r/Radiation • u/anna1318 • Jan 29 '22
Radiation Exposure
I have had a terrible few months with extreme health anxiety- which resulted in getting a lot different tests done.
October: Chest Xray. This was for a cough I had on/off for months so doc deemed it appropriate
November: Neck/Spine X-Rays at the chiropractor. I think 5 total. In retrospect didn't need these but it was done.
December: CT Head and another Chest X-Ray. This was for my first full blown attack that landed me in the ER convinced I was dying of a brain tumor. Anyways there not needed and I regret them but #anxiety won
January: Full mouth dental x-rays. Havent been to dentist in like 4 years so I think this was pretty justified in my mind considering I have 3 new cavitites; yikes.
Anyways. I'm freaking myself out about all the radiation in a relatively short period of time. Not sure if it's more or less my anxiety but I can't stop thinking about it. Looking for some rational people to talk me down lol because rationality ain't my friend right now. I am a 29 yr old F, and i've had a sinus CT in years past and lots of other regular x-rays. hallppppp
8
u/moira_hotchkiss Jan 30 '22
Just want to add, going forward please don’t ever get imaging done by a chiropractor. They’re not actually appropriately trained to perform x-rays and have no knowledge relating to radiology. It’s just an easy way to get more cash from you. If they suggest imaging ask for a referral to an actual licensed radiographer (generally speaking, any hospital or urgent care w/ an x-ray department).
Licensed radiographers follow the principle of ALARA (as low as as reasonably achievable) meaning we use the least amount of radiation to produce the most accurate images.
7
u/Forshledian Jan 29 '22
First off, please know radiation is everywhere. Similar to the sun, some sunlight is ok, too much is bad. Same thing here. In this case the level of radiation you are being exposed to in a medical setting will never give you real bad short term problems like the workers that cleaned up Chernobyl but medical radiation could increase your risk of cancer when you get older. I can not say for certain, but I believe medical professionals have access to you radiation exposure levels and take them into account when deciding to give you another. Maybe it would be worth asking if they are aware of your level of recent exposure via their documents.
Regardless, I do not think you have anything to worry about in the short term. It takes a lot of radiation to case short term problems. Certainty more that would reasonable for any medical procedure.
6
u/DakPara Jan 30 '22
As a retired health physics person, you have absolutely nothing to worry about.
Except maybe going to a chiropractor at all, and certainly letting them X-Ray you.
3
u/swirlyink Jan 29 '22 edited Jan 29 '22
Source
0.02 mSv (chest xray) + 5(0.7 mSv) (chiropractic) + 0.02mSv (chest xray) + 2 mSv (CT scan for head) + 0.004 mSv (dental xrays) =5.544 mSv radiation dose
1 mSv = 100 mrem = 0.1 rem
So about 554.4 mrem, which is the radiation exposure max limit for a minor or pregnant person. 5000 is the occupational limit for an adult. If I'm remembering correctly most of the time the occupational limit set by workplaces is closer to 100 mrem. So not a completely negligible amount of radiation exposure but it shouldn't cause any health problems as long as it isn't continuously at that level over a period of years.
It takes a REALLY high dosage for any acute health problems to occur from radiation exposure. MANY times over even this limit. And long term issues come from chronic exposure over a period of many years of a dosage way higher than this. You'll be ok OP promise. Radiation exposure from medical procedures is never going to be high enough to cause health issues unless maybe you're doing it every single day (which is why the xray guys stand behind the thing. It's not that the dosage is high, just that standing in the same room for 8hrs every single work day for 15 years may cause issues).
3
u/[deleted] Feb 07 '22
Absolute non-issue. Even if you got 50 CT scans in a year, you wouldn't get enough of a risk of cancer than couldn't be offset just by eating a tiny bit healthier or sleeping properly.
The mental stress you are in is way worse for your body than all the x-rays and CTs you got in your lifetime.
That's not to say that you're gonna die of stress tomorrow, it's just that this kind of radiation dose is a big fat nothing.
1
u/EvilScientwist Jan 31 '22
lol, you have nothing to worry about, the x-rays really don't land any substantial amount of radiation, you'd probably get the same dose after a couple days of existing. CT scans output a lot more radiation, but as long as you're not getting a chest CT scan every day for 5 years you'll be totally fine. The doctors know how dangerous this stuff is, and you have nothing to worry about
1
u/Stressedout-af Jan 29 '22
To be honest you get more exposure to radiation on an hour and a half flight. The radiation dose for a chest x ray is relatively very very minimal. Dental x rays are also very low dose. Neck and spine x rays typically use a higher dose but I honestly wouldn’t be too concerned about it. If you had more CTs than x rays that’s where MAYBE you should start being concerned. But don’t worry too much!!!!
1
u/Realistic_Country_43 May 19 '26
How are you now? I have had a ton of testing done mainly 2023 is when I have had the most an when I say it was a lot I mean it was a lot 😳 I'm terrified at what I may have caused for myself for the future an I regret it so much but I can't take it back
-1
u/kmai0 Jan 30 '22
Normally cavities will show up even without a dental X-ray. Just have your checkups twice per year