OT: CT Scan contrast contain thimerosal or any other toxic substances?

[Guest guest]

Hi - Unfortunately, I had to take my daughter to the ER the other night

b/c she was having trouble walking, pain in her stomach, etc. We

suspected appendicitis since both my husband and I had it as kids and

her symptoms seemed similar. At the pediatric ER they did a urine test

and blood work and both came back normal. They then had our daughter

drink a glass of contrast(or maybe it's called barium) before her CT

Scan. I asked the nurse if it was gluten and casein free and she said

the CT Scan guys looked at her as if she were nuts when she asked.

They didn't find anything except constipation so I'm really feeling

like my daughter just had a huge dose of radiation for no reason. I'm

happy she didn't need surgery but I'm just worried. Also, does anyone

know if the contrast/barium has thimerosal, metals or any other toxins?

Is it going to hurt her in some way since she had to drink it?

[Guest guest]

Okay, now you have me in a panic. My son needs an MRI in August and the doctor

says he will be drinking chloral hydrate. Does that contain mercury? If so, is there an alternative? I told the doctor I wanted a simple MRI not

to have contrasted. Is there a

difference with MRI’s? This is for our lawyer to rule out congenital

deformities. SOMEONE

THAT KNOWS, PLEASE HELP.

Thanks – New Jersey

OT: CT Scan

contrast contain thimerosal or any other toxic substances?

Hi - Unfortunately, I had to take my daughter to the ER

the other night

b/c she was having trouble walking, pain in her

stomach, etc. We

suspected appendicitis since both my husband and I

had it as kids and

her symptoms seemed similar. At the

pediatric ER they did a urine test

and blood work and both came back normal.

They then had our daughter

drink a glass of contrast(or maybe it's called

barium) before her CT

Scan. I asked the nurse if it was gluten and

casein free and she said

the CT Scan guys looked at her as if she were nuts

when she asked.

They didn't find anything except constipation so

I'm really feeling

like my daughter just had a huge dose of radiation

for no reason. I'm

happy she didn't need surgery but I'm just

worried. Also, does anyone

know if the contrast/barium has thimerosal, metals

or any other toxins?

Is it going to hurt her in some way since she had

to drink it?

[Guest guest]

It does not contain mercury.

RE: OT: CT Scan contrast contain thimerosal or any other toxic substances?

Okay, now you have me in a panic. My son needs an MRI in August and the doctor says he will be drinking chloral hydrate. Does that contain mercury? If so, is there an alternative? I told the doctor I wanted a simple MRI not to have contrasted. Is there a difference with MRI’s? This is for our lawyer to rule out congenital deformities. SOMEONE THAT KNOWS, PLEASE HELP. Thanks – New Jersey

-----Original Message-----From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ] On Behalf Of M. WebsterSent: Monday, July 04, 2005 12:35 AMEOHarm Subject: RE: OT: CT Scan contrast contain thimerosal or any other toxic substances?

did she get the kind that is injected? or just the kind she drank?

You know I am embarrassed to say, that after years of injecting this into people and making people drink it I have no answer for your questions. (I am doing some online searches for Barium Sulfate and only finding some MSDS' for the powder itself, nothing really striking)

First though, I am fairly certain the drink is GFCF... I have no idea why it would be made of wheat or milk and we never had to ask pt's if the had wheat or milk allergies before consumption. SO that is my educated GUESS. I believe it to me simply a chemically made powder, mixed with water that does not absorb x-ray, to give us a picture.

As for the injection, I know the cheaper version has iodine, which can cause allergy, so most use a more expensive non-ionic version.

Since she did drink it, the worst thing, well.. she is already constipated... force water and fruits. Its can make matters worse.

As for unneeded radiation.. well... if it was a hot appy, you want to know before it would burst... however they could have did an ultrasound.

They could have just did regular x-rays and u/s instead of whipping out the CT scanner for "run of the mill" belly pain.

Thing is I have come across a lot of ER docs who are afraid to make any dx or discharge any pt without doing a crap load and meaningless unneeded test. Of course, this is me judging... what would I do in their shoes.. I don't know.

jenny

-----Original Message-----From: EOHarm [mailto:EOHarm ]On Behalf Of sarah70932003Sent: Sunday, July 03, 2005 7:34 PMEOHarm Subject: OT: CT Scan contrast contain thimerosal or any other toxic substances?

Hi - Unfortunately, I had to take my daughter to the ER the other night b/c she was having trouble walking, pain in her stomach, etc. We suspected appendicitis since both my husband and I had it as kids and her symptoms seemed similar. At the pediatric ER they did a urine test and blood work and both came back normal. They then had our daughter drink a glass of contrast(or maybe it's called barium) before her CT Scan. I asked the nurse if it was gluten and casein free and she said the CT Scan guys looked at her as if she were nuts when she asked. They didn't find anything except constipation so I'm really feeling like my daughter just had a huge dose of radiation for no reason. I'm happy she didn't need surgery but I'm just worried. Also, does anyone know if the contrast/barium has thimerosal, metals or any other toxins? Is it going to hurt her in some way since she had to drink it?