breaks it apart into cyanides and active benzene compounds. So I don't eat any cranberries unless they are jellied cranberries that contain gelatin. I even get a little problem with those, but not nearly as bad. Somehow the geletin or pectin bind to something, I still get a burning feeling in my intestines though.