Has anyone had a Datscan, if so explain the process and result of test?

[Blueeyebeauty]

4 years ago I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s by my medical doctor. I have been on C/L 10-100 my, 4 per day. I asked my doctor for a referral to a neurologist. Because I felt like my symptoms were getting worse. I have trembling in my hands, head and voice, I do not have any trouble walking, most of my problems is upper body movement. Last week I went for my appointment and she does not think I have PD, I may have essential tremors (my father had ET later died from suicide). She is taking me off my C/L medicine, gradually and ordering a Datscan, to determine what I may have. I feel better about this diagnosis, I wished I had done this earlier. I was wondering if anyone has had this done and what the conclusion was. Thank you in advance for this matter!

[Hidden]

That is all after four years, she is right.

[PixelPaul]

I have had a DAT scan. It is very similar to getting a CAT scan or MRI of your head. The main difference is they inject you with a radioactive dye of some kind prior to the scan. For me, after the injection I was sent home and asked to return after something like four hours. I guess it takes time for the dye to migrate to the part of the brain to be imaged.

The test itself measures the amount of dopaminergic neurons in the brain. A person with PD will typically show less of the neurons on the scan. The scan is not 100% accurate, but it’s one of the better diagnostic tests available. It’s also rather easy, and nothing to really worry about.

[LeharLover62]

My husband also had one about 2-3 years in. It was very similar to his MRI, and gave the same diagnosis of Parkinson’s.

[amykp]

Yup, just annoying because you have to lay still for 30 minutes. Last time I brought my phone and played music. That helped.

The injection is IV, and interesting, because the syringe is made of lead! Before they inject you they have you take a pill or drink of something to block the radioactivity from getting to your thyroid. The whole procedure takes hours, but that's because there's a lot of hurry-up-and-wait time, while the dye does its work. I went shopping. :o)