adverse reaction to contrast fluid in CT scan or coincidental gastro enteritis

[Lyndylan]

I have just been through something quite strange and frightening. I had a CT scan of abdomen with contrast on Monday for assessment for an NHS trial. (EMBIO)

About 6 hours later I felt a little queasy. I woke up at 230 am with abdominal pain which I thought was indigestion. This quickly became non stop vomiting. I was very distressed, phoned 111, they said call ambulance, long story short my husband took me to A and E and they admitted me urgently.

By then I had developed fast A FIB with HR of 135 and very low blood pressure. It took about 12 hours to stop the vomiting and there was some blood in the vomit. . I had v. low phosphate and very high lactate levels. By Tuesday evening my temperature was raised but they got it down by the next morning. I quickly recovered on Wednesday annd went home in the evening . Doctors are unsure of cause but said potentially gastro enteritis( but everyone else in family was fine on same food). They think the vomiting caused the bleed by creating a laceration in the oesophagus.

I am curious of the link to the CT scan and will certainly be very wary of having another one.

Anyone else had a similar experience?

[PlanetaryKim]

Because it occured 6 hours later, I'm wondering if it was linked to the contrast dye. That's a pretty long time.

"How long after CT dye can you have a reaction? Symptoms tend to occur around 30 minutes after exposure to the contrast agent. Initial symptoms may be mild, like hives or itching. More moderate reactions can include nausea, vomiting, chills, abdominal cramps, facial or laryngeal edema, shortness of breath, wheezing, hypertension, and headache." cancertherapyadvisor.com/ho...

[BobD Volunteer]

Best get on with life as I doubt anybody will ever really know the answer. 6 hoursseems excessive for any allergic reaction though.

[Buffafly]

Sounds like norovirus ☹️