posted
I have to have a liver MRI with contrast agent eovist, which is a gadolinium based agent. I asked the doctor's office and the MRI tech if I could have the MRI without the agent and they said no. I am worried about the toxic effects of the gadolinium especially as to how it will effect my peripheral neuropathy. Anybody have experience with this? I am wondering if it is worth the risk.
Posts: 142 | From Midwest | Registered: Sep 2015
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Tincup
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 5829
posted
Go to the Trade-Off page on this slide program. It says when to NOT use the eovist.
One of the reasons give is if there is an inflammatory disease. Lyme is an inflammatory disease.
I had a nice long talk with the head of the hospital's imagining center because I had concerns about the dyes. He told me dyes (contrasts) were used to help the doctor reading the MRI's and ONLY for that reason.
He explained that a doctor- he employed a dozen or so and had three centers- can scan an x-ray or image in 2 minutes with the contrast, and without contrast it would take about 3-4 minutes (his example).
Therefore, his doctors can do much more work in several hours by having the contrast used, rather than not. Since he is paying doctors (not cheap) by the hour, he saves dollars when contrast is used.
He assured me there was no other good reason to use contrast. It simply was easier for the docs reading the results with the contrast, but it can be done without.
Now, if you show up and try to tell the tech that on the day of the MRI you don't want the contrast, I'd bet money they will cause a big stink about it. (I've had this happen before). They think they know it all and some argue to the death about it. They've had me in tears over it.
You will need to get your doctor to write a script saying NO contrast before you go and when making the appointment you need to specify that.
I've also learned to say I am allergic to it, which is one of the few reasons they MAY accept it with out grumbling- but, they can still be a pig about it.
Be aware- I've actually had one really stubborn tech argue with me even when I did all that, and my ONLY recourse at the time was to say...
"OK, then you call the doctor (hand him a piece of paper from your pocket with the number on it) and YOU tell them you are refusing to follow their order."
That usually shuts them. Unfortunately, they want to act tough and boss you around, but when it comes to telling a doctor they aren't going to obey his/her order, that's a whole different story.
And if that happens, don't expect to get a Christmas card from the tech.
posted
Ironically, i have RA and am recovering from Lyme, and have a Small Fibre Neuropathy, and, I've had an MRI of my foot a couple of times with contrast.
They insist (and this is the Foot Ortho...uber specialist) that it allows them to assess much more accurately the synovial activity/progression (or not).
No idea if this is true but, this Dr is excellent, and i trust him. But with that, no gonna lie, i'm never happy about it (the contrast) but I've been Ok.
posted
I had an MRI with contrast a few years ago and it didn't SEEM to negatively affect me. This was for my feet, not my liver.
The nurses told me I could refuse the contrast. I was not happy about it since the doctor had not told me he was asking for contrast. (why would they want to tell you, right?)
But anyway, I let them do it. I probably will refuse in the future.
-------------------- --Lymetutu-- Opinions, not medical advice! Posts: 96222 | From Texas | Registered: Feb 2001
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posted
I had an MRI without contrast a couple of weeks ago. I asked the doctor's office if they could just use that one and the CT scan with iodine contrast I had in April after a car accident. I explained as best I could my concerns. They really don't want to understand and just want to do what is easiest for them, as you say Tincup. But they told me to get a release form for the MRI and they would run it by the doctor and see what he says. To me, if it is just a giant hemangioma, they aren't going to do anything about it anyway so it is not worth the risk. I am already full of lead that I can't get rid of.
Posts: 142 | From Midwest | Registered: Sep 2015
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posted
interesting; in our area (high tourism and recreation) there is a lot of competition between facilities. They def don't want you to just leave and go elsewhere.
They would def give it to me without contrast but wouldn't guarantee the accuracy of the 'read.'
posted
Hi all-I hope I am on the correct thread. I have chronic Lyme, and I have a very compromised CNS as a result of that. I also have stomach issues, for which my GI had me do an abdominal iodine contrast IV CT scan yesterday. They gave me a 50 mg dosage of Benadryl beforehand to prevent the possibility of an allergic reaction to the dye(which I have had once before). Today has been somewhat of a nightmare-I am shaking like a leaf , and I am having some rapid breathing as well. I am very scared that I may have made made my Lyme worse through the combination of the Benadryl/ the iodine dye/ and even the radiation itself. I am really hurting today -I am having a very hard time trying to calm down-I am very overstimulated. I am hoping this is a temporary situation. I may have to take something soon to relax nerves. Any response would be appreciated. Thanks .
Posts: 1 | From NY | Registered: Sep 2016
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