CT scan radiation worries

[Ggirlangel93]

I'm really struggling right now. My latest thing is worrying about radiation caused from CT scans. During late 2023/early 2024 my health anxiety was the worst it ever was. I was going through a really dark time and i was getting a lot of CT scans/X-rays during many of my ER visits. Different ones for all different symptoms/reasons. At the time i didn't think about radiation from the scans. Getting answers/peace of mind for my symptoms was what i was concerned about. Fast forward to now and im so scared about the damage i have done. I'm worried all that radiation is going to give me cancer. I've been googling non stop. Reading through articles, charts, writing down all my tests, msv numbers. My biggest regret was getting three abdominal/pelvic scans because at the time i truly had no clue that those ones used the most radiation. I was not educated about it. I was also not warned about the risks by any of the doctors treating me. The reason for those scans was abdominal pain related things. On one of the scans they found pancolitis. Which at the time was scaring me and making me spiral with the extra scans. I feel like i made the biggest mistake of my life and i regret it all so much. I already know i can't change the past but i don't care. I can't stop worrying sick thinking about how this will probably increase my risk of cancer. Any thoughts?

 

[Jonathan123]

Another Googler! My god, when will we learn. I do know that you want reassurance, but you will never find it on Google. You were not warned of the risks becuse they are so minimul it's not worth talking about. Do you honestly think that if it was dangerous they would keep on giving scans?
The first thing to do is STOP GOOGLING. If you really need reassurance talk to your doctor or any health professioinal. Don't self diagnose. That too can be dangerous.
I am not for one moment minimalising your anxiety, I do know, been there. But you will never recover if you go on frightening yourself with negative thoughts.

 

[Canuck]

I had 3 abdominal/pelvic scans within a few months due to dealing with diverticulitis. I'm not concerned.

 

[Hobbit]

I've also had numerous scans and xrays over the years . My doctor told me the risk is minimal . Without these much needed tests we'd never figure out what ails us .

 

[bigjetplane23]

I feel like we all go through this HA phase - radiation from CT scans.
I had a CT scan on my head due to tingly feeling on half of my face. Everything was clear, and I was glad. And then my next fear started when I realized I was exposed to radiation.

After speaking with this great community, my fears minimized and I eventually got over it.

 

[Jonathan123]

I feel like we all go through this HA phase - radiation from CT scans.
I had a CT scan on my head due to tingly feeling on half of my face. Everything was clear, and I was glad. And then my next fear started when I realized I was exposed to radiation.

After speaking with this great community, my fears minimized and I eventually got over it.

Yes, anxiety is a strange phenomena. If we get over one symptom another will pop up in our heads. It seems as if everything has a dark side. It may be we have to realise that anxiety symptoms are perfectly normal, and even so called 'normal' people get them, but in anxiety they are all greatly exaggerated. It is normal to feel fearful in the circumstances of danger, but anxious people blow everything up out of all proportion to the event. It all comes down to how we react to negative events.