Oral contrast with CT scan

[Muffin2019]

I am up for my 6 month scan in June, I have no problem with the IV contrast but the oral contrast is a problem with bladder control, I am on Flomax generic. The past scans I have not made it through the scan without having to pee at just about the last 5 minutes. The past 2 scans I have worn depends since I knew I would not be able to make it through the scan and not make it home (live about 10 minutes from home) without having to urinate. The last time I said I did not want the oral but they put up a fuss so I gave in and wore pertection but same thing happened. This time I told the oncologist and said I did not have to do the oral contrast, the question is this. Do you really have to drink the oral contrast and if you refuse how does it affect the scan ? The last scan showed a disentented bladder so they could not get a clear image on the CT scan anyway, I will also have a bone scan to check on a slight uptake on L5 spineal bone. Has anyone out there refused the oral even they tried to push it and had any bad results from doing this ? The same thing happened when I was not taking the flomax.

[tango65]

They want to have a better view of the abdomen. I believe with the oral contrast there is a better definition of the instestines, helping them to differentiate the instestines from possible cancer or other lesions in the adjacent tissues.

[Hidden]

What a nightmare for you 😣

[rscic]

It sounds like you are having trouble with the IV contrast which is removed via the kidneys. Oral contrast is essentially not absorbed by the body and passes through the bowel to identify the intestines. A bathroom stop just before & after the CT seems in order.

[Muffin2019 in reply to rscic]

I have done that but still cannot make it through the session, I do not think that the contrast stuff they put in my arm would react that fast, would be only 10 minutes or less in is in my system. The 2 quarts of stuff you drink is only an hour and half before the scan and I make trips during and before starting the procedure. The doctor was supposed to order it without the oral contrast just the IV contrast, get no rashes or any other side effects from it afterwards. They really do not check the intestines ad there is nothing wrong in that area, last scan the nurse said people do refuse the oral contrast and I can also but I gave in since I had pertection on.

[rscic in reply to Muffin2019]

The oral contrast stays in the intestine so the Radiologist can more easily identify intestine. The IV contrast can produce a "warm feeling" on injection and is removed by the kidneys. Since the oral contrast is designed to stay in the intestine it is unlikely to be causing urination urgency.

[Eddy-Merckx]

I did not drink the oral contrast for my last two CT scans. I have been told that it was because the hospital did not want to increase the risk of contracting COVID so I am not sure if this practice will continue in the future. Not drinking the contrast did not seem to impede reading the scans.

[Muffin2019 in reply to Eddy-Merckx]

Thank you for that insight, I did not think it would impede the reading as they are looking at the bladder and prostate and surrounding areas, not looking at the intestines.