1. < MAC & Bronchiectasis
Profile picture for bradzepfan

CT scan radiation and protective supplements

Posted by bradzepfan @bradzepfan, Nov 8, 2023

Hello everybody. I believe we are all in the "frequent CT scan" club here so I wanted to share this slide show PDF about reducing DNA damage from CT scans.
https://car.ca/uploads/Education%20Lifelong%20Learning/Meetings/ASM2013_Speakers_Pres/EE005_Oral_Antioxidants_for_Radioprotection_in_Medical_Imaging_Exams.pdf

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the MAC & Bronchiectasis Support Group.

Profile picture for Mary
Mary | @mjb24 | 3 days ago
In reply to @grammyvictoria "Among my loads of questions are questions about CT scans, how often do you have them,..." + (show)
Profile picture for grammyvictoria @grammyvictoria

Among my loads of questions are questions about CT scans, how often do you have them, how to protect yourself if possible, etc.
I found this reference while looking for CT scan conversations here, and I really want to read this but I'm new here, and this message is several years old, and the link goes to the site but says it's not available and maybe you can search for it in the history ....which I did but I cannot find it. Any chance anyone can still get this article? Or anything on the subject of CT Scans, frequency, safety measures, alternative methods ....
Opinions? Thank you.
OOPS this refers to an article in a post by Libby2 posted in November 2023

Jump to this post

@grammyvictoria I have CT scans every 6 months with active cavitary MAC. My pulmonologist always orders the low dose so radiation exposure is less.

REPLY
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | 3 days ago
In reply to @grammyvictoria "Among my loads of questions are questions about CT scans, how often do you have them,..." + (show)
Profile picture for grammyvictoria @grammyvictoria

Among my loads of questions are questions about CT scans, how often do you have them, how to protect yourself if possible, etc.
I found this reference while looking for CT scan conversations here, and I really want to read this but I'm new here, and this message is several years old, and the link goes to the site but says it's not available and maybe you can search for it in the history ....which I did but I cannot find it. Any chance anyone can still get this article? Or anything on the subject of CT Scans, frequency, safety measures, alternative methods ....
Opinions? Thank you.
OOPS this refers to an article in a post by Libby2 posted in November 2023

Jump to this post

@grammyvictoria Since I know the CT scans will happen once or twice a year for the rest of my life, I switched from a clinic or diagnostic center for my scans to a local hospital that has the very latest equipment. This way I get the lowest radiation dose. Bonuses - the new machine is faster, and the scans are read by 4 humans plus AI - the hospital radiologist plus AU, the clinic radiologist, and my team of pulmonologists (one for Bronchiectais, the other for asthma & allergies.)

How did I learn this about dosage? From my physical therapist. But then my daughter, and RN, said you can call and ask at each facility which equipment they use, and what the "radiation load" is for the ordered CT scan.

The downsidee - routine CT's are not their priority, so sometimes I get weird appointment times like 5:45 am. And I can get bumped for an emergency and have to wait so I always bring a book.

REPLY
4 replies
Profile picture for grammyvictoria
grammyvictoria | @grammyvictoria | 2 days ago
In reply to @sueinmn "@grammyvictoria Since I know the CT scans will happen once or twice a year for the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@grammyvictoria Since I know the CT scans will happen once or twice a year for the rest of my life, I switched from a clinic or diagnostic center for my scans to a local hospital that has the very latest equipment. This way I get the lowest radiation dose. Bonuses - the new machine is faster, and the scans are read by 4 humans plus AI - the hospital radiologist plus AU, the clinic radiologist, and my team of pulmonologists (one for Bronchiectais, the other for asthma & allergies.)

How did I learn this about dosage? From my physical therapist. But then my daughter, and RN, said you can call and ask at each facility which equipment they use, and what the "radiation load" is for the ordered CT scan.

The downsidee - routine CT's are not their priority, so sometimes I get weird appointment times like 5:45 am. And I can get bumped for an emergency and have to wait so I always bring a book.

Jump to this post

@sueinmn That sounds like a good way to do it.
How do you know which equipment is the good one, and do you know what the low radiation dose is?
Thank you so much.
If not for this support group I would be just wandering around lost in the woods of ignorance and not getting answers anywhere. I just switched to a new pulmonologist but so far, doesn't seem like she has much info or help to give. I'm hoping I can get a referral to a lung therapist.

REPLY
Profile picture for Mary
Mary | @mjb24 | 2 days ago
In reply to @sueinmn "@grammyvictoria Since I know the CT scans will happen once or twice a year for the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@grammyvictoria Since I know the CT scans will happen once or twice a year for the rest of my life, I switched from a clinic or diagnostic center for my scans to a local hospital that has the very latest equipment. This way I get the lowest radiation dose. Bonuses - the new machine is faster, and the scans are read by 4 humans plus AI - the hospital radiologist plus AU, the clinic radiologist, and my team of pulmonologists (one for Bronchiectais, the other for asthma & allergies.)

How did I learn this about dosage? From my physical therapist. But then my daughter, and RN, said you can call and ask at each facility which equipment they use, and what the "radiation load" is for the ordered CT scan.

The downsidee - routine CT's are not their priority, so sometimes I get weird appointment times like 5:45 am. And I can get bumped for an emergency and have to wait so I always bring a book.

Jump to this post

@sueinmn I also go to our local hospital. I suppose I could get bumped if they had an emergency but I haven't yet. They are very efficient! I always show up at least 15 minutes before my appointment and I am typically finished before my scheduled appt time 😊.

REPLY
Profile picture for rmoore901
rmoore901 | @rmoore901 | 1 day ago
In reply to @sueinmn "@grammyvictoria Since I know the CT scans will happen once or twice a year for the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@grammyvictoria Since I know the CT scans will happen once or twice a year for the rest of my life, I switched from a clinic or diagnostic center for my scans to a local hospital that has the very latest equipment. This way I get the lowest radiation dose. Bonuses - the new machine is faster, and the scans are read by 4 humans plus AI - the hospital radiologist plus AU, the clinic radiologist, and my team of pulmonologists (one for Bronchiectais, the other for asthma & allergies.)

How did I learn this about dosage? From my physical therapist. But then my daughter, and RN, said you can call and ask at each facility which equipment they use, and what the "radiation load" is for the ordered CT scan.

The downsidee - routine CT's are not their priority, so sometimes I get weird appointment times like 5:45 am. And I can get bumped for an emergency and have to wait so I always bring a book.

Jump to this post

@sueinmn I wasn’t able to get insurance approval to have my first CT’s done at the hospital even though I was referred there by my Dr. My last several have been approved and I have noticed a big difference in the radiology report. The stand alone center I went to in the beginning listed the referring diagnosis as micro something, ie didn’t know what mycobacterium was and what to look for.

REPLY
Profile picture for blm1007blm1007
blm1007blm1007 | @blm1007blm1007 | 22 hours ago
In reply to @sueinmn "@grammyvictoria Since I know the CT scans will happen once or twice a year for the..." + (show)
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor @sueinmn

@grammyvictoria Since I know the CT scans will happen once or twice a year for the rest of my life, I switched from a clinic or diagnostic center for my scans to a local hospital that has the very latest equipment. This way I get the lowest radiation dose. Bonuses - the new machine is faster, and the scans are read by 4 humans plus AI - the hospital radiologist plus AU, the clinic radiologist, and my team of pulmonologists (one for Bronchiectais, the other for asthma & allergies.)

How did I learn this about dosage? From my physical therapist. But then my daughter, and RN, said you can call and ask at each facility which equipment they use, and what the "radiation load" is for the ordered CT scan.

The downsidee - routine CT's are not their priority, so sometimes I get weird appointment times like 5:45 am. And I can get bumped for an emergency and have to wait so I always bring a book.

Jump to this post

@sueinmn Glad you mentioned about the low dosage because I was sent to an off site facility for one rather than the Baylor hospital C Scan....
I realized that that is not something I want to do again. I had my last one at the hospital. I did ask the tech about the machine but really didn't think to ask about low dosage or the brand model.
I googled: what is the best c scan machine with low dosages
AI came up with a couple and posted: " Siemens SOMATOM Known for its low-dose lung cancer screening capabilities. Offers advanced dose reduction technologies."
Do you know if that is what your hospital has?
It appears the other two had options for the amount of dosage.
Now for my finding out what each hospital in the area uses.
Barbara

REPLY
1 reply
Profile picture for Sue, Volunteer Mentor
Mentor
Sue, Volunteer Mentor | @sueinmn | 17 hours ago
In reply to @blm1007blm1007 "@sueinmn Glad you mentioned about the low dosage because I was sent to an off site..." + (show)
Profile picture for blm1007blm1007 @blm1007blm1007

@sueinmn Glad you mentioned about the low dosage because I was sent to an off site facility for one rather than the Baylor hospital C Scan....
I realized that that is not something I want to do again. I had my last one at the hospital. I did ask the tech about the machine but really didn't think to ask about low dosage or the brand model.
I googled: what is the best c scan machine with low dosages
AI came up with a couple and posted: " Siemens SOMATOM Known for its low-dose lung cancer screening capabilities. Offers advanced dose reduction technologies."
Do you know if that is what your hospital has?
It appears the other two had options for the amount of dosage.
Now for my finding out what each hospital in the area uses.
Barbara

Jump to this post

@blm1007blm1007 I don't know, my pulmonologist ordered a low dose scan, they were on the list of availablelocations. The stand-alone imaging center was not.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.