MRI Tomorrow

Tomorrow morning is my MRI and I'm a basket case lol I know I shouldn't be but I really do not like the feeling I get from the contrast. As if sticking me in that darn machine isn't bad enough then they want to stick me with a needle... THEN the terrible feeling from contrast. Last time I had a terrible panic attack because of it. No one told me these odd feelings could happen lol Had I known I might not have panicked like I did. As soon as it hit my arm my arm got cold, I got all flushed feeling, sweaty and cold and ugh I did not like it. Then I thought I was going to get sick on top of it.

I have to drive myself so I can't take anything to calm me down before I go (although I should anyhow!). All these terrible things race through my head. I don't want an IV, the butterfly is bad enough!!! My poor arm is so black and blue from having blood taken on Monday. I don't want these stupid feelings from the contrast lol

Has anyone had these terrible feelings from contrast but later at another time they didn't? Ugh sooo hoping tomorrow goes much better then the last one. Been telling myself it's nothing to worry about shesh no matter how icky it feels I will be fine and of course I know this but I still have myself a total mess over it :(

[COBOB]

X-ray contrast (Iodine based contrast) makes me feel pretty sick.  I don't even notice the Gadolinium contrast.    Compared to the 3-5 day runs of IVSM, the IV for the MRI is a minor thing.  .  

I always ask my doc for Valium.  There is no reason to be anxious or uptight for a 30-40 min scan.

Bob

[tripnstumble]

I have only had MRI contrast and assume it's all the same? I don't know. I was just told last time it was MRI w/contrast... same thing this time :)

I know I shouldn't be nervous or get myself all worked up but I do. I'm such an emotional basket case over everything anymore. My poor husband can't even tell me I did something wrong and I cry lol

I think it just effected me like it did last time because no one informed me of these odd feelings I could feel. Maybe this time I'll be more calm knowing it's coming. I sure hope so. Then it'll be all done and over with and I'll say "Oh, it wasn't that bad" :)

[zenhound]

I didn't have a major reaction to the MRI contrast. Maybe some slight feeling of warmth as it traveled up the arm. The one that gets me is the CT contrast. I really felt like I had peed my pants, it was very upsetting. Thankfully she had warned me that I would feel flushing so I knew I probably hadn't peed myself. That wasn't flushing, though, as far as I'm concerned.

Hope it goes well and you have no reaction. For me things are usually less awful than I make them in my mind.

[tripnstumble]

Well zenhound, I'm glad to hear you had that odd feeling of peeing yourself cause that is pretty much the odd feeling I had lol. I do know whatever I felt down there I did not like one bit!!! That is when she said it was flushing... didn't feel like no flushing I ever felt. And then because of that very odd, strange feeling I think it what gave me the anxiety attack. Ugh that was a very terrible feeling.

All I know is my last one was an MRI, is it possible they gave it with the CT contrast? Hmmm guess I'll find out tomorrow. At least this time I know what odd feelings I might get. Oh it would be nice not to and before I know it, it'll be all over lol

[sadie405]

It's a little fuzzy in my memory, because I didn't have any kind of extreme reaction, but I remember I was expecting something different the second time I had gadolinium, based on the first time, and instead I felt nothing. So hopefully second time's the charm!  Don't you hate anticipating these scans in general?

Best,
Sadie

[COBOB]

X-ray (CT is a type of X-ray) contrast is an Iodine based radiopaque substance.  MRI contract is a paramagnetic metallic compound.  They do  has some similar preservatives and with many drugs (like dental Novocaine) people are not allergic to the drug, but the preservatives.   There are different manufactures of GAD contrast preparations.

Bob