My husband had a myelogram three weeks ago and has suffered from severe headaches and nausea ever since. Is this a normal side-effect of a myelogram? Can these side effects be prevented or treated?
Myelograms have largely been superseded by CAT and MRI scans, which give much the same information with fewer side effects, but sometimes a myelogram is still necessary to diagnose particular problems.
When a myelogram is performed, a needle is pushed through the skin low down on the back, and between two vertebrae so that the tip of the needle is in the spinal canal. This canal contains the spinal cord (which carries all the nerves from the brain to the body) and a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid.
A small amount of fluid is removed, and an equal amount of a dye is injected into the spinal canal. The patient is then tilted so that the dye runs up the canal. This dye is visible on X-rays, and as the patient is tilted backwards and forwards, numerous X-rays are taken of the back to see where the dye moves to. If there is a blockage in the spinal canal caused by a slipped disc, or any abnormality of the spinal cord, it should show up on the X-rays. At the end of the procedure, the dye is run back down to the area where the needle has been inserted, and as much dye as possible is removed, and an equal amount of saline solution is injected to keep the volume and pressure of the cerebrospinal fluid constant.
If the pressure changes significantly, a headache will occur. A headache (sometimes quite severe) is normal for a few days after the procedure, and these headaches are notoriously resistant to any treatment, but three weeks is excessive. It may be that too much or too little fluid was injected into, or removed from, the spinal canal, and this change in fluid pressure is causing the headache.
The other possibility is that the disease leading to the myelogram being performed may be responsible for the headache. In either case, you should return to see the specialist who ordered the myelogram as soon as possible for further assessment.

Can you explain what happens in mammography? My doctor has suggested I have this done, but it scares me.
Mammography is merely an X-ray of the breasts, and there is no reason for concern. During the procedure, the breasts will be X-rayed from top to bottom and side to side. There may be some discomfort as your breasts are squeezed between the X-ray plates, but it only takes a few seconds, and the results can be life-saving.
There are now many doctors who believe that all women of 40 years should have a routine mammogram, and this should be repeated every five years. Combined with monthly breast self-examination, mammography is an extremely effective way of detecting breast cancer at an early stage. Women are now having tiny breast cancers removed, without disfiguring scarring, before they or their doctor can feel any lump or discomfort.
Early detection is the key to successful cancer treatment, and if you are concerned about your breasts, or if there is a family history of breast cancer, do not hesitate to have a mammogram arranged by your general practitioner.

I have an X-ray request slip from my doctor to have an air-contrast barium enema done. What will happen to me?
This is an X-ray that shows the lower part of the gut from the anus up to the appendix, and sometimes the last part of the small intestine. This part of the gut is about one and a half metres long in an adult.
The day before the X-ray, you will have to use special medicines to clean out all the faeces from the gut. When you go to the radiologist’s rooms, you will be undressed and lie on your side on a rather narrow table. A small tube will be placed in your back passage, and through this a mixture of barium will be run into the large gut. You may be given injections in the arm to relax you and the gut during the procedure.
You will be rolled around from side to side while X-rays are taken, and air will be introduced into the gut to display any abnormalities more readily. The procedure may be a little uncomfortable when your gut is inflated with air, but this settles rapidly.
After half to one hour, all the pictures necessary will have been taken, and you will be asked to go to the toilet to pass the barium mixture that was previously introduced. Your bowel function will return to normal after a couple of days.
The procedure can diagnose most diseases of the lower gut, and will only be requested if your doctor considers there are good reasons for doing it.