[FutureRN2008]

Hi,
Im 16 yrs old and Ive been having headaches everyday for 3 weeks and I went to my family doctor about it and she ordered a CT scan to be done. Can someone please give me some information about what a CT scan involves. What happens during a CT scan, when will I get the results back? How common is it to have something show up on a CT scan just because of headaches. Im so nervous and am scared about the results.

[mommy2boys]

The CT scan is a very simple test. There is no pain (you just lay on a bed while a machine takes x-rays of your body). The results will normally be sent to your doctors office w/i a few days. If you are having the test on friday, your doctors office will probably have the results by monday or tuesday.

Try not to get yourself worked up over this test, it is probably nothing. A lot of things can cause headaches. You doctor is just running this test to rule out a lot of issues.

Good luck and try not to worry about it. It is probably nothing.

Erin

[tencat]

Try not to worry.

[dianah]

Your doctor is taking your headaches seriously and trying to find out, if she can, what's causing them.

mommy2boys is right, the CT is very simple: you lie on a skinny bed and are positioned with your head in the center of the machine (it looks like a huge donut and you're in the middle of the donut hole). The technologist will instruct you what to do. It usually takes 10 minutes.

If you haven't received any instructions, you may call the Imaging Department and see if there are any you should know about and do.

Your doctor may have ordered the test to be done with and without contrast. If so, you will have the scan, then an IV will be started and some iodine contrast injected while the scan is performed again. Be sure to follow all instructions about nothing to eat before the exam (our CT Dept instructions were to have nothing to eat or drink for four hours before the exam, if contrast was to be used).

You may get a warm feeling while the contrast is being injected and the scan performed. This warm feeling is VERY normal, caused by the contrast, and won't last more than a few minutes.

After the scan the IV will be removed and you may eat and drink.

In most hospitals the images are read that day. The results may be available to your doctor, but one can't be sure whether your doctor will access them by Monday or Tuesday. Do you have a follow-up appointment for results? If not, make one tomorrow, then phone the office the day before your appointment, in the morning, and remind the staff you're coming in for CT results the next day, would they make sure the results are in the chart for your doctor. I've done this for my and my kids' appointments. (some offices may be VERY organized and not need this, but IMO it never hurts to check, so your appt isn't wasted)

It's easy for us all to say "don't worry." I CAN say "take it one day, one thing at a time." Keep us posted; you'll do fine during the CT, I'm sure!

[FutureRN2008]

Hey everyone,
I did the CT scan. It was very interesting. My nurse was very nice. They showed me all of the pictures and explained everything. They said they couldnt tell me anything definite but that I would not leave if there was something serious. Although my sinuses are acting up.........they showed me all of the sinus cavities and said they were all supposed to be black because they were supposed to have air in them, well let me tell you.....they definately werent black, they were very cloudy. It showed my optic nerves and the base of my skull where the spinal cord connets. Then as it got to the top of my head you could really see the brain, like the squiggly parts. And the best part is, I do have a brain, shocking to my parents lol.