Abdominal CT Scan!

So, I’ve been scheduled for a CT scan of my lower abdomen... basically because for about four months now, I’ve been feeling this constant pressure right in the middle of my stomach, maybe about four inches above my pelvic area. It isn't an intense, sharp pain or anything, but it's starting to weigh on my mind quite a bit. When I’m sleeping and finally relax, the pressure seems to vanish, but then it usually hits me harder in the morning and just sort of tapers off as the day goes on...
I actually had surgery for an inguinal hernia about six months ago, so part of me wonders if it's something related to that, like maybe a hernia trying to find its way back through...
And since the prostate is right there in that neighborhood for us guys, I did consider that, but my bladder function seems totally fine. I went to see my doctor and he ran some blood work and a urine test, and everything came back perfectly normal, which was a relief, I guess. He eventually gave me a referral for a Wilhelm Röntgen scan, and I was honestly pretty happy just to finally get some answers and figure out what's going on down there...

But then, the news hit me that I’d have to drink a full liter of contrast liquid, and I have to admit, I started feeling pretty anxious about it. I’ve stumbled upon so many negative stories online regarding contrast dye that I’m genuinely torn on whether I should even go through with the scan or not. I did ask if there was any way to do it without the liquid, but they told me the images would be too blurry to be useful...

The thing is, I have to swallow the liquid rather than getting it through an IV like so many other people seem to do...
I was wondering if the risks and side effects are actually the same whether you're drinking it or receiving it intravenously?

Has anyone else gone through this, and what were your experiences like?

Best wishes to everyone here!

If you’re worried about a hernia recurrence, a standard abdominal CT scan might actually be a bit of a dead end for diagnosis.

It really makes you wonder—did that pressure start up right after your surgery? Also, what kind of surgical technique did they use, and did they install a mesh? Where did you have the procedure done?
The thing is, a CT scan often misses a hernia entirely because the contents tend to slide back into their original position when you're lying flat. If there isn't a glaring defect in the abdominal wall visible at that moment, the machine simply won't catch it. Another option would be looking into dynamic CT or MRI scans, where you’re actually asked to strain during certain sequences—much like how an ultrasound works.

My two cents: if you have the means, I’d suggest traveling abroad to see a top-tier specialist for a second opinion.

The instructions for the scan mention that I'll need to bend or move on command every now and then, which pretty much confirms what you were saying earlier about this being a dynamic CT scan...

Anyway, my main question was really more about whether there's any difference in risk when using contrast media if I'm drinking it versus getting it through an IV ?

stormyhound13 said:The instructions for the scan mention that I'll need to bend or move on command every now and then, which pretty much confirms what you were saying earlier about this being a dynamic CT scan...

Anyway, my main question was really more about whether there's any difference in risk when using contrast media if I'm drinking it versus getting it through an IV ?

When you drink it, the likelihood of any adverse reactions is significantly lower.
Generally speaking, with iodine-based contrast agents, one might expect anything from a mild reaction to a more severe allergic response.
However, thanks to the newer generations of contrast media being used today, that risk has been reduced to an absolute minimum.
When the contrast is ingested, it’s much more diluted—only about 1-2% actually gets absorbed through the intestines into the bloodstream—so there is a very slim chance of any reaction occurring, even for individuals with known iodine allergies.

They administered mine both orally and via IV, so I’m honestly just relieved to be standing here today
The most important thing is to stay incredibly hydrated on that specific day; you really want to flush everything out of your system as quickly as possible.

I honestly don't get why you're so sketched out by the contrast dye... Are you allergic to it or something?

"Basically, I read a lot of negative things about contrast fluid" — like, really? You read tons of bad stuff about CT contrast? Where? And what kind of stuff specifically? 😕

stormyhound13 said:The instructions for the scan mention that I'll need to bend or move on command every now and then, which pretty much confirms what you were saying earlier about this being a dynamic CT scan...

Anyway, my main question was really more about whether there's any difference in risk when using contrast media if I'm drinking it versus getting it through an IV ?

Does anyone happen to know which hospital performs that kind of dynamic CT scanning?

Jose Miller3 said:I honestly don't get why you're so sketched out by the contrast dye... Are you allergic to it or something?

"Basically, I read a lot of negative things about contrast fluid" — like, really? You read tons of bad stuff about CT contrast? Where? And what kind of stuff specifically? 😕

It's more about the fear of having an allergic reaction, you know, like getting a skin rash or dealing with itching and all that sort of thing... That's why I was wondering if those kinds of reactions are actually possible from drinking the contrast versus getting it through an IV...

restlessbadger2 said:If you’re worried about a hernia recurrence, a standard abdominal CT scan might actually be a bit of a dead end for diagnosis.

It really makes you wonder—did that pressure start up right after your surgery? Also, what kind of surgical technique did they use, and did they install a mesh? Where did you have the procedure done?
The thing is, a CT scan often misses a hernia entirely because the contents tend to slide back into their original position when you're lying flat. If there isn't a glaring defect in the abdominal wall visible at that moment, the machine simply won't catch it. Another option would be looking into dynamic CT or MRI scans, where you’re actually asked to strain during certain sequences—much like how an ultrasound works.

My two cents: if you have the means, I’d suggest traveling abroad to see a top-tier specialist for a second opinion.

For me, the pressure didn't show up until about two months after my surgery, though I actually felt something similar about a year before the procedure took place... one evening, I felt such an intense pressure right in that spot that I had to lie down immediately, and since it was bedtime, I just went to sleep... when I woke up the next morning, it felt like nothing had happened at all. That was back at the beginning, when I'd only feel the pressure once a week, but lately, things have ramped up and I'm feeling it every single day now. It's located a few inches below my belly button and a few inches above my groin area, basically right where the skin folds when you lean over or tie your shoes and stuff like that...

I realized I totally forgot to mention that I actually had my surgery over in Germany, performed by the absolute legend, Dr. Andrew Koch... he’s honestly one of a kind. He was actually chosen as the president of the Herniolog Association back in 2016, which says a lot about his expertise. He spent time honing his skills in Canada and the USA before heading back home to Germany to open up his own private clinic.

Surgical method: Shouldice technique without a mesh
By the third day, I was already walking around just fine without any pain at all, which, if I'm being honest, I could hardly believe myself... It was an open incision, maybe about 7 cm long.

I've never really been a fan of using mesh, so that's the main reason I went to see him in the first place. He gets patients flying in from all over Europe, too—places like the Netherlands, Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, and even up from Scandinavia, like Sweden and Denmark.

I actually went back to his office recently for a follow-up, and after checking me out, he told me everything looks perfectly normal... apparently, that pressure I've been feeling is likely being caused by something else entirely.

Best wishes!

stormyhound13 said:It's more about the fear of having an allergic reaction, you know, like getting a skin rash or dealing with itching and all that sort of thing... That's why I was wondering if those kinds of reactions are actually possible from drinking the contrast versus getting it through an IV...

If you have an allergy, you're at risk for a reaction regardless of how it's administered. Is there a specific reason you suspect you might be allergic?

Nicole James said:If you have an allergy, you're at risk for a reaction regardless of how it's administered. Is there a specific reason you suspect you might be allergic?

Not really... 🙂 I don't have any real reason to believe I'm allergic, it's just that my mind starts racing whenever I read about all the stuff that can happen from that liquid, like skin rashes, kidney issues, nausea, vomiting, and all that sort of thing...

I was just wondering if anyone could weigh in on this, because if someone does end up having an allergic reaction—like a rash or something similar—is that something that can be treated and cleared up, or is it one of those things that just stays with you permanently like so many other allergies do...

Best regards!

stormyhound13 said:Not really... 🙂 I don't have any real reason to believe I'm allergic, it's just that my mind starts racing whenever I read about all the stuff that can happen from that liquid, like skin rashes, kidney issues, nausea, vomiting, and all that sort of thing...

I was just wondering if anyone could weigh in on this, because if someone does end up having an allergic reaction—like a rash or something similar—is that something that can be treated and cleared up, or is it one of those things that just stays with you permanently like so many other allergies do...

Best regards!

Allergic reactions are essentially immediate responses to a specific substance. They aren't permanent conditions—they typically resolve once you stop being exposed to whatever triggered them. Honestly, you could have an allergic reaction to pretty much any medication out there. There isn't much reason to be more afraid of this than any other new prescription you'd pick up at a pharmacy. The one real difference is that if you do have a nasty reaction to contrast, you're already in a hospital under medical supervision—which is a much better scenario than having a reaction while you're sitting at home, for instance.

Just go ahead and get that CT scan done and try not to let it get to you. The absolute worst-case scenario is probably just feeling a bit nauseous from the dye.

Nicole James said:Allergic reactions are essentially immediate responses to a specific substance. They aren't permanent conditions—they typically resolve once you stop being exposed to whatever triggered them. Honestly, you could have an allergic reaction to pretty much any medication out there. There isn't much reason to be more afraid of this than any other new prescription you'd pick up at a pharmacy. The one real difference is that if you do have a nasty reaction to contrast, you're already in a hospital under medical supervision—which is a much better scenario than having a reaction while you're sitting at home, for instance.

Just go ahead and get that CT scan done and try not to let it get to you. The absolute worst-case scenario is probably just feeling a bit nauseous from the dye.

I've heard people say it tastes all metallic and gross, which sounds pretty terrible, honestly! Though I did read somewhere that the staff might be able to sweeten the liquid up a little bit for you...🙂🙂

And this damn pressure is starting to happen more often lately, and sometimes it feels like someone is actually stabbing me with a knife, just cutting right through me, so whether I feel ready or not, I guess I really should just go get the imaging done...

stormyhound13 said:I've heard people say it tastes all metallic and gross, which sounds pretty terrible, honestly! Though I did read somewhere that the staff might be able to sweeten the liquid up a little bit for you...🙂🙂

And this damn pressure is starting to happen more often lately, and sometimes it feels like someone is actually stabbing me with a knife, just cutting right through me, so whether I feel ready or not, I guess I really should just go get the imaging done...

Mine tasted a bit like dish soap. Good luck 🙂

So, what kind of reaction did you actually have, like, any side effects after you finished drinking that liquid?
Did you end up feeling nauseous or dealing with any vomiting, or maybe even noticing some kind of skin rash or anything like that?

And I had one more thing I wanted to ask... is there any way to get a picture of that lower abdominal area using something else, without having to swallow that poison?

Maybe an ultrasound? Though I'm guessing those aren't quite as reliable or effective as a CT scan, right?

stormyhound13 said:So, what kind of reaction did you actually have, like, any side effects after you finished drinking that liquid?
Did you end up feeling nauseous or dealing with any vomiting, or maybe even noticing some kind of skin rash or anything like that?

And I had one more thing I wanted to ask... is there any way to get a picture of that lower abdominal area using something else, without having to swallow that poison?

Maybe an ultrasound? Though I'm guessing those aren't quite as reliable or effective as a CT scan, right?

I sent you a private message, so go ahead and check it 🙂

CT contrast isn't poison!

stormyhound13 said:So, what kind of reaction did you actually have, like, any side effects after you finished drinking that liquid?
Did you end up feeling nauseous or dealing with any vomiting, or maybe even noticing some kind of skin rash or anything like that?

And I had one more thing I wanted to ask... is there any way to get a picture of that lower abdominal area using something else, without having to swallow that poison?

Maybe an ultrasound? Though I'm guessing those aren't quite as reliable or effective as a CT scan, right?

None at all. They mentioned I might end up with diarrhea, but even that didn't happen—and I usually have a pretty sensitive stomach.