Abnormal Ct Scan - No Contrast In a Certain Area of Brain Posted: 04-24-07 04:18am
Hi there,
I have been having dizzy spell for the
last month which I believe to be hormone
related (i just came off the pill). Just
to be safe my doctor sent me off to get a
CT scan of my brain today.
Whilst I was having the scan I was told
that there was a abnormality on my scan
and that I would have to be injected with
iodine so that the radiographer could see
the blood flow.... After the scan, by
which this stage all the medical students
had been called in to look at I was told I
could pick up the results in 3 days.
I became very frightened and asked the
radiographer what was wong with my scan.
I was told that when the dye was injected
an area of my brain did not light up as it
should have. They wouldnt tell me which
area of the brain this was and also
wouldn't tell me what they thought they
had found. All I was told was that it
wasn't life threatening and that i
wouldn't need surgery (after a load of
prompting and frightened tears).
So I was just wondering if you could tell
me what the possibilities are in relation
to why the dye wouldn't go to a certain
part of my brain and what this may mean?
Thanks for your time, i appreciate it
greatly as you can understand I am really
very worried!
Jodi
Just another thought, the radiographer
said the area they were looking at did not
light up... perhaps this is a good thing?
Is it possible she was talking about the
fact that they thought there may have been
a tumor and it didn't light up with the
contrast, hence no tumor? Or would she
have been saying that there is no blood
flow to a speific area of the brain,
surley this would consitute an emergency
though? Ahh I'm so confused as to whether
it not lighting up is a good thing or a
bad thing?
|
mc4ever02
Supporter
Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 3636 Location: Orlando, FL Usa
Thanks: 5
Thanked:2
Posted: 04-24-07 09:53am
Welcome to ehealth!
That is why technicians are not suppose to
discuss the findings with the patient.
They aren't able to fully discuss them
with you and then you have to sit there
and worry yourself sick until you finally
speak to your doctor. I really can't tell
you much more than the technician could.
There are a few causes for your results.
Your doctor will be the best person to
discuss them with. Some times 3 days can
feel like forever!
Yes, hormones can cause
lightheadness/dizziness. Going of the pill
can really throw your body for a loop. (I
recently stopped taking birth control as
well.) How long ago did you discontinue
using them?
|
JodiW
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Australia
Posted: 04-24-07 19:17pm
I wasn't really worried at all until a
bunch of people gathered around to see the
results and the nurse who injected my
iodine told me it was because the scan was
abnormal... then I freaked. It's funny
when it has to do with the brain if you
hear the word abnormal then you go into
panic mode, more than you would for any
other body part. as soon as you hear
abnormal then you think you are going to
be told that you have a tumor or somthing.
Though Im thinking if it were anything
serious then they would send you to the
hospital across the road staight away! I
thik if they had handled this a bit better
then maybe I wouldn't have freaked out so
much!!! Fortunatly the technican told me
it wasn't llife threatening or a tumour
and that i woulnt need surgery, so i have
my fingers crossed that whatever it is is
easily treatable!
Been off the pill for a month now and my
body has regulated itself, my cylce was
like clockwork at day 28.... which is
really fortunate i know!! And the dizzt
spells themselves are lesseinging and
beoming less frequent. Di d you go
through similar? How long did it last for
you?
|
mc4ever02
Supporter
Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 3636 Location: Orlando, FL Usa
Thanks: 5
Thanked:2
Posted: 04-24-07 20:01pm
Well, I have experienced a host of side
effects from stopping birth control. I
have been off for a little over 2 months
ago. I seem to have regulated my cycle to
every 10 days. (start to start) So almost
constantly
It is very frustrating. I'm glad you
didn't have to go through that!
If you are trying to conceive you should
join us in the "Getting Pregnant" forum.
There are a lot of helpful and supportive
ladies there. Hope to see you there!
|
JodiW
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Australia
Posted: 04-24-07 20:13pm
It's amazing when doctors can put you on
birth control pills they tell you of the
possible side effects but they never tell
you about the side effects when you come
off!! I had one doc go as far to tell me
bluntly that 'there are no such things a
withdrawal symptoms from coming off the
pill' Needless to say I went out and
found myself a new doctor! What they also
dont tell you is that you can have hormone
induced seizures from coming off the pill
(that was what they were looking for on my
CT , or looking for it not to show up
(epilepsy dosnt show up on CT scans
generally) if you know what I mean....
sigh!
ahh that has to be hard, though on the
bright side if you are TTC that means that
you are ovulating everytime in there
somwhere... that has to be a plus, you get
3 times the chances than the rest of us...
i cant wait to be a mummy so as annoying
as that would be id be real happy that I
get all those chances, gotta cut down on
the waiting time to get pregnant!
For sure, ill definalty be using the TTC
forums. Thank you so much for your
replies, I really so appreciate them.
Is such a
relife to be able to tell someone about my
problem and admitt that I am scared and
not have to worry about the stress it is
putting them under too. My husband has
been wonderful but needless to say he is
wound pretty tight at the moment too and I
don't like to worry him more than he needs
too.
|
mc4ever02
Supporter
Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 3636 Location: Orlando, FL Usa
Thanks: 5
Thanked:2
Posted: 04-24-07 20:26pm
I understand that! Before I discontinued
the birth control I asked my doctor how
long I would be off. She said "It
shouldn't be to long, I'm sure you'll be
fine."
She didn't tell me what to expect or
anything.
I'm sure your husband is worried. So feel
free to come on here with any concern or
just to vent. We have many forums to meet
pretty much every need.
I hope you will update us on what the
doctor tells you regarding your ct scan
later this week!
|
JodiW
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 24 Apr 2007 Posts: 4 Location: Australia
Posted: 04-26-07 02:45am
Hi there, just a quick update. I got my
CT scan results back today and they belive
the abnormality to be a simple pernial
cyst, although I have to go get a MRI to
confirm the diagnosis. My doctor seems to
think that the chances of it being
anything more serious are very ver very
small. As for the treatment of the cyst
I'll have to trott of and see a
neurologist but the doc believes that they
are left unntreated unless they start to
cause symptoms. The symptoms from going
off the pill are apparently unrelated and
it's suspected i'm having petie mal
seizures, which I would be capable of
having at anytime during my life and the
hormone fluctuations brought them on... as
is the case in most epileptic woman.
What a stressful day!! One goes through
all the stress if thinking the worst to be
told it is unlikley it will go that way
(although more testing is needed) and that
it is likley you have been epileptic your
entore life and just didnt know about it!!
Ahh such is life though.
Thanks for listening and i'm sure I'll see
you in the TTC forums!
Take care
Jodi
|
mc4ever02
Supporter
Joined: 08 Feb 2007 Posts: 3636 Location: Orlando, FL Usa
Thanks: 5
Thanked:2
Posted: 04-26-07 08:52am
I'm glad it's nothing that seems to be
serious. I hope all goes well with the
neuro. Please let us know how it goes!
I look forward to seeing you in the
ttc/pregnancy forums!
It is very frustrating. I'm glad you
didn't have to go through that!
Is such a
relife to be able to tell someone about my
problem and admitt that I am scared and
not have to worry about the stress it is
putting them under too. My husband has
been wonderful but needless to say he is
wound pretty tight at the moment too and I
don't like to worry him more than he needs
too.