Lisa

I felt a little sick as they injected the dye, but I've also been feeling a little sick whenever I get a blood test lately.

This is before I had a lyme DX, but I suspected Lyme.

I asked to speak to the radiologist on duty and he said "according to the FDA it is safe"

Yeah well, I don't really trust the FDA. So I asked what exactly it does. He said it shows the spots better IF there are spots. They can tell more about the spots.

So I asked "well what if there are no spots?" He said " if there are any spots at all they will show without the contrast. If there are no spots there is nothing for the gadolinium to enhance."

So, we first did the test without the contrast. They usually do it both ways. First without, then with.

So after doing it without he came and talked to me. He said it was so clean and normal that if it were him he would skip the second part. So I did. He also said " the FDA approved nutrasweet and anyone who knows anything about chemical compounds would not get near the stuff." So apparently he doesn't trust the FDA either.

He had to say it was safe as he works for the hospital. But he was insinuating that its really not that good.

Now, you gotta know........this really pissed my doctor off (the one who exclued Lyme based on a negative test)beacuse she ordered it without and with contrast.

She would not return my calls and well that was just as well. Asshole!

All that being said, if you had spots on a previous MRI then maybe contrast would be better....... Like everything else..... it depends on the situation.

My point was, I didn't want it if it was not necessary. In another siuation I may allow it. I just did'nt want crap injected into me that I didn't need. I mean I am trying to get rid of the toxins, not add to them.

Ya know dentists are still putting mercury in peoples mouths's. We spray our food with poison, etc., etc. We nuke ourselves with cell phones at our head.

Bet your sorry ya got me started, huh?

I keep all unatural substances out of and off of my body to the best of my abitlity.
If some one can convince me something unnatural is necessary and the benefit outweighs the cost them I may do it.

Ok, well gotta go smoke a cig......... kidding.........

They stick you in the tube and you can't move. It's loud, but it only took 20-30 min to do my head.

They stick you in for most of the time, then at the end, pull you out, inject you, and then bake you for another 10 mins or so.

Some people say the contrast makes them feel sick or woozy. It didn't do anything to me. And nothing later either.

So, yes I was having head problems..... physical and cognitive.

It was interesting to note that before the contrast was administered, I was "entertaining" myself looking at the patterns moving on the back of my closed eyelids. After they injected the gadolinium, the patterns went away completely, leaving a "blank screen" for the remainder of the test.

I developed a heat rash-like rash on my chest as a result of the MRI. I was a little woozy, but did manage to drive home after the test. After subsequent MRIs without contrast, I learned that I just seem to get a rash from the MRI for some odd reason, not from the contrast.

The thing about gadolinium contrast is that no one else's experience can predict yours. Apparently some people have an adverse reaction to it, though most don't. Not sure how you would tell until you tried it.

i think i might try robi's way..see how it goes without, and ask if i need it with....

quote:

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Originally posted by lla2:
well i know the dye doens't cross the bbb..so that 's good, that makes me feel alittle bit better about it...

i think i might try robi's way..see how it goes without, and ask if i need it with....

Lisa

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Hi Lisa,

If the dye doesnt' cross the bbb and you need an MRI of the brain what is the purpose of the contrast?

Jordan always has a bad headache and some dizziness and it didn't make that worse.

His films were clear. Then he had a CT with contrast. That was clear also.

I still think part of Jordan's problem is increased intracranial pressure.

I am very sensitive to meds, etc, and I had
gadolinium injected when I had a Hida Scan.
You can also protect yourself a bit by taking two tablespoons of dye-free Benedryl,
one Zantac (drug allergist recommended 150 mg, but I took 75) and your Klonopin. My drug allergist recommended this to me, along with predisone, but I always skipped the steriod.

She advised me to take this 6 hours before,
or one hour before. I did six for the Hida
as I couldn't have anything in the gut.

i will try the benedryl, and maybe do .5mg of klonopin to help me relax.

i called dr. jone's office today and they use the contrast when they order the tests as well..they say it's harmless and no prblems with lyme patients....

HOw are you ? HOw are you feeling/? been thinking about you lately....

thanks to all that answered.. a great help to me ..I really appreciate it.