Chest CT with a common cold?

Posted by js @jstarkman, Mar 30 8:40am

I have a low dose chest CT scan scheduled for Tuesday a.m. I have a bit of a cold that I have been dealing with for the last few days and wonder if I need to reschedule the CT? Given that this is a long weekend. I am unable to reach my doctor to ask. Does anyone have any thoughts on this?

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I think it’s okay if you have a head cold with some coughing due to post nasal drip..if you’re experiencing chest congestion it would likely show up on the ct scan as congestion. I also go every six months for chest ct scan but it’s usually advised to reschedule your scan if you have any symptoms probably due to concern of spreading infection to other people.

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Can you lay down without coughing? If not you will probably need to reschedule as you have to be able to lay very still, so coughing just wont work. Is it sinus or whole body? Maybe a sinus medication the night before? Lots of water! I just had my CT w/contrast on Friday. I didn't have any non-eating or non-drinking instructions.The only medicines it restricted was Metformin and some other diabetic related types. They do a blood test before to check the creatine level to make sure the kidneys are working properly and can handle the contrast. Hopefully you can get it completed. I know the time leading up to these is always a little stressful. Best of luck, 🙏 For Good Results.

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Call and get the radiology department's opinion. Coughs can cause benign nodules to form but there's no way to be 100% certain that be is benign from a cancerous one on a CT.

In the past, radiology rescheduled my appointments because a COPD flare can cause the same thing.

Best to let the clinicians make the call.

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@jstarkman, were you able to have the CT scan done as scheduled or did it have to be rescheduled?

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@colleenyoung

@jstarkman, were you able to have the CT scan done as scheduled or did it have to be rescheduled?

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I had the scan!

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