(Gadolinium is a metallic chemical element which is classified in the rare earth metals. According to the FDA website it is a "paramagnetic metal ion". Gadolinium contrast agents generally provide better diagnostic information during an MRI than without contrast, but it is not necessary.)About a year ago Jason was having pain in his hand; his doctor thought it could be carpal tunnel or tendonitis and suggested that Jason get an MRI. "Not knowing what to do, I had the MRI about six months ago," says Jason.
"They injected my vein in the joint of my arm with gadolinium just before I was to have the MRI," Jason explains. "I started shaking severely and my heart started to hurt. My chest felt tight and I had a strange warm sensation—it really scared me. The radiologist went through with the MRI even though I was shaking. I told him about my symptoms (there was no doctor present) and he just instructed me to go home and relax. Instinctively I drank lots of water when I got home, trying to flush this chemical out of my system.
But the symptoms didn't go away. I understand they are supposed to go away within 24 hours so I called my doctor the next day and told him about the side effects I was experiencing from this gadolinium contrast agent. My primary care doctor had never heard of this happening before. But I knew I had symptoms from this injection. I showed him these hot spots on my body—my stomach and my heart. He sent me to a gastrologist and she thought I had Wilson's disease, where copper accumulates in tissues, and that can cause a warm feeling in the stomach. I got a blood test for this disease and of course it was negative. I had about 20 more blood tests, even though I told them specifically what had caused these symptoms—the gadolinium contrast agent.
All the tests came back normal except that my liver enzymes were elevated. Before I had the MRI these levels were normal—I had blood tests that same day. How could they rise within a few days?
Now I find it painful to walk; I have these warm sensations in my legs. I don't know what to do because my doctors don't believe these side effects were caused by this contrast agent. I recently tried to get a biopsy because I discovered there is a test you can get to determine if you have NSF. The doctor said I can get the test but I need a referral from dermatology—they are the ones who scrape the skin for the biopsy. I have been trying to get an appointment for about a month now. I call the doctor and he is supposed to give the referral to dermatology but they don't respond. Or the doctor is not sending the referral—I am speculating here, but maybe he is afraid of a lawsuit because he ordered the MRI. So that is where I am now."
At this time Jason doesn't exhibit classic NSF symptoms, but no one can explain why he is having these sensations that occurred immediately after his MRI and why they have not gone away.
READ MORE GADOLINIUM LEGAL NEWS
According to researchers NSF is linked to gadolinium in patients with advanced kidney disease, but NSF is such a new, man-made disease that there isn't much known about it. "I don't think there is enough known about gadolinium and NSF for my doctor and other specialists to dismiss me," says Jason.
(Researchers reported in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation (2009;24:856-863) that among patients with advanced kidney disease, NSF was 27 times more likely to develop in patients exposed to gadolinium than in those not exposed to these agents.)
READER COMMENTS
Tracy Williams
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Bernadette I
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CAWS
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Colly
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They explained that I had the reaction and that my veins had started pooling which in turn caused my heart to slow down eventually I would have gone into cardiac arrest. The Iv and the adrenaline had brought me round. They kept me over night did some blood tests everything came back ok. It was the scariest thing I have ever gone through and I was told never to get that type of dye again , it's only 48 hrs later but still feel terrible and my head is still sore, was told I'd feel bad for a couple of days. Was told after that I didn't need the dye for my scan but that they charge extra when u go private ,they never explained any thing about side effects or a possible reaction. I will post again in a couple weeks if I get any more side effects but hopefully not.
RODNEY R WIEBUSCH
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noe my face around mouth and nose an forhead turn red the turns to dry skin then it falls off. the wose of it it keeps coming back and no one will admit it was the iv dy reaxcktion and all skin care does not help. now others think i have something bad. and being a man shaving the bad skin is a night mare. and trying to grow a beard is even wose becase it erups under the beard. what a night mare. i have many cat scans and mri i and never had this reacting before. at 66 years old i hate tomarrow living with this.
Pamela Bennett
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Dee Allen
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I had an MRI with contrast and without contrast yesterday at the hospital in Florida and almost died. Without the contrast I was perfectly ok. But with contrast I had a bad allergic reaction and it felt like my heart and chest was going to explode. Next, my air supply was cut off and I couldnt breathe. I tried to notify them but I couldnt breathe and felt like I was losing consciousness. I was stuck in the machine and the MRI machine was too loud for them to hear me. Then I tried to grab the blue emergency squeezer but I couldn't reach it because they wrapped me too tight in blackets because it was cold in the MRI room and the squeezer was wrapped and mixed up in the blanket. Finally, as a last effort, I somehow found the strength to reach again to locate the panic squeezer and pushed it. By then i was in respiratory distress. The radiologist tech came in and I couldnt say MUCH because i couldnt breathe. He pressed code blue and 2 ppl came in to assist. Finally, they got me up off my back and then I was still gasping for air and they just kept saying are u ok, are u ok? They never went to get a real doctor to access my respiratory problem. Finally, they sat me up off my back, I got a little air and then vomitted 3 times. My breathing was still off and they asked me how I felt? I felt really ill and my breathing was still not right. After about 5 minutes they put me back in the machine to finish the last 3 images.They said it would take 2 minutes, so I took their advice to go back in.
After it was finished, I informed them that I felt REALLY sick and could not breathe. He took the IV out of my arm and said I would be ok, that my breathing will come back to normal in a few hours. But he was wrong. When I got home I felt even worse! My breathing got worser, my vision was blurred in one eye and MY HEART BEGAN TO SKIPPED BEATS AND FLUTTER. I called my friend and dad because I felt like I was going to die again, the same way I felt during the MRI. They told me to get a ride to the ER. When I got to the ER I was in respiratory distress. They ask me what happened and I told them. They asked me where did I get the MRI and I told them this same hospital. The doctor looked at me and ask" WHY DID YOU GO HOME AFTER THE MRI after experiencing not being able to breathe? I said I told the Radiologist that I felt really sick and could not breathe. But they sent me home anyway without a doctor seeing me while I was having respiratory problems.The doctor looked at me strange and different nurses came in asking me questions. Then one nurse said well did u eat seafood? I said no ma'am I'm vegetarian and have been for many years. She looked at me strange, then 2 more ppl came in asking me questions and documenting things on the computer screen. The doctor gave me a steroid and benadryl via IV to reverse the reaction and sent me home with those prescriptions. The doctor's diagnosis was respiratory distress due to an allergic from the MRI. They ran blood work, I guess to see if I had any street drugs or anything in my system. I'm a college Professor and have not ever used any street drugs, so of course that came back negative.
Last night, after I got back home my vision was still blurry and laid my heart began to skip beats and flutter AGAIN! I GOT UP BECAUSE I WAS SCARED I WOULD DIE IN MY SLEEP. SO I DIDNT GO BACK TO SLEEP.Im scared to go to sleep and have been up ever since. I still feel sick, my vision is still blurry and my heart is fluttering. My breathing is a little off still. And I have alot of pain in my stomach and legs. My throat is very dry and burning and I have a funny taste in my mouth.
Please help! I was perfectly fine until I got this MRI with contrast.
I need advice on what to do. I thank you in advance, for your assistance into this matter.
Tyani H
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Has anyone had these symptoms? Have your systems related to your brain improved or worsened? Has anyone's symptoms improved? Has anyone done anything that has helped improve your health from that it's in after this contrast reaction? Please let me know. Tyfani . Hafley @ yahoo . Com
I really worried I will be blind, dumb and I won't be able to enjoy life with my kids and family. Trying to stay positive and pray.
Tyfani Hafley
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Severe heavy chest like elephant say on my chest. Chills, numbness in my arms, back and neck. Veins twinning with pain non stop 72 hours and counting. Severe shortness of breath can not breath as I was normally prior to MRI injection of contrast. Feeling nauseated, dizzy, and severe indigestion. All my veins on my legs, feet, behind knees, hands and arms are twitching or throbbing. I have red rashes on my limbs, white splotchy marks down my legs and ankles.
I did not have any of these symptoms prior to MRI. The only pain I had was isolated to my cyst on my left upper flank and my left ovary.
How can I detox this mineral out of my stark it's almost been 4 days still having symptoms. I called ambulance they said no one develops any symptoms other then vomit reaction to MRI. To drive myself back to ER. I was treated with MEI at sharp memorial hospital in San Diego ca 5/26/16 doctor. To view my cyst if it had ruptured reason for use of MRI. Can someone help?
Ronald Field
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Vath
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I had a lumbar puncture over a year ago and had a post lumbar puncture headache. Neurologist was very surprised. Said I was the first patient in 6 years to get one. Then I had an epidural blood patch to stop the headache. Was agony. Sore back since then. Suddenly my headache came back and it's taken them 4 months to agree that my symptoms are from a CSF leak. Had to wait another month for MRI. I refuse to let them inject me with the contrast dye. I'm asthmatic, get hay fever and have food allergies. Not worth the risk as far as I'm concerned. They can still do your scan. Last one I had radiologist told me I did a great job of staying still and they got great pictures.....without the dye.
Radiologist today was a bit nippy about me not giving them permission to inject me. Her problem not mine.
Keith Harmon
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Any ideals? I'll try anything! I'm in misery!!
Diana
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Directly after the injection, my sinuses began to swell to where I couldn't breathe through my nose. I could feel my palate begin to swell. I told her that I was having trouble breathing. She asked, "what do you mean you're having trouble breathing." I stated the same again. She asked the same question about my breathing. I could feel as though I was going to sneeze due to a tickling in my nose. I thought, If I sneeze, I'm going to smack my head on the top of the cylinder of the MRI machine. As you know, when one sneezes, the head normally goes forward. In a split second all of these crazy things are going through my mind. I did sneeze, trying to press the back of my head towards the table, as I'm squeezing the rubber apparatus we're given to use when we need to immediately be removed from the machine to indicate a problem. Again, the girl asked me the same question about my breathing. I didn't answer.
She finally pulls me back from the machine. My heart is racing and I'm sweating. She gets a nurse. The nurse looks into my mouth and my palate is red as is the back of my throat. She denotes swelling. I could hear the nurse asking the tech if she should give me a shot of epinephrine. She doesn't. After a few minutes the nurse asks me how I'm feeling. I do feel better. She stops the testing but I actually think she finished prior to removing me from the machine. I think that's what took her so long. She wanted to finish the test.
The nurse told me to get dressed and then wait in another room for about an hour. She wanted to make sure I was able to drive home. I then assumed I must have been going into anaphylactic shock. I thought, that girl could have killed me. The only thing I did was tell my Dr. to mark my chart about the allergic reaction to the gadolinium. No one told me about Wilson's Disease nor did anyone do a follow up. I learned about Wilson's disease on this site. I'm going to read about it.
Several yrs. later, I'm now scheduled for an MRI for cervical pain w/contrast. I'm not even going to try the contrast again. I've read that gadolinium really isn't necessary for any MRI. I've learned much by reading this blog. I been told by doctors and techs alike that they've never heard of a reaction to gadolinium. Maybe they should review this blog, too. Thank all of you for taking the time to explain your experiences.
Tim Ashbrook
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Edie
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Donna
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Well i had my MRI last year and had a reaction to the dye. Immediately after injection of the dye i had a tiggle in my throat. No one said i had a reaction or anything. I just drank lots of fluids.
I was suppose to have my yearly MRI again. So i called my doctor to let them know if i should take any pre med prior to my next MRI, but no return from them. So today, i was suppose to have my MRI done today. when i went to have it done, they ask the regular questions and i told them of my last reaction and if i should take the benadryl i brought with me. They responded and said they couldn't do the MRI because since my last reaction, i might have a serious reaction to where i would loose my airway------WOW that scared the crap out of me. she said i would have to take "pre meds" 13 hours prior to my next test. well, after reading all these comments and i'm hypersensitive to medications to begin with i think i would rather not take this test unless it is without contrast.
i asked the techs if they can do it without contast and they said NO----
why doenst anyone or doctors want to listen to us with the reactions we have. why cant we have the test without contrast?????
thanks everyone for listening. maybe someday with all the technology we have, there will be a better way to diagnosis without contrast
Amy
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I have a history of hypersensitivity to a LOT of things, so for that reason, I do not take medications unless absolutely necessary.
Kim Condrin
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SSpence
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Suzanne
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CEW
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My MRI was done on the LEFT side of my brain, I'd been having some intense pains that came briefly for a few days over about 1o years. I'd an MRI prior to this for the same reason about 8 years before, but there was no contrast. This time there was..... within 48 hours my hair was falling out on the right side of my head, for 2 years I walked around looking like Olivia Newton John,with a head band & desitin slathered all over my forehead. I had what looked like poison oak across my forehead. I mentioned the MRI to 2 dermatologists and a GP. NOT A ONE OF THEM EVEN GRUNTED!! NO ONE EVEN RESPONDED!
Prior to the MRI I had perfect beautiful skin! never had a break out, NOW.. I have lesions all over my face and neck, back, arms and breasts....yellow crusts and chronic itching, itching so intense I want to cut my skin off... have flushing of intense heat that swessl through me. I am SO stiff everywhere. especially in my hips. I am losing the use of my left leg...
Its infuriating TO KNOW YOUR BODY, hear it speak to you, tell you.... hmmm... something was not right from this moment on...and NOT HAVE A SINGLE DOCTOR EVEN CONSIDER THE ISSUE.
I have days where I feel suicidal the pain is overwhelming.. the itching and the heat.. I have all kinds of food allergies now. My life has changed forever!
I'm pretty sure the contrast they used on me has been pulled from the market... what do these things do to those who have the RH factor... no sheathing over our red blood cells... medicine is a business and gamble...anyone who thinks we are all so alike that the only persons who get sick are ones who have pre existing kidney issues is foolish... I tell everyone I know.. the term "contrast" is just a cover for nuclear waste!
If they had told any of us up front that this was not from shellfish.. or it was a heavy metal ON THE BOTTOM OF THE PERIODIC TABLE OF ELEMENTS! I for one would have never had it done.WARN EVERY ONE YOU KNOW.
Justin
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Lynda Goodger
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Could this be a reaction to the contrast? I have been put on broad spectrum antibiotics
Julie Shwartz
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Try to see if there is the food that is making you sick since i have a similar problem for many months and doctors dont tell me what to do but i realize that yeast is making the pimples worse also for me taking like an anti allergy pill like claritin helps, and not eating any gluten. It may be a good idea for you to go to an allery specialistto see if you can see what food is making you sick then you will try to cure your self go with natural medicine and holistic approach.
Best of luck. I hope you get better soon.
Julie
Chris Calerra
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I had a mild allergic reaction and strong side effects to GADOVIST (which is arguable the safest mri contrast). I couldn't sleep for 2 days, my blood pressure was crashing, I felt pins and needles all through out my body, I felt extremity sick and unwell, I would never repeat that again. I drank allot of fluids but it wasn't until the second day 48 hours after the injection that I started to feel better, and the symptoms subsided.
I do feel like my body has been poisoned ever since, it certainly doesn't feel 100% normal, but I've come a really long way from that day. I had 100% perfect renal function, with no prior kidney injury.
Don't do it, just skip it. Get a test without a contrast, see what it shows first. You can always get another test later with if you REALLY have to.
Sylvia Thompson
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Rose
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http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1097889-overview
Cathy
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Maryanne
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BFloyd
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Fact is Lennie is wrong , it CAN affect people with non renal issues and the FDA knows it. Please report your symptoms to the FDA ASAP.
If a Rad acts like he's never heard or seen of it , he's full of it.
Phoenix
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Colleen
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Marilyn
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Joe C
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Bettie R. Gill
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Kevin
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Lennie
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NSF has only been identified as gadolinium caused in patients with severe kidney failure. Glomerular Filtration Rate <30. The scenerio being explained here is extremely unusual. Certain candidates should have a blood test prior to a contrast MRI. If the GFR is above 30 and there has not been a recent liver transplant or kidney injury, it is very likely perfectly safe to have a Gad injection. An allergic reaction is very rare and would be treated by the clinicians on site.
Nikki
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I can't seem to find anyone with my weird reaction. I had my first contrast dye 9 days ago and I have no appetite, no thirst and that weird metallic taste is constant in my mouth. I usually chug back two litres of water a day, and nothing else I'm an avowed health freak, but now even pumpkin pie and donuts are tasteless. I hope it passes soon. I will force myself to drink water. I don't feel naseous. I do feel a bit stiff and tired but I'm glad if the dye shows better results, I don't regret having been injected.
Alice
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They told me it was not a reaction to the dye but rather, that I was having a panic attack. This was not a panic attack. When you have a panic attack your heart races. My heart rate was 53.
I shook uncontrollably for a least 4 hours straight, then off and on for the next 24 hours. I spent 5 1/2 hours in the emergency room under observation. I really wished they would have listened to me about the dye. I wished they would have given me a simple drip to help wash it out of my system. I had trouble even getting something to drink while I was there.
When I got home I forced liquids and anytime I let up on drinking fluids, I got more jittery. I stayed jittery, shaky and had a terrible headache until Tuesday, that's 5 days I was profoundly affected by the contrast dye.
I talked to my doctor's nurse and she is under the impression that the only
'legitimate" reaction to the contrast dye is diarrhea and throwing up.
The medical profession has so much to learn. Because we do not fit the norm, our reactions are not deemed as being true reactions to the dye.
Bea
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What hospital did jason visit ?
Bea