Has anyone else had a PET scan?

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I just had a PET scan done and am still freaking out about it. I thought it wouldn't be as bad as a CAT scan since they didn't make me drink that nasty barium stuff this time. But I had no idea they would strap me to the table. Yeah and then they say don't wiggle. Telling someone with ADD not to wiggle is like telling a fish not to swim. I have PTSD bigtime so I freaked after they slid me into the tube and I was strapped down. I started crying and shaking, but they didn't come rescue me.

My friend called to see how I made out and she told me if I moved it would mess up the test so they would have to re-do it. I wiggled a lot because my whole arm fell asleep and went numb because the strap cut off my circulation. I kept wiggling my hand by my side. But wouldn't they have known right away that I wiggled and messed it up and would have said something then?? I mean I remember years ago I had a brain MRI done and they said "stop wiggling" because they could see it right then and there on the screen, so they had me do that MRI series over again.

Why did you get a PET?

I had a CT when I was really young because my doctor said I had an abnormally large head.

I know MRIs take forever. It's really difficult for me to get an MRI, especially from the noise.

I did, many years ago. I asked a radiologist why the positrons didn't convert to energy when they collided with electrons. They didnt' have a good answer, but since I didn't leave the lab at warp 4, it must be pretty safe...

Considering your stress level, ect, involving it, I don't see why they wouldn't give you some valium for the test. It makes you care less. Not always a lot less, but usually enough to get through it. Or maybe a xanax, those calm anyone down.
Perhaps you could explain, and ask for medical assistance?

Hi Moop,

I got the PET after a CT showed a a lung nodule. I only got the CT done because I went to the dr complaining of ribcage pain. He runs every lab test you can think of plus a chest x-ray. The x-ray showed effusion on the lung which led to the CT which led to the PET. The dr also asked them to go ahead scan my brain as a positive proof of the brain damage I was diagnosed with by a neuropsychologist after flunking a bunch of cognitive tests. I have history of concussions. But the radiology tech told me PET won't show brain injury. I angered him because I said oh really there are volumes of data online stating how well PET can show inactive areas of the brain. Obviously he doesn't know how to read brain scans is the real issue. He finally said he would scan the brain too but would not report on it and would be left up to my dr to decipher.

Just for future reference in case I have any more horrible tests run who am I suppose to ask for medical assistance?

The dr did offer me valium or xanax last week as an option when I expressed concern. However neither drug works the right way on me. Both make me hyper & nervous and additionally xanax makes my heart race so fast it feels like a heart attack is about to occur.

I feel heavily traumatized by this. I can't believe how horrible their bedside manner was. I mean I had a MRI run ages ago at another facility and the nurse had the foresight and kindness to cover my eyes with a washcloth so I wouldn't have to "see" the cage they put around my head before sliding me inside the MRI tube. Matter of fact two different occasions two different nurses did this as it was standard procedure to them to prevent patients from getting claustrophobic. Seems like when I had a sinus catscan done years ago the guy put a blindfold on me. Its just a courtesy thing in my opinion! What really shocked me though is apparently they had no microphone to hear me asking for their help whereas in MRIs they always had internal mics.

Yes, I have had a PET scan.

Here's a question someone can answer. Can a dog have a catscan?

I had PET scan four years ago because they thought I had cancer (I didn't fortunately). The only weird thing on my PET scan was that apparently I have thymic hyperplasia, which is an (non-cancerous) overgrowth of the thymus gland. I don't have any problems with CT/MRI/PET scans though- no issues with claustrophobia or staying still. I'm sorry you had such a rotten experience.
I wouldn't think wiggling during a PET scan would mess up the results as much as wiggling during a CT or MRI, since they're just looking for areas of increased metabolic activity rather than visualizing structures- and all the tracer should have been taken up during the preceding hour when they make you sit around so your body can metabolize the sugar.

I kinda feel like I've been made a pawn in the medical system. I mean the dr screamed at me to get the PET scan done whereas I thought it rather silly when most likely the lung nodule was caused by Valley Fever which is common in this area. I mean I did have coughing fits and all the other symptoms of VF over a year ago when the doctor could not figure out what it was. I'm assuming the PET scan was negative because they would see a hot spot show up immediately and I would think the dr would have already called me in a panic if there was a hot spot. If I remember correctly when I had the CT scan the next morning I had the doctor calling me on the phone telling me everything that showed up.

Oh well I have to go pick up both scans on a disc today because I'm suppose to go to a pulmonologist that is in another town regardless of the scan results. If only I could have gotten help when I had the breathing problem but now that I am okay is when they send me to a specialist??! I hate allopathy.

I suppose in the way that a cat can have a petscan.

In fact, all petscan.