Dizziness after CT scan

[liteglimmer]

I had a CT scan today of my abdomen with contrast dye. It came back negative thankfully. After the CT scan, I feel dizzy/lightheaded. Is this a normal reaction after a CT scan with the contrast dye?

Thank you

[cat3]

Hi liteglimmer. There are many and various bad reactions to contrast dye. After-effects such as feeling hot, lightheaded, nauseous, and/or having stomach pains, severe headaches and vomiting have all been reported, both immediately after the procedure and several hours afterwards.

The symptoms are considered harmless but (as I've also found) they can be incapacitating and quite scary while they last. I hope the effects have worn off now and you're feeling better m''love ! Take care..... x

[liteglimmer in reply to cat3]

Thank you cat3! I still have the lightheadedness. Hopefully, it will resolve soon.

[Woo777 in reply to liteglimmer]

Omg I had the worst reaction ever , I had mine , had to stay in a hotel to see the doctor the next day and the reaction started there . My body was covered in a rash and I had sickness and diarrhoea for hours . Thankfully the hosp said it will pass and is rare but does happen. All the other scans I’ve had have been fine . It’s just the dye one . Hope you feel better today xx

[cat3 in reply to liteglimmer]

How is it today m'dear ; any improvement ? x

[liteglimmer in reply to cat3]

Hi, thank you for the responses. I'm still feeling the same way today. I hope it gets better soon.

[cat3 in reply to liteglimmer]

I do hope so, though I have friends who've been out of action for days before feeling alright again. Take care, and I hope the dizziness abates soon... x

[liteglimmer in reply to cat3]

Hi,

I'm still experiencing the lightheadedness/dizzy feeling a week later. I hope that it will subside.

[cat3 in reply to liteglimmer]

It's usually just a matter of time before your body rejects it and it's flushed from your system. You could contact your GP for temporary medication to relieve the dizziness although it will probably abate without intervention.

I think the key is drinking copious amounts of water. Equipping your body with extra fluid to expel the dye from your bloodstream should speed the process along. You'll know if you're drinking enough by the amount of visits to the loo .......the more the better !

Good luck Liteglimmer.. x

[liteglimmer in reply to cat3]

Thank you. I'll drink a lot of water

[liteglimmer in reply to cat3]

Hi cat3,

I'm still experiencing the mental dizziness and it's been over a month since I had the contrast dye injected. Have you heard of anyone that had symptoms this long after a CT scan? I'm hopeful that the symptom will pass in time. I've been drinking lots of water.

Thanks,

Brett

[cat3 in reply to liteglimmer]

Time to speak with your GP I think Brett. A month seems extreme and might suggest the original dizziness has triggered a separate balance issue. Your doctor can check you out and possibly prescribe medication to get you back on track ; I hope so. Best wishes... x

[liteglimmer in reply to cat3]

Hi Cat,

My brain fog is getting better gradually. I spoke to the doctor and he said that it's a rare neurotoxic reaction to the CT contrast dye. He said the brain fog will go away over time.

[cat3 in reply to liteglimmer]

Good to hear you've had reassurance from the doctor Brett. Many people react badly to everyday meds ; I can't tolerate the Ibuprofen painkiller or certain antibiotics and have a bad reaction to the flu vaccine for many months.

Best wishes for better days to come, Cat x

[Pairofboots]

Hi, generally if this is a planned procedure, they will try to adjust the contrast, but if it is not planned, the contrast is best guesstimate based on weight and hight. For most, it is nothing more than a flash of warmth as the contrast is injected. But with anything, some will experience more extreme side effects. The problem with a forum like this, it squeues the incidence because nearly everyone would have had a contrast CT, therefore the incidence appears high. Usually the contrast is removed from the system in a matter of hours.