Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: Karen W. on 16/12/2007 13:05:40

Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Karen W. on 16/12/2007 13:05:40: My hair is falling out, my gums are bleeding, I have had blood in several stools, and I am bruising quite easily, and can't keep my eyes open and am completely wiped out and tired all the time.

The last CT scan was last week it was the 5th or 6th one, two of which were with iodine, + 2 mri's and between 24 and 26 x-rays over a few months time! At one point I had a sunburn looking pair of legs and have had some unexplained bleeding from my ankles etc. not from injury but just started bleeding..

This last visit to my doctor and the hospital, both Doctors mentioned they were concerned about me being over exposed to radiation.. and were worried about any more testing..

My blood clot has dissappeared which could be good or it could be bad.. but they had to try to find where it went.. thus checking with the last CT with IODINE!

What are the chances that that much exposure can make me sick?
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Karen W. on 16/12/2007 16:41:39: OH Yeah, does the MRI even produce radiation??
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Bored chemist on 16/12/2007 22:53:06: Well, MRI scans don't use radiation. I don't know how much radiation you would get from a medical exam but I think they try to keep the dose low enough that they don't produce chronic effects (notably cancer). If they do that then the likelihood of radiation sickness is low. There are other things that could cause those effect- chemotherapy drugs would probably do it but even a lack of vitamin C could cause a fair few of those symptoms.

After saying all that I should point out that I'm not a doctor and you should speak to someone who is.
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Karen W. on 17/12/2007 00:40:12: I spoke to my doctor who is concerned about two much radiation...after she got my blood results back, and the fact that I am definitely going to have some more. I just wondered what the rates are per scan etc what is the cap on it before they say No more, as I already want to say no more!

Is there things one can do to help speed the radiation out of ones body?
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: another_someone on 17/12/2007 04:10:06: There have been cases of radiation poisoning from medical equipment, but they have always been down to human error (someone pushed the dials up too high, or poor maintenance of equipment). Even then, it has normally been caused by therapeutic equipment rather than diagnostic equipment.
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Carol-A on 17/12/2007 11:57:57: The doses used are really quite low, and I would think unlikely to cause your symptoms. If you are taking an anti clotting agent, you will bruise and bleed more. I have to take an anti clotting agent after having a Stent a few weeks ago, and I am now bruised all over, and every tiny scratch bleeds for ages! The tiredness may be the calcium channel blocker.... the first one I had made me very tired, so my doctor changed to a different one and then I was fine!
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Karen W. on 17/12/2007 16:45:13: I'll check back on the twentieth she wants a nother vial of blood for that and for the new ace inhibitor because they have me taking it with two or three others it is not compatible with so they are worriesd instead of low potassium this ace inhibitor will push me into the high dangerous level of potassium.. so needs to monitor every ten days. She said the will check the radiation level again then apparently I am up just over ten thousand reteogens or something like that but it is over a few months time she said that is not from one single dose... it is an accumulation of many many does over a relatively short period. So they want to get the levels lower and Tuesday we will see what she needs to do after tests results are in.
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: another_someone on 17/12/2007 21:42:43: Quote from: Karen W. on 17/12/2007 16:45:13
apparently I am up just over ten thousand reteogens or something like that but it is over a few months time she said that is not from one single dose... it is an accumulation of many many does over a relatively short period. So they want to get the levels lower and Tuesday we will see what she needs to do after tests results are in.

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000026.htm
Quote
* Total body exposure of 100 roentgens causes radiation sickness.
* Total body exposure of 400 roentgens causes radiation sickness and death in half the individuals.
* 100,000 rads causes almost immediate unconsciousness and death within an hour

Ofcourse, they may have been talking about milliroentgens , rather than roentgens - which might explain why you are still alive.

The above are for single dose, acute irradiation. Clearly, chronic radiation is very different, and in any case, with chronic radiation, it is not the total dosage that matters but the average dosage over time. Nothing in your symptoms seems to correspond with chronic overdosage, although it is consistent with acute overdosage, but it is also consistent with many other things.
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Karen W. on 18/12/2007 14:14:36: I cant remember for sure the unit of measure but remember that she said it was too high and that they needed some more blood work, and needed to keep an eye on it. Your probably right about the miliroentgens etc. I just remember the odd unit of measure I had never heard of! He put me on some more clor..something potassium and something else he has to monitor through blood tests!
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: aine on 03/08/2009 20:07:51: Well, I found a very nice site, with some easy questionnaire about radiation exposure in medical practice. You'll be surprised!
Look the link (http://risk.hikinglife.org/patient_diagnostic/index.php?sid=34534&lang=en)
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Karen W. on 05/08/2009 03:13:08: Thank you aine and welcome to the site!

The link is not working can you try again!
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Karen W. on 05/08/2009 03:24:24: http://risk.hikinglife.org/patient_diagnostic/index.php?sid=34534&lang=en
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: aine on 05/08/2009 06:10:23: It's working!
I think it's ok
Title: How much is Too Much medical Radiation exposure?
Post by: Karen W. on 05/08/2009 08:52:34: aine, Your link had this extra "http://" in it, and was still not working.. I have removed this and it works now!