contrast dyes

[Radars]

I am due to having a ct scan with contrast, for abdomen and pelvis, but after reading stories on here it doesn't sound safe for the kidneys, I have got proteinuria, the reason I am having one is for wasting leaking protein, any help please.

[Bassetmommer NKF Ambassador]

There are different forms of contrast. Make sure you tell them you have CKD. All contrasts are not great for CKD but there are some that are better. I had a pelvic/abdomen CT scan withOUT contrast.

[Shedman in reply to Bassetmommer]

The tricky thing is that without contrast there may be no point to some scans - it simply doesn't give the visual resolution required..But a different scan might then be relevant -only the doctors will know- such as MRI (++costly) or, if looking for active cancer locations, a PET scan.

Proteinuria may not preclude contrast agents - didn't worsen my proteinuria, where excess oxalates really do.

[Marvin8 in reply to Shedman]

Excess dietary oxalates worsen proteinuria? Never heard that before. Interesting.

[Shedman in reply to Marvin8]

In fact our individual triggers may vary..But yes, with me, despite my proteinuria becoming very minor through some healing (it was cancer related issue and the cancer was treated), adding handfuls of spinach or almonds (and others - just google oxalate foods and go carefully on the high ones) causes me to become quite ill..

Eating milk products (calcium content) with oxalate foods may help fecal excretion of same, avoiding the kidneys.

[PeaB4YouGo]

I just had a CT to scan my lower abdomen. They initially ordered the scan with contrast until I told them that can't happen due to the iodine in the contrast. The CT without contrast still filled the bill.

IODINE. That's the big fear with contrast is filtering out iodine.

[Darlenia]

It's my understanding that proteinuria can lead to protein-energy wasting (PEW), a condition where there's a loss of both protein and energy reserves that leads to higher mortality rates. You really need to get that checked out and solved. My husband, usually at check-in, gives everyone his health status and they make adjustments accordingly. Generally speaking, the more contrast, the more detail shows up. Depending on your situation, sometimes they can figure out the situation without a lot of contrast clarity or they can use a safer form of contrast. The radiologist and the doctor assigned to you will confer based on your information and do what is necessary - with your approval, of course. I will repeat here that my husband has had many CT scans with contrast - before dialysis, during dialysis, and later on with a transplant for stents, brain surgery, and more. With high contrast scans (especially on his brain), hydration and increased IV solutions helped mitigate issues. There was no impact on his labs. Please realize that other life threatening problems can rightfully become the primary focus - other medical issues can indeed take your life. So take care of yourself and base your decisions on logic, not emotion. That's worked very well for us.

[PecanSandie]

I had an MRI last year with contrast (Gadolinium). I told the radiologist that I have kidney disease (3B) but I guess my eGFR was high enough so it shouldn't be a problem. And it turns out it wasn't...it had no effect on my eGFR. I was happy about that!