I am having a CT scan on my brain on Weds..I am so scared?!
Question: I am having a CT scan on my brain on Weds!.!.I am so scared!?
What should I expect!? I am worried they will find something wrong with me!.!.I am 20 yrs old and I have been having headaches come and go for the past year or so and they just got bad, and I felt dizzy and nauseous last night so my doc reffered me to get a CT scan!.!.
Are they pretty effective!? Whats the diff between CT scan and MRI!? Which is better/more effective!?
thanks in advance,
im so scaredWww@Answer-Health@Com
Are they pretty effective!? Whats the diff between CT scan and MRI!? Which is better/more effective!?
thanks in advance,
im so scaredWww@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
A ct is a painless exam where you lay on a bed, and the bed moves into the scanner!. There is something inside that is spinning around and it is taking pictures of your head/brain!. They may also use contrast, which helps them differentiate the structures in your brain!. I have had one, and an MRI as well, so I know how you feel!. Most of the time they don't find anything, so keep that in mind!. Both CT and MRI's are good studies, and you may need both!. An MRI is a little more complex, and takes a bit longer!. For mine, you lay on a table and they slide your head into this cage like contraption, and lock it to the table, which is a little freaky, but I think it is for marking and identifying exactly where they are at during the study!. You have to hold perfectly still, or it makes the images blurry!. It takes about 30-45 minutes for the MRI, where the CT only takes a few minutes, unless they use contrast, and they do it twice, once without contract then again with contrast, to compare any irregularities!. The contrast is interesting in and of itself!. The tech told me I might feel like something heavy was on my chest, a metal taste in my mouth, and the feeling of wetting myself, but that most people don't!. I guess I am lucky, I felt them all, and it really does feel like you wet your pants for about 5-10 seconds!. I wish you luck, try not to lose too much sleep over it, I am sure everything will turn out alright!. You can also search about info on the two different studies!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
It is good you are seeing the doctor for your headaches!. Did he think they might be migraines!?
CT is an effective first step for checking on the brain!. MRI is more tissue specific, and usually used as a follow up if the CT is unhelpful or actually shows something, because MRI can check the flow in the blood vessels!. CT uses xrays and MRI uses a strong magnetic field to get the images!.
For a CT, you simply lay on a table!. The table slides forward into a big doughnut shaped gantry, and all you have to do is hold still!. If they do a scan with contrast, then they will give you a shot, usually through a vein on your hand, and then take a second scan!. That's all there is to it!.
(I had one done several years back to check in case I had a pituitary adenoma!. I had an MRI done also!. There were some physical variants, but no adenoma!.)
With luck, you will have a negative scan, which will probably make the doctor consider migraines as the cause of your headaches, in which case you can discuss some of the medications available to help with them!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
CT is an effective first step for checking on the brain!. MRI is more tissue specific, and usually used as a follow up if the CT is unhelpful or actually shows something, because MRI can check the flow in the blood vessels!. CT uses xrays and MRI uses a strong magnetic field to get the images!.
For a CT, you simply lay on a table!. The table slides forward into a big doughnut shaped gantry, and all you have to do is hold still!. If they do a scan with contrast, then they will give you a shot, usually through a vein on your hand, and then take a second scan!. That's all there is to it!.
(I had one done several years back to check in case I had a pituitary adenoma!. I had an MRI done also!. There were some physical variants, but no adenoma!.)
With luck, you will have a negative scan, which will probably make the doctor consider migraines as the cause of your headaches, in which case you can discuss some of the medications available to help with them!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
First, don't be scared!. A CT scan is like getting a few x-rays!. Think of it as a series of x-rays in sections, to give a 3-D picture!. It's nothing to be anxious about!.
CTs and MRIs are both effective!. Which is best depends on what they are looking for and where it is!.
Headaches can be caused by lots of things, and many are easily correctable!. A CT scan is a good way to see what's going on!.
Also check with your doctor to see if he checked your pituitary hormones!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
CTs and MRIs are both effective!. Which is best depends on what they are looking for and where it is!.
Headaches can be caused by lots of things, and many are easily correctable!. A CT scan is a good way to see what's going on!.
Also check with your doctor to see if he checked your pituitary hormones!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
omg, they're not that bad! its just taking pics of yur brain while u lay in this little cot-like thing!. an mri sux though!.!.!.!.!.!.!. they put you in this thing that looks like an oversized donut while they keep yelling at you to stop moving for 2 hours!. I'm 12 and I've already had 2 mri's and 7 ct scan!.!.!.!.!.!. its ok, don't freak outWww@Answer-Health@Com
try this link!.!.its a video on CT and this site is great for medical info!.!.!.dont panic now!.!.this it what some one told me once!.!.think of the worst possible thing that could happen!.!.set up the scenario in your mind!.!.talk your self thru it!.!.!. which is probably not going to be the case!.!.so anything else they tell you will be a big relief!.!.!.!.relax!.!.!.!.breath !.!.!.!.everything will be fine!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
I'm not sure what the exact differance is but,dont be scared,do you want to know why you have headaches!? have you been taking anything for the headaches,like has the Dr!. given you anything!? are you under alot of stress!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
CT scans and MRIs are both diagnostic tests that provide us with high-resolution pictures of the structure of any organ or area of the body which requires a thorough examination!. Both tests take place in big, somewhat intimidating machines!. They each us e computers to construct pictures of the inside of the body!. There are, however, inherent differences in these tests' mechanisms, as well as sophistication and applications!. Since CT scans were developed and used before MRIs (in 1972), let's discuss them first!. CT, or CAT, stands for "computerized axial tomography!." Basically, CT scans consist of a highly sensitive x-ray beam that is focused on a specific plane of the body!. As this beam passes through the body, it is picked up by a detector, which feeds the information it receives into a computer!. The computer then analyzes the information on the basis of tissue density!. This analyzed data is then fed into a cathode ray tube (the device responsible for producing pictures on your TV screen), and a picture of the x-rayed, cross-section of the body is produced!. Bone shows up as white; gases and liquids as black; and, tissue as varying shades of gray, depending on its densi ty!.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was developed later than CT scanning, first being used in the late 1980s!. An MRI machine uses computer-controlled radio waves and very big magnets, which create a magnetic field roughly 25,000 times stronger than the eart h's magnetic field!. After the machine creates a magnetic field, it sends radio waves into the body and then measures the response of its cells (how much energy they release) with a computer!. From these responses, the computer is able to create a three-d imensional picture of the inside of the body!. MRI makes use of the fact that all living cells have a certain magnetic quality to them; because of this, MRI can provide a look at the biochemistry of living cells!.
Both tests provide detailed pictures of areas of the body that used to be inaccessible by conventional x-rays!. Therefore, 20 - 25 years ago, exploratory or invasive surgery may have been required!. CT scans give us excellent information on anatomical fea tures and tissue density (this allows for the detection of tumors, and sometimes the ability to distinguish between malignant and benign tumors)!. CT scans can also detect calcium deposits, cysts, and abscesses!. They are often used in place of ultrasound for obese patients because fat deposits often hinder ultrasonic waves!. CT scanning does carry with it the risks associated with x-ray exposure, although it is significantly less than that from ordinary x-rays!.
On the other hand, MRI has no known associated health risks!. However, people with pacemakers, aneurysm clips, or other implants that contain magnetic materials are generally advised not to undergo MRI testing!. What can be learned from MRIs is, generally , more sophisticated and detailed than from CT scanning!. MRI is best put to use in examining the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord)!. It can also be used to identify tumors, strokes, degenerative diseases, inflammation, infection, and oth er abnormalities in organs and other soft tissue of the body!. One last major difference is cost -- MRIs cost a lot more than CT scans!.
"With or without dye" simply refers to a contrasting agent that is sometimes used with these tests!. It is either injected into or ingested by the patient!. When the test is performed, the contrast allows the radiologist to see more clearly the image of a certain area or organ of the body!.
There are other more complicated differences than Alice has described here, especially in terms of how the tests actually work!. Alice hopes that she was still able to shed some light on the basic differences between the two tests!. If you want to know mo re, especially if you are having one of these tests done, you can ask for information at a radiology department, where you have to go for these tests!. And, if the answers you're given still aren't enough, ask one of the technicians or your doctor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was developed later than CT scanning, first being used in the late 1980s!. An MRI machine uses computer-controlled radio waves and very big magnets, which create a magnetic field roughly 25,000 times stronger than the eart h's magnetic field!. After the machine creates a magnetic field, it sends radio waves into the body and then measures the response of its cells (how much energy they release) with a computer!. From these responses, the computer is able to create a three-d imensional picture of the inside of the body!. MRI makes use of the fact that all living cells have a certain magnetic quality to them; because of this, MRI can provide a look at the biochemistry of living cells!.
Both tests provide detailed pictures of areas of the body that used to be inaccessible by conventional x-rays!. Therefore, 20 - 25 years ago, exploratory or invasive surgery may have been required!. CT scans give us excellent information on anatomical fea tures and tissue density (this allows for the detection of tumors, and sometimes the ability to distinguish between malignant and benign tumors)!. CT scans can also detect calcium deposits, cysts, and abscesses!. They are often used in place of ultrasound for obese patients because fat deposits often hinder ultrasonic waves!. CT scanning does carry with it the risks associated with x-ray exposure, although it is significantly less than that from ordinary x-rays!.
On the other hand, MRI has no known associated health risks!. However, people with pacemakers, aneurysm clips, or other implants that contain magnetic materials are generally advised not to undergo MRI testing!. What can be learned from MRIs is, generally , more sophisticated and detailed than from CT scanning!. MRI is best put to use in examining the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord)!. It can also be used to identify tumors, strokes, degenerative diseases, inflammation, infection, and oth er abnormalities in organs and other soft tissue of the body!. One last major difference is cost -- MRIs cost a lot more than CT scans!.
"With or without dye" simply refers to a contrasting agent that is sometimes used with these tests!. It is either injected into or ingested by the patient!. When the test is performed, the contrast allows the radiologist to see more clearly the image of a certain area or organ of the body!.
There are other more complicated differences than Alice has described here, especially in terms of how the tests actually work!. Alice hopes that she was still able to shed some light on the basic differences between the two tests!. If you want to know mo re, especially if you are having one of these tests done, you can ask for information at a radiology department, where you have to go for these tests!. And, if the answers you're given still aren't enough, ask one of the technicians or your doctor!.Www@Answer-Health@Com