Was around my 30 month old after my nuclear stress test - what's the danger

[Dentalmaniac]

I would really appreciate if someone can rest my mind at ease. I had two nuclear stress tests done one in 2006 and the other in 2008. I was never told after these tests to keep my distance from my little son who was 2 and a half in 2006 and he was four when the second test was done. I came home straight after each of the tests and interacted with him as i would otherwise, including holding him in my lap and all. I am so scared of the thought now that i would've exposed him to radiation without knowing and angry at the facilities where the tests were done of not giving me follow up instructions. How much radiation exposure have i put him through? can someone please help answer this question? I am freaking out! My son is now 6.

[Trackermom]

The amount of radiation is less then an x-ray and he was two and the time.  The only warning I saw was to stay arms length away from pregnant women and newborns.

[Dentalmaniac]

Sherry that's a very good suggestion. I'm planning on calling the office tomorrow. Hopefully i'll get an answer from them on why i was not told to stay away from my son. How old is your grand daughter? So your doctor never told you to stay away from her either?

[namnam46]

Hi ,

I bet your sweet little 2 1/2 year old son REALLY keeps you going!!! You're a very lucky lady.

I've had a ton of these nuclear stress tests done. One each year for the past 5 years. I am constantly with my Autistic Granddaughter and my Doctor knows this and has NEVER given any reason at all to be concerned about going home to her after my tests.

I have an idea. Why don't you call your Cardiologists Office and ask them about it. That way you can ease your fears and relax and not worry. I completely understand your fears and you are right to be concerned.

I hope that you will update us on what you find out from your Cardiologists Office...Sherry

[Dentalmaniac]

Thank you so much for responding. I know the tracer used in my first test was techtenium-99 sestamibi. I was given 8.2 mci before the treadmill and 36.7 mci after. Somehow I had heard this tracer stays in your body upto 3 days? Is that not the case?

[nucmedtech05]

The most common tracer used during stress test only has a 6 hour half life. I would not be worried because the amount of radiation that your son was exposed to was minimal. It is not like being pregnant or having a newborn around you. If that were the case, then either the test should have been postponed or you would have been told to keep your distance for a few hours depending on the length of time your test took.  This is because their thyroid is still developing in utero and highly functional after birth to get all of the hormones leveled out within their little bodies. I am a nuclear medicine technologist and I feel that you have nothing to worry about. I worked the entire time I was pregnant and did about 10 stress test a day. Of course I was closely monitored, but you don't recieve as much radiation as what you would think. It is not like you recieved a therapy dose or anything very strong, with a high energy level. Don't freak out. Take care, I hope this helps to ease your mind.

[RubyAnna30]

I'm worried. I had this test done today. I have a three month old. My dr said I was ok but the X-ray tech disagreed with him. I've been holding my baby closely all day. I'm freaking out.