Me again -
Only the person(s) taking an x-ray or doing procedures should be in the room when a patient is being exposed to radiation.
There is a small amount of "scattered radiation" given off when any x-rays or other procedures are done. This, in itself. is harmless. But, radiation is an accumulative thing and can build up over time. It is common practice to keep people out of any area where procedures are being done or films are being taken - other than the doctor or people doing the study.
Radiologists and radiology technicians are around radiation every day all day(often for years), so it is necessary that they take precautions that you and I would never need to take. You may notice that they are often wearing lead aprons or shields - to reduce their radiation exposure. And, they also wear badges that measure the amount of radiation they are exposed to - and these badges are read every month or so. However, working in radiology for years, I have never seen one of these badges measure a harmful amount. This is just a precaution.
Radiation exposure is an interesting thing. When I say it is accumulative - this is only when the same area is repeatedly x-rayed. If you have a chest
x-ray and a few months later a foot x-ray - these are totally separate areas being x-rayed and one has no effect on the other.
But at the same time - many sick or injured people in the hospital (cancers, car accidents, illnesses, etc) have dozens and dozens of x-rays - often the same areas - and I have never heard of any problems from having this many studies done on the same area. Many people in the hospital need several chest x-rays a day.
For a while years ago, x-ray technicians were found to have developed colon cancer after years of x-ray exposure. Most of these people worked years ago when x-rays were not as refined as they are now - lead aprons were not worn - and badges were not worn - these people often spent 20 to 30 years working around radiation. This no longer happens. First of all, x-rays themselves are much safer, and better precautions are taken.
Again - it wouldn't hurt a person to be in the room when you have a chest
x-ray or other procedure done, but it is just common practice to avoid exposing anyone to unnecessary radiation. This just isn't done. That's the rule!!!
And - having worked in hospitals and medical offices for decades, I can't tell you how many times I have heard employees give patients incorrect information. It's true when we say that sometimes "knowing a little medicine is worse than knowing none at all."
But - if someone tells you to be careful about something - even though it may not really be necessary - it never hurts to do that.
I am sure none of us need to worry about x-rays, other procedures, and radiation, but we still need to follow whatever precautions we have been advised to take.
**** To be fair, there may be some new contrast medias or other materials used in imaging studies that I am not aware of - where they might be telling you to stay away from pets or babies for a day or so. I am sure though that this would only be a precaution and not a serious danger.
Good luck!
Carol Jean |