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Posted 3/7/2013 12:34 AM (GMT -5)
My doctor has decided to do a CT with iv and drinkable contrast. What is the stuff you have to drink like? I think I did it before and it is chalky is that right? I'm a little worried about throwing up the contrast. Any tips?
Posted 3/7/2013 1:09 AM (GMT -5)
The chalky stuff sounds like barium, but for CT contrast they give an IV dye, I think. Somebody posted about that in the past-- Callalilly or Bookworm21 as I recall. Be sure your doctor is ordering it for good reason because CTs expose one to huge doses of radiation. MRI is safer from that standpoint. / Old Hat (32 yrs with left-sided UC; presently in remission taking brandname Colazal)
Posted 3/7/2013 1:35 AM (GMT -5)
Had One Months Ago. They Make You Drink A "Shake" Mine Was Vanilla... Then You Get An iv Dye that makes You Feel like You're peeing Yourself... The Shake Isn't That Bad, they Have Other Flavors Too
Posted 3/7/2013 9:59 AM (GMT -5)
the contrast drink that I took for my CT three years ago was like a big slurpy made with cherry HiC. It was pretty vile, but I got it down. It helps to be thirsty, LOL.

The flip side of that drink was that it gave me diarrhea for a week. It wasn't a flare, just liquid poo as the contrast worked its way out.
Posted 3/7/2013 12:02 PM (GMT -5)
i throw it up every time. it's impossible for me to drink.
Posted 3/7/2013 1:08 PM (GMT -5)
It's absolutely disgusting. I couldn't get the two bottles down when I was flaring really badly. It's chalky and thick. Have fun! Yeah, I think it makes your poo weird colors afterward too from what I remember. I also had an allergic reaction to the IV dye and they had to stop and give me a shot of Benedryl. Good times!!
Posted 3/7/2013 1:47 PM (GMT -5)
sara, i ended up being allergic to the barium enema they gave me. after i couldn't drink the solution, they shot it up my butt. well, i couldn't hold it and it immediately came out all over the ct scan table. anyway, i had hives all over my legs from the dye getting everywhere.

that stuff is poisonous.
Posted 3/7/2013 4:31 PM (GMT -5)
Oh no!! How embarrassing (not that you had any control over it). Ugh. Yeah, that stuff's awful.
Posted 3/7/2013 8:10 PM (GMT -5)
There is very little that an MRI cant do that a CT can, with a few exceptions. For upper GI, MRI is just as good and has negligable radition vs massive amount of radiation for CT. Got tricked into CT years back once but from now on (have one upcoming myself) I always insist on MRI instead.
Posted 3/9/2013 6:42 PM (GMT -5)
I just had a CT with IV contrast on January 28th of this year. They didn't tell me what flavor the barium drink was, but I loved it. They found that weird since most people say it's vile and only 1 said it was gross but drank it. I was the first that said it was delicious. lol! I'm weird what can I say? And that says a lot because I am very picky.

The dye they injected just made me all warm and toasty. I was shivering like mad since the machine was close to the ER and the doors were open a lot with paramedics coming in. I had no reactions, but they assured me if I did then it would most likely be hives which I've had and I can deal with that.

My drink was white/grey in color and it reminded me of vitamin water. If you've had vitamin water then you can drink that one without a problem. It was delicious!
Posted 3/9/2013 8:57 PM (GMT -5)
Thanks I got my doctor to put the Cat on hold to do an endoscopy. I have had five CTs in the past monthish. The only thing was they did the iv contrast but they didn't do the drink contrast. That is why he wants to do another. I had the oths done while in the hospital.
Posted 3/21/2013 8:30 PM (GMT -5)
So finally had the CT enterography. Still no answers. It showed them nothing. I had to drink three bottles of this whiteish liquid. Gave me terrible D. Like a colonoscopy prep it was so bad. I just want someone would figure this out. I am so sick of the pain.
Posted 3/21/2013 9:05 PM (GMT -5)
I just had contrast injected into my arm from angiogram into opposite leg through torso and down shoulder.

It felt like LAVA, I have had a CT contrast which was warm, but this was hot and felt like everything was expanding and going to burst.

btw - the cath lab was surreal and reminded me of an alien abduction scene. Long wires mounted on the wall probably 100 of them with fancy curvy brass handles for the doctors to choose from and super long operating table - everything white.
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