Cat Scan while pregnant

[Evelynmia'smom]

I need some advice about whether or not to get a cat scan tomorrow. I am 10 weeks pregnant with my second. I spent half the day in the er today and refused the cat scan because I wasn't given enough info on how it might affect my baby. Anyway, now I have an appt with a neurologist tomorrow morning and I'm not sure what to do. This morning my right eye got sort of a line down the middle and it was difficult to focus and see. Then I felt extremely tired and when I tried to read a sentence I could not comprehend what I was reading...I could read the words but didn't know what the sentence meant, this lasted for a few minutes. Also, I thought I saw my arm in front of me when it was at my side...very weird. I feel ok now, just tired with a slight headache.

[balancedmama]

I think your neurologist should be able to provide you with some solid research on the risks and benefits, especially based on the findings of the exam. Obviously it seems that this condition could be the something potentially dangerous for you and your baby. Some types of scans have less radiation exposure, particularly when contrast dye is not involved.

It's always hard to make these types of decisions...I ended up requiring a completely unprotected abdominal xray when I was 15 weeks pregnant with my son. Scary, yes, but the research was actually comforting - not as much risk as I had assumed.