I’m so scared

I need to remain rational and not get stuck in the loop that a routine medical procedure of an xray that millions of people get everyday somehow impacted me adversely because I felt a jot of something when the photo was taken and that I’m going to not live because of it. I might have felt a weird energy or air or something that really scared me but I can’t then take it to a place that I will no live much longer then. It’s just so hard. I feel helpless and just want to go back to the doctors office to tell them I’m unhappy and have them show me this happens to others. I’m terrified. And the worst part is there’s nothing I can do. Am I wrong?

bettyb

Date posted: 4d

Repeating to myself: I will not go down the spiral that something did go wrong and that I’m the one person who had an unsafe exam. I did not and a jolt of energy doesn’t mean it went wrong. If it went wrong it would be much bigger than that. It’s nearly impossible. I was at a reputable facility that helps a professional football team. I will listen to myself and professional support. I’m grateful. I’m blessed and I will live life to the fullest. Bless those who understand.

goddesshygeia

Date posted: 4d

i work in the medical field and i want you to know that you are safe. if something went wrong during the x-ray we would know immediately and handle it with care ❤️

bettyb

Date posted: 4d

@goddesshygeia “Went wrong” I’m gong to tell myself that means much bigger than me feeling a wave of energy or air or whatever it was if felt during the photo. It didn’t hurt but I felt some sensation. So I’m going to lean into that—nothing went wrong. 🥹 stop it OCD! I’m in control.

KEF2001

Date posted: 4d

Hi! I am an X-ray, CT and nuclear medicine tech. Xray techs are highly trained professionals and with modern equipment it’s nearly impossible to have an unsafe exam. I have had to stand in the room for multiple exposures and get exposed to radiation daily in nuclear medicine. It is absolutely safe or they wouldn’t allow us to do it. I’m sorry you are struggling with this! You are going to live dear, I promise!

bettyb

Date posted: 4d

@KEF2001 Thank you so much. One xray even if it felt weird/could feel the energy of the photo didn’t mean something catastrophic happened. It doesn’t mean “that’s it” for me. I have to trust that. I have to trust that whatever signals I’m making up now like “my body feels different” isn’t real. Thank you. I can do this. I can break this cycle. I must.

KEF2001

Date posted: 4d

@bettyb Yes you can🤍 You cannot feel radiation. If you had a sensation or feeling it was not from the Xray. It was bad timing and cause by something else like the wind or just a natural body sensation. You are 100% with out a doubt okay from those xray images.

bettyb

Date posted: 2d

@KEF2001 Reading your words over and over is incredibly helpful. ♥️

bettyb

Date posted: 4d

Thank you both so much. It’s hard to trust my mind that the feeling of what happened doesn’t equal to something seriously bad. I believe in science. I must remain here and factual. ♥️

stealthjet808

Date posted: 3d

I'm not really sure if I'm supposed to be saying this as this is probably reassurance, but I had this exact fear over a CT scan of my brain. The concept of one routine scan doing damage is actually so minimal that it managed to escape the clutches of my OCD when I did research on it. In a nutshell, the radiation you receive from, say, one CT scan of the brain is half the amount you receive from background radiation in a year. The maximum legal amount a U.S uranium worker can be exposed to in one year in comparison is 50 times that half amount. And that is just the threshold for a statistic change. So theoretically, to even breach the minimum of a statistically noticable increase in the chance of damage occuring from the radiation, by an amount of 1:1000 compared to others, you would need to receive a CT scan of your brain 50 times. Radiation received in amounts less than this causing damage to the body is practically statistically and scientifically undetectible and unable to be traced back to the event of getting a scan. Of course, accepting that uncertainity is always the number one goal with OCD is a crucial part in receiving treatment. But this information could help you a little bit like it did me if you didn't already know it before. If this still doesn't help, I would try to breathe and accept that no presentation of damage means you don't need to do anything at the moment. Just sit and accept this fact, knowing you still have options going forward.

stealthjet808

Date posted: 3d

@stealthjet808 Also, in your case, assuming this was a chest xray or another single image xray; an example chest xray produces 1/200 the amount of radiation you receive from the world alone on a yearly basis. Based on previous math, you would need to receive... 2,500 chest xrays in one year for your odds of damage to even increase by 1/1000. So, even in the event of equipment failure, worst case scenario, it is, quite literally, physically impossible for the machine to give you any dosage that would cause you damage without tripping the circuit breaker first. So, take a deep breath, take this information, and relax as much as you can. Just focus on accepting that the scan felt weird when it was performed, but there may or may not really be anything to it. There are a lot of possibilities for what you felt but no matter what all of them are okay.

bettyb

Date posted: 2d

@stealthjet808 Thank you for your kindness. It’s a back and forth mental game. When I read all of this and also sit with it while also telling myself I feel like I taste metal in my mouth and that an old filling now tastes like metal now. I cannot trust my brain. Its could be very real or just OCD talking. I have to simply sit with it and try to breathe and not go to the worst case.

bettyb

Date posted: 2d

I’m so scared all over again because I taste metal in my mouth from my filling. It’s such a vicious cycle. I don’t know what to trust. My brain says I taste metal. But is that real or OCD. Trying to ignore it. Trying to rema rational… but it feels very real and I want to go to the ER. It’s never been this bad. I can’t control it.

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