Risks From Radiation Exposure/Ct Scans - Is This A Lot?

[bluefortress]

Is anyone clued up on the risks of radiation from medical imaging?

I am a bit concerned as I have the following diagnostic imaging scans done over the past year

2x chest x-rays

Barium swallow (they repeated a few images at the time from different angles at the neck as they thought they saw narrowing initially but it turned out to be functional)

Sinus CT

I am due a neck CT at the weekend

Some of the scans, the latter especially have been more for my reassurance, have pushed for a bit. Although reassurance would be nice I am thinking of cancelling the latter just because of the amount of exposure I’ve had this year

[Old_Geezer]

Single figures ? I'm no expert but it sounds b all to me. No worries.

[calmck]

All scans and X-rays are safe a radiation levels monitored. You will not have been overexposed

[Sqad]

Yes, there are dangers of overexposure to all the investigations that you mention.
Do the dangers of these investigations outweigh the benefits? This is a question answered only by the Radiologists and Radiographerd

[Sqad]

Pressed the wrong button.........

In any decision the safety of the patient is paramount and decided upon at district level.

[bluefortress]

Thanks for the replies, I’m still not sure whether to have the neck CT or not

[jno]

what will happen if you don't? What information that they want will they not get?

[bluefortress]

Jno I had some throat issues which felt like my breathing was being restricted/upper chest was tight ?if reflux.

Symptoms have mostly improved now, I had a nasoendoscopy which showed my usual sinus issues/polyps but no explanation for the throat symptoms.

ENT were happy there was nothing serious and referred me for a barium swallow. Meanwhile I was having respiratory tests and they referred me for a CT neck scan to reassure me. As sometimes I have bad days where I feel a tightness in my upper chest.

It probably would make me feel better having it (assuming it is normal) but at the same time there’s the radiation issue

[retrocop]

I don't worry about the CT scan. The double overdose of contrast dye in 48 hours nearly did for my kidneys.

[bluefortress]

How did the double overdose happen

[retrocop]

Contrast dye used to assist the location of stents. The next day I was given a CT scan and more contrast dye by to ensure the stents had remained in place.
The radiologist, allegedly was not aware I had a relatively minor op with Contrast. When I was discharged to home I became very ill and my creotins were shot to pieces.I spent two years attending a kidney clinic and narrowly avoided dialysis and a transplant.
Kidney function still monitored when they care to remember. :-(

[david small]

Poor Retro, the caring profession nearly did for you. Incompetence, indifference, lack of sufficient communication, permeate the NHS. I sometimes wonder what the decent, competent, responsible medical professionals think of their situation. Lumped with the inadequacies of some of their colleagues.

[bluefortress]

That’s insane Retrocop just shows mistakes are probably more common than we think