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Does Gastrophin For Oral Contrast Cause Diarrhea?
Question: I am to have a ct scan this week for the one year anniversary of having a kidney removed due to cancer. I will be having both oral and IV contrast. The barium drink gives me instant diarrhea so I am choosing the alternate which I believe is gastrographin. I have been told this might also cause diarrhea. My question is how soon after drinking all of it would I get the diarrhea. After the scan I am to be in oncologist for hydration and then I see the doctor to discuss the results. Then I have an hour drive to get home and sure don't want any accidents along the way. I think I am asking for too much to not have any problems with the contrast as I have a delicate set of insides. Thank you for any info you can give me
Brief Answer:
hi and welcome to hcm
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the query.
First I am not sure why is oral contrast neccessary for kidney cancer follow up. There is probably suspicion of some gastrointestinal pathology... Gastrografin is less irritabe for bowels than barium and.it.doesnt mean.that you ll have diarrhea again.
Try to eat easier food on the test day,drink just water and take vegetables or fruit.avoid coffee,smoking and high sugar food. if diarrheas happens then it comes 30-90min after intake. but i am.sure that it wont happen and if does,you ll have time to reach toilet. Wish you good health. Regards.
hi and welcome to hcm
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for the query.
First I am not sure why is oral contrast neccessary for kidney cancer follow up. There is probably suspicion of some gastrointestinal pathology... Gastrografin is less irritabe for bowels than barium and.it.doesnt mean.that you ll have diarrhea again.
Try to eat easier food on the test day,drink just water and take vegetables or fruit.avoid coffee,smoking and high sugar food. if diarrheas happens then it comes 30-90min after intake. but i am.sure that it wont happen and if does,you ll have time to reach toilet. Wish you good health. Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you for your answer and patience with me.
This is my third scan with oral contrast. I had a lot of stomach trouble after oral surgery this spring. I had an abscess on my jaw bone and the dentist also did a bone graft. I was also put on antibiotics (keflex) and got really sick. My doctor told me I had a stomach infection and it took about a month to begin to feel better. Between having my kidney removed and the oral surgery I also had a total hysterectomy in February due to uterine cancer. I think my oncologist is being aggressively cautious. Depending on how the oral contrast goes I might select to waive having the oral contrast in the future. I know the iv contrast is the major aid in detecting any cancer and this will be my first iv contrast since surgery.
I thank you for the information and believe by the time I leave the hospital I should be ok for the long ride home.
Both my surgeon and oncologist are optimistic about my future. By the way, we did genetic testing and I have been told my two cancers are not related.
Again thank you
This is my third scan with oral contrast. I had a lot of stomach trouble after oral surgery this spring. I had an abscess on my jaw bone and the dentist also did a bone graft. I was also put on antibiotics (keflex) and got really sick. My doctor told me I had a stomach infection and it took about a month to begin to feel better. Between having my kidney removed and the oral surgery I also had a total hysterectomy in February due to uterine cancer. I think my oncologist is being aggressively cautious. Depending on how the oral contrast goes I might select to waive having the oral contrast in the future. I know the iv contrast is the major aid in detecting any cancer and this will be my first iv contrast since surgery.
I thank you for the information and believe by the time I leave the hospital I should be ok for the long ride home.
Both my surgeon and oncologist are optimistic about my future. By the way, we did genetic testing and I have been told my two cancers are not related.
Again thank you
Brief Answer:
hi
Detailed Answer:
Yes. I understand your concerns. Both patients and doctors must always be concerned when there was malignancy,especially gynecologic ones. These cancers have tendency to recur,but you have reason to be optimistic and if you do recommended follow ups,i am sure that nothing will suprise you. Diarrheas after contrast is minor problem comparing to things that you ve been through. Adhesions in abdominal cabity are common causes of abdominal difficulties agter hysterectomy but any bowel obstruction will be detected om ct scan.just be patient and everything will be fine
hi
Detailed Answer:
Yes. I understand your concerns. Both patients and doctors must always be concerned when there was malignancy,especially gynecologic ones. These cancers have tendency to recur,but you have reason to be optimistic and if you do recommended follow ups,i am sure that nothing will suprise you. Diarrheas after contrast is minor problem comparing to things that you ve been through. Adhesions in abdominal cabity are common causes of abdominal difficulties agter hysterectomy but any bowel obstruction will be detected om ct scan.just be patient and everything will be fine
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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