little-ginge

I have been told today that I may have rheumatoid arthritis and that I have to go for an Isotope Scan....

I know that they inject you with some sort of chemical before hand... but other than that I am pretty clueless atm..

I am going to search google, but wondered if anyone has any personal experience of one of these scans?

Johnny E

Not quite sure but is this the radio-active one or the dye one, but good luck..

little-ginge

Radio active... Ta, I'm going to need all the luck I can get..

SJ_Skyline

Isotopes are radioactive, like having a Barium meal - they track the flow of the radiation through your system.

Best of luck LG

little-ginge

Thanks!! How much does it hurt?? I've been told it has to be injected - and I am the worlds biggest baby when it comes to needles

r32

Sorry to hear youre not well mate ..............

Leslie

Don't think the injection is likely to be any worse than any other type. I am not an expert in that but was injected with something strange during one of my tests and it was no problem. I find it helps never to watch the needle as it goes in.

Best of luck to you.

Les

porkerboy

I assume its a radioisotope bone scan - not sure of its value in RA. Basically you receive an injection of a radioisotope via a cannula ( or drip) and then "x-rays" are taken. It shows where there is increased bone activity or uptake i.e which joints the disease is active in - not sure what help that will give because if you have active disease in any joint then it is pretty obvious in that the joint is swollen/painful etc.

are you sure its not a "bone scan" looking for osteoporosis - this can occur after long treatment with steroids.

richie001

iTrader: (3)

good luck get well soon

Mitchy260

I had it done a couple of months ago to check for hairline fractures around my shin.

Normal injection, you'll wait about 1-2hrs and then you'll go and get a scan.

It is radioactive and tbh nothing to worry about!

Miss Kinky

i had a similar scan to check my kidney function a few years back... was nothing to worry about and i had luminous wee for a few hours

little-ginge

Thanks, guys!!

Glad to hear it's not too painful.

As i said, I am a wuss when it comes to needles - I hate the sight of them going in.. in fact I normally have to have the special cream which numbs the area first - but I have to watch, I can't stop myself