13 CT Scans & 8 Skull xrays in 4 month

I had VP Brain Shunt surgery 4 mos. ago.Had some exposures to magnets, improper reprogrammings, a lot of severe pain.  Ended up having 13 CT scans & 8 xrays in the last 4 months.  Seems like way too much radiation exposure in a short time.  What effect will this have on me? How soon? What will help counter act this radiation?  I am a 62 yr old widow.

[Neuro Forum]

Thanks for using the forum. I am happy to address your questions, and my answer will be based on the information you provided here. Please make sure you recognize that this forum is for educational purposes only, and it does not substitute for a formal office visit with your doctor.

Without the ability to examine you and obtain a history, I can not tell you what the exact cause of your symptoms is. However I will try to provide you with some useful information.

There is obviously a limit on the cumulative radiation dose a person should be exposed to over a given period of time. Estimating the exact amount of radiation exposure depends on various factors, including the exact type of CT scanner used, what the CT scan was imaging (for example, brain versus belly), how large the person is, etc. In younger people, future risks are higher than in older adults.

There is no specific side effect expected immediately from repeated imaging studies; with cumulative use over life, repeated radiologic radiation exposure increases risk of cancer; but this risk is really more apparent several years from the exposure (10-20 years) and is not the same kind of increased risk of cancer as occurs with exposure to higher strengths of radiation. Understanding how much exposure you had (by asking the radiology department that you had your testing done at) and minimizing future radiation exposures when not absolutely necessary are steps you can take, but again, the risk of cancer increases mainly in younger people later on in their life if they've had repeated exposures throughout life. Discussion of your concerns with your physician is recommended.

Thank you for this opportunity to answer your questions, I hope you find the information I have provided useful, good luck.