radiation exposure

[Judy9245]

Over 30 years ago I had a malfunctioning x-ray machine and received a huge amount of radiation, the blood test confirmed ratioactivity in the blood.  I was told I would not have any symptoms for about 30 years, now I just had a kidney removed due to renal cell carcinoma.  I have tremors and my blood pressure is low, nausea, dizziness, pale, tinnitus in the left ear....Is this the end stage result from the radiation poisoning....I am very sick.

Any comments would be very helpful

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello Judy,

I would recommend that you follow your physician's recommendations to have diagnostic testing to determine the cause of your current symptoms.

It is very difficult to say for certain that your current symptoms are related to a possible radiation exposure in the past. Many of the symptoms that you describe--tremors, low blood pressure with fluctuations, fluid retention with swollen ankles, shortness of breath and nausea can be caused by numerous medical conditions.

Also, as a clarification, radiation from x-rays does not "leave behind" radioactive particles in the body or the blood. The radiation that from x-rays can damage tissues. When you stated that the machine was "malfunctioning", what did you mean? The machine was left on for longer than expected? or, was it something else?

In terms of tests to determine if tissues or organs are affected by radiation, I recommend that you work with your physician to investigate the cause of your symptoms--this could involve laboratory (blood) tests or other diagnostic tests.

~•~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

[Judy9245]

Thank you for responding, by malfunctioning, the machine virtually "hurt" my organs and was very painful!  I am wondering if there was not any "shield" on the machine, radiation is supposed to pass through the body and not hurt the internal organs.

I have an enlarged thyroid with scar tissue and they are currently in the process of checking the pathology of the kidney to see if the abnormal cells were caused by radiation damage, I was told this is hard pinpoint.

My blood pressure is extremely low....I am dizzy and have had nausea since 2/4/09, I had an iridotomy on my right eye on 2/4/09 and have had nausea and ataxia since that date....the left eye was done on 1/21/09 with no side effects.

Thank you for you concern and you have been extremely helpful.

Sincerely,

Judy

[Judy9245]

Thank you for trying to help.  I just turned 67, the radiation I had was a malfunctioning x-ray machine, at the County hosptial, the x-ray was for an ulcer. The machine hurt my internal organs very badly.  The radiologist's badge registered a huge amount of radiation.  I was given a blood test by Dr. Herbert L. Gotfredson, it registered radio activity in the blood, he said there was nothing they could be about it and it would take decades before any symptoms developed, about 30 years.  It has been 37 years.
I do not know the amount of radiation that I received, I tried to obtain a copy of the blood work, but the doctor is now deceased.  His office was in San Marino, CA and he practiced at Garflied Medical Center in Monterey Park, CA.  His name was Dr. Herbert L. Gotfredson, or possibley (Herman L. Gotfredson).

My family doctor sent me to Garfield Medical Center for a thyroid test (after the exposure) which showed an enlarged thyroid with scar tissue, but the function was normal.

I was told that long-term radiation damage does occur after decades, mainly affecting the eyes and kidneys.  I have not had any radiation or chemo for the renal cell carcinoma, I am now experiencing many side effects of end stage radiation exposure.  I have tremors, low blood pressure with many fluctuations, fluid retention with swollen ankles, shortness of breath and nausea.

My physican has recommend a endoscopy to check the cells in the stomach and see if there is any scar tissue.  Do you recommend this?  Would they be able to tell of radiation damage by any other tests?

Thank you for responding......I appreciate your interest....

[Philip D Parks, MD, MPH, MOccH, FACOEM]

Hello.

A couple questions for you before I respond to your question regarding radiation poisoning.

How old are you?
Can you tell me more about how you believe that you were exposed to radiation?
And, do you have any idea how much exposure that you had? or for how much time?
Do you remember what abnormalities were present your blood work?
Are you or have you had chemotherapy or radiation therapy for your renal cell carcinoma?
What other medical problems do you have?

~•~ Dr. Parks

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice. The information presented in this posting is for patients’ education only. As always, I encourage you to see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case