Welcome to my life!!!

I went to see the family physician with horrible bone pain. It sort of felt like my bones were exploding from the inside out. (ha..that makes sense). After going thru every symptom I have (a long list), She asked if I have ever been tested for auto immune blah blah?? so she said we would take blood. 5 Vials!
Then she started examining me hit a spot in my tummy and I jumped/screamed and pulled my back! She touched the area again and i growled. Said she wants an ultrasound. I then told her of astrange sensation (something floating inside...sort of like when prego and the baby moves up under the ribcage) and then told her about my hirrific biopsy and showed her the results. She then ordered a cat scan with and without contrast. she told me to use OTC for the pain and we'd meet back in a week.

????????HUH??????????????

Im now fighting with the imagining idiots about what with and without contrast means.

Has anyone had to drink barium? Is it nasty? I have a gag reflex....and not happy about this.

welcome to my life!!!!!!

Haven't had to drink barium for a test in years. Think I remember it tasting like chalky mylanta. I do remember holding my nose, closing my eyes, and chugging it as fast as I could.

Best of luck with the exams.

The bone pain could be spasticity. There are various descriptions of pain associated with spasticity, and a "cold to the bones ache", and/or a feeling like the "meat is being ripped off the bones" are two descriptions I've experienced (and/or heard others talk about).

A CT scan is the best tool for:

"diagnose abnormalities of the spine, and of the bones and joints in addition to abnormalities of the abdomen, pelvis or head. CT provides highly detailed information about bony structures, joints, soft tissue structures, and soft tissue calcifications. At Hospital for Special Surgery, special protocols are used for detailed imaging of the spine, the pelvis, the hips, the shoulders, and the bones and joints of the extremities. CT is used to gain additional detailed information after myelograms, discograms, and after selected types of arthrograms. CT is also used to guide procedures such as biopsies, aspirations of fluid collections, to guide facet joint injections and nerve root blocks."

http://www.imaginghss.org/patient-in...xamination.htm

My recollection is that some conditions are best viewed with contrast, and others without. So, I guess she is covering all her bases at one time . . .

Barium was no big deal at all for me.

Cherie