Another ct scan

[Kmae83]

Hi, this is my first post here.
I am scheduled to go in for a ct scan this afternoon. On my neck. I had one about 6 months ago on my abdomen. Results were clean. Now I’m obsessing over my lymph nodes so I’m going in to have them checked. I already had an ultrasound that turned up nothing but in my mind that test wasn’t good enough.

I’m struggling with the fact that I’m putting my body through all this radiation for probably nothing but peace of mind. Part of me wants to cancel but the other part of me really really needs the peace of mind.

 

[Cuchculan]

We have all had tests done. Some for peace of mind and some because we had no choice. Let them check you out. Once you get the results, accept them and move on. At times people like to second guess the experts. If they find nothing, be happy with that. I know I would. But anxiety can be high having them done and waiting for results. Tell yourself it is for the better.

 

[Jennycard]

Hi, this is my first post here.
I am scheduled to go in for a ct scan this afternoon. On my neck. I had one about 6 months ago on my abdomen. Results were clean. Now I’m obsessing over my lymph nodes so I’m going in to have them checked. I already had an ultrasound that turned up nothing but in my mind that test wasn’t good enough.

I’m struggling with the fact that I’m putting my body through all this radiation for probably nothing but peace of mind. Part of me wants to cancel but the other part of me really really needs the peace of mind.

Do it. It’ll give you peace of mind. My coworker gets a CT scan every 6 MONTHS because of a type of brain disorder that runs in her family. Anyway, she’s doing fine. Just do it. It’ll give you peace of mind. Lots of people have to get tests regularly. I’ve had a CT scan done and I actually want another one myself. My first one was without contrast.


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[matisworried]

Do it. It’ll give you peace of mind. My coworker gets a CT scan every 6 MONTHS because of a type of brain disorder that runs in her family. Anyway, she’s doing fine. Just do it. It’ll give you peace of mind. Lots of people have to get tests regularly. I’ve had a CT scan done and I actually want another one myself. My first one was without contrast.


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whoa... hold up. i don't think it's sound advice to encourage someone with health anxiety to undergo an expensive test (that does expose you to small amounts of radiation) just to ease their mind... especially when they'd already had an ultrasound for the same exact concern and got the "all clear" from their doctor. we all know that part of dealing with HA is the constant need for reassurance and peace of mind as well as not accepting and doubting test results. getting tests done for "peace of mind" is not behavior that should be encouraged.

op - you need to trust your doctors. did THEY order the CT because THEY were concerned something was missed or did they order it because YOU couldn't accept the results?

 

[Kmae83]

whoa... hold up. i don't think it's sound advice to encourage someone with health anxiety to undergo an expensive test (that does expose you to small amounts of radiation) just to ease their mind... especially when they'd already had an ultrasound for the same exact concern and got the "all clear" from their doctor. we all know that part of dealing with HA is the constant need for reassurance and peace of mind as well as not accepting and doubting test results. getting tests done for "peace of mind" is not behavior that should be encouraged.

op - you need to trust your doctors. did THEY order the CT because THEY were concerned something was missed or did they order it because YOU couldn't accept the results?

The one I had previously was on my abdomen. This one is for my neck. I ended up not going. I still want to but I’m fighting with the back and forth in my head about it.
My doc ordered it because I feel like my lymph nodes have changed in size and structure. He can’t just say “no you’re fine” cause he doesn’t simply know that. I had an ultrasound on my neck but those are only rated 4 out of 10 so there’s actually more of a chance of something being missed than not.


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[matisworried]

The one I had previously was on my abdomen. This one is for my neck. I ended up not going. I still want to but I’m fighting with the back and forth in my head about it.
My doc ordered it because I feel like my lymph nodes have changed in size and structure. He can’t just say “no you’re fine” cause he doesn’t simply know that. I had an ultrasound on my neck but those are only rated 4 out of 10 so there’s actually more of a chance of something being missed than not.


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was your doctor satisfied with the ultrasound results enough to not order further testing?

 

[Jennycard]

whoa... hold up. i don't think it's sound advice to encourage someone with health anxiety to undergo an expensive test (that does expose you to small amounts of radiation) just to ease their mind... especially when they'd already had an ultrasound for the same exact concern and got the "all clear" from their doctor. we all know that part of dealing with HA is the constant need for reassurance and peace of mind as well as not accepting and doubting test results. getting tests done for "peace of mind" is not behavior that should be encouraged.

op - you need to trust your doctors. did THEY order the CT because THEY were concerned something was missed or did they order it because YOU couldn't accept the results?

Sometimes we DO need those tests for reassurance. HA aside, there are some people who can’t even have health insurance. If we’re fortunate enough to be able to do tests, we should! Now I’m not saying every time your leg hurts, you should go get a CT scan, but if her lymph nodes really has changed in size, why not have a test done and check it out? When I thought I had a ruptured aneurysm I wanted so badly for doctors to just tell me “no it’s not you’re fine”, but truth is, doctors really don’t know. They couldn’t tell me that. I did need that test for my own sanity. It truly felt like the worst migraine of my life. I agree with what you’re saying and I’m not saying she should get a test done every time there’s a slight issue but if it will help her have a little peace of mind and her doctor agreed enough to order the test then maybe she should was all I was saying?

OP- if you truly feel like you don’t need to do it, and you did already have an ultrasound done on your neck (I didn’t know that information originally), then maybe consider waiting. I wasn’t trying to pressure you into taking a test. I was just trying to help. I’m struggling with HA myself and I would never intentionally want to give someone bad advice.


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[matisworried]

Sometimes we DO need those tests for reassurance. HA aside, there are some people who can’t even have health insurance. If we’re fortunate enough to be able to do tests, we should! Now I’m not saying every time your leg hurts, you should go get a CT scan, but if her lymph nodes really has changed in size, why not have a test done and check it out? When I thought I had a ruptured aneurysm I wanted so badly for doctors to just tell me “no it’s not you’re fine”, but truth is, doctors really don’t know. They couldn’t tell me that. I did need that test for my own sanity. It truly felt like the worst migraine of my life. I agree with what you’re saying and I’m not saying she should get a test done every time there’s a slight issue but if it will help her have a little peace of mind and her doctor agreed enough to order the test then maybe she should was all I was saying?

OP- if you truly feel like you don’t need to do it, and you did already have an ultrasound done on your neck (I didn’t know that information originally), then maybe consider waiting. I wasn’t trying to pressure you into taking a test. I was just trying to help. I’m struggling with HA myself and I would never intentionally want to give someone bad advice.


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us HA sufferers need to learn to trust our doctors' opinions a little more and learn to stay off dr. google where we learn just enough (bad) information about disease to get us in to trouble (by doing things like pushing for unnecessary tests.)

if a doctor truly feels a test should be done, it should be done... but doctors shouldn't typically be ordering tests simply to appease patients and that's exactly what they're doing when they order a test that is unnecessary just to make someone feel better. one thing to try to remember... especially for things like CTs and MRIs... these appointments are incredibly limited. a hospital can only do so many in a day. it's not fair for someone who's doctor feels they have a strong likelihood of disease to have to wait an extra week for an appointment because someone with HA insisted an unnecessary test be done. not saying that is definitely the case here, but from the op's original post, it stands to reason.

peace of mind is a slippery slope. if the ultrasound wasn't enough, what if the ct isn't? for people like us, sometimes no amount of testing will every be enough. part of learning to deal with our HA is learning to trust our doctors, not insist on unnecessary tests and not run to the doctor for reassurance.

 

[Kmae83]

us HA sufferers need to learn to trust our doctors' opinions a little more and learn to stay off dr. google where we learn just enough (bad) information about disease to get us in to trouble (by doing things like pushing for unnecessary tests.)

if a doctor truly feels a test should be done, it should be done... but doctors shouldn't typically be ordering tests simply to appease patients and that's exactly what they're doing when they order a test that is unnecessary just to make someone feel better. one thing to try to remember... especially for things like CTs and MRIs... these appointments are incredibly limited. a hospital can only do so many in a day. it's not fair for someone who's doctor feels they have a strong likelihood of disease to have to wait an extra week for an appointment because someone with HA insisted an unnecessary test be done. not saying that is definitely the case here, but from the op's original post, it stands to reason.

peace of mind is a slippery slope. if the ultrasound wasn't enough, what if the ct isn't? for people like us, sometimes no amount of testing will every be enough. part of learning to deal with our HA is learning to trust our doctors, not insist on unnecessary tests and not run to the doctor for reassurance.

Yeah, I tell myself that all the time. If I was mentally healthy that would be a good enough answer. But I’m not. So even though I know the logical answer, my brain tells me 100 different things.

I have seen multiple counselors to try to deal with my HA and so far none of them have been able to help me. That’s why I’m here. If I was at a point of being able to manage my HA I wouldn’t be posting here. I’d be off living my life happily. Unfortunately I’m not in that mental space.


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[matisworried]

Yeah, I tell myself that all the time. If I was mentally healthy that would be a good enough answer. But I’m not. So even though I know the logical answer, my brain tells me 100 different things.

I have seen multiple counselors to try to deal with my HA and so far none of them have been able to help me. That’s why I’m here. If I was at a point of being able to manage my HA I wouldn’t be posting here. I’d be off living my life happily. Unfortunately I’m not in that mental space.


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as a 35+ year sufferer, i know the struggle and deal with it on a near-daily basis. on my best days, it's just sorta simmering in the back of my brain. on my worst days, i can hardly function. don't be discouraged after seeing multiple counselors/therapists. i went through 5 or 6 before i found someone that i was comfortable with!

i meant no offense or criticism to you or @Jennycard. we're all sufferers of this crappy thing and are here looking for help. unfortunately, one of the negatives of us all being here to support each other is that sometimes things take a turn and instead of helping each other, we end up enabling each other by doing things like working each other up over symptoms, commiserating over symptoms or encouraging things like unnecessary visits or tests. it appeared from your original post that your doctor had physically examined your lymph nodes and ordered imaging (an ultrasound.) from the wording of your post, i got the impression that the CT was ordered more due to your concern than your doctor's which is why i said what i said.

having had oral cancer fears for years, i've been through the lymph nodes scares, the ent visits, etc. i'm not going to get in to specifics because i don't want to feed your fears, but if your doctor had any real, serious concerns, they would have started with your physical exam and it would have likely been pretty apparent. one thing i'll mention to you in the hopes that it provides some relief... if you're constantly checking your lymph nodes, they can swell and change size from the constant irritation.