CT with or without contrast?

[Hugatree737]

Hi everyone. My urologist wants to do a CT urogram and at first he said my kidney wasn't healthy enough to use contrast dye. Then after further tests he says my Creatinine is 1.25 and that number indicates my kidney is healthy enough. He said that number is normal, but the lab report says 1.25 is high. Normal, according to lab is .5-1.05. He said it is up to me whether or not dye is used but that he would like to do one CT with and one without dye. I need some help please!! Thanks.

[Philipjm]

Hi, a dilemma, 18 months ago I had to have a scan for my kidneys, just stopped PD and starting HD, had a egfr of 6 at the time and no way would my consultant let me have contrast, even came with me to the scanning dept to ensure that contrast was not added. I guess we have to take our consultants advice.

[Hidden]

Hi,

I've attached an article from the NKF on using contrast dye. As you'll read under certain circumstances using dye can be a serious issue. I've had several CT's done and did not have contrast dye used. I also have Diabetes and High Blood Pressure and the odds go way up and as such it was a no brainer for me. The results were good on the CT's and no radiologist had difficulty according to their reports. Make sure you ask for and receive a hard copy of the test findings. Also, to interpret the results which will be heavy with medical jargon use a good medical dictionary. The one I use is also attached below.

kidney.org/atoz/content/Con...

c.merriam-webster.com/medli...

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

I agree with Mr. Kidney. Since my right ureter and kidney were removed in 2016, I now receive a CT scan WITHOUT contrast, plus a loopogram, annually. I'm told that a CT scan without contrast is more challenging to read, but for us members of the CKD club, is a necessity. The important thing about the loopogram is that the tech can infuse dye into my stoma, take about 7 X-rays (slightly different position of the pelvis), and then remove the dye. The dye is in my body for no more than 2 minutes or so.

[Neona]

I have a scan every 8 weeks as am on a clinical trial. My creatine is always above 128 but I am given 1 or 2 bags of fluids by iv the day before and another after the scan. The scan results were a lot clearer with contrast so I think this is the better option if it is possible. My trial is for ovarian cancer but Ihave kidney damage from chemotherapy.

[Celtic]

Definitely a no-no for me....whatever any consultant says! I lived very healthily for very many years following the removal of my right kidney when 12 years old. No kidney disease or kidney problems of any sort for 50 years. Then 12 years ago a consultant rheumatologist requested CT, MRI and nuclear scans to try and find an answer for me being bedbound for 4 months unable to walk or raise my arms without intense pain. I was none the wiser about contrast at the time and the consultant knew I had only one kidney. He also knew that I was taking Ibuprofen for many months just to get me to his appointments by ambulance and wheelchair. He (and 3 GPs) failed to diagnose me (or consequently treat me) and when further nasty symptoms arrived on the scene I sought a second opinion after a pharmacist suggested I had a particular autoimmune condition. She was right BUT towards the end of that horrendous year, I received a telephone call from my surgery to say that the latest round of blood tests showed that I now had CKD3. Although my kidney consultant tells me that there is one contrast that is safer than the other, I am certainly not convinced and will avoid it like the plague! Sorry this is a bit lengthy but I really wanted to get the message over!

[Hugatree737 in reply to Celtic]

Thankyou so much.

[Mandelin]

I w ent through a big argument when I went for a CT scan. I made sure my PC doc wrote the order without contrast. When I got to the appt. the person getting me ready brought me the drink and I said no it’s on the order NO contrast. The drink is also contrast. So after a bit of an argument, he went and got the tech and the tech tried to tell me it doesn’t go through my kidney, which is wrong. I said I’m not doing it and he finally did the CT without. I’m stage 5 and I was told way back when I was stage 1 by my urologist never to use contrast.

[Porter20]

Tell them allergy to shell fish ( no contrast dye used ever) has iodine in it comes from shellfish.