NO CONSTRAST

[Melissa072]

Hi everyone,

I'm due to go for repeat mri's early next year, and my neuro doesn't use contrast................................

It's a 3T machine this time, and I have to travel 12 hours to get this done, and want the best mri they can do.

Any advice on how I can get my mri done with contrast??????????

Also how long should a mri of brain and spine take, my last lot of mri's without contrast of brain and spine didn't take long at all.

I just hope they were all done proper.

I'm at my wits end, if my next mri on the 3T is normal what do I do then?

I've had a L.P. done Jan of this year, should I seek another one of them also?

[essdipity]

I had MRIs in June, brain and c-spine, with and without. It took an hour and 40 minutes on a 3T machine. I was actually stiff at the end.

ess

[Heather3418]

There is that 5% chance that you could have MS without lesions on brain or spinal MRI.  You would have to have some strong, convincing evidence of an abnormal physical Neurological exam and evidence of a relapsing/remitting course, to have any Neuro even think of MS as a cause for your symptoms.

It is thought that those 5% of cases with no lesions, will at some time in the disease process, have lesions finally appear.  There is also that possibility that your LP will stay negative until lesions appear.

As long as you have been tested thoroughly for other causes of your symptoms and MS mimics, a Neuro can diagnose you with MS on his exam and your history alone.  It's very rare for them to do that, so be prepared.

You CAN rule OUT MS, when other testing for mimics shows positive results.

Heather

[Melissa072]

If my next mri is normal, and I have my other reports and film with me and have even posted the reports before......
What and where do I go from there, if they are clear, or normal whatever you call it.

My L.P. last Jan was negative for 0 bands.
But my albumin was low, thats the only thing that was out of whack with the report, my neuro never mentioned it so it will be on my list of questions to ask this time.

Doesn't normal mri's and a negative L.P. make ms more unlikely?
So many on here get told they can rule ms out with normal tests, yet my neuro told me you can't??????????

[Melissa072]

Wow, 3 hours is a long time, if it takes that long I hope I can lie there for that long.

I will call his office tomorrow and ask for a referral with contrast, and use you as an example, it is a very long way for me, so I want the best mri I can get.

Thanx will let you know how I get on.

[Quixotic1]

Well, you can always tell your doctor (who apparently just never uses contrast) that a family friend, who is a doctor and has MS (that would be me.  Your family likes me okay, don't they?) recommended that contrast be used because that is the recommendation of the group that wrote up the MS MRI Diagnosis Protocol.  Request that he make an exception and order it.  Also tell him that you have to travel so far to get these MRIs that you want to make sure they are as thorough as possible.  Ask him if the order specified doing the MRI using the MS Protocol.

Imaging on the 3T machines takes longer.  I always have my brain and entire spine done in one setting.  It takes just over 3 hours.

Quix

[Melissa072]

Thanx guys.

I do have all my reports and my L.P. was negative.

I have no new symptons but still have tingling coming and going and I burn a lot in my back and am still dizzy.

Melissa

[burbanchick]

Hey!  ask for the contrast, you have that right.  Be an advocate of your own health care.  As for the length of time of the scan, each area generally takes about 30minutes in my experience.  3T scanners are supposed to be a bit faster...I have only worked on a 1.5T so I can't be accurate.  Hope this helps!  Good luck.

[doni54]

I can't add much more to what Sarah's mom and Shelly have said.  I agree you really do need to ask for contrast.

I was told by the techs that did my brain MRI, that the spine MRI, with and without contrast would take at least 3 hrs.  I don't know what others experience is, that is just what I was told.  Haven't had my spine MRI yet, so can't speak from experience.

Shelly is exactly right about getting your records, this is very important.

Hope you continue to talk to us about what's is happening with you, we're here to help you get through all this and give suggestions when you need us to.

doni

[sllowe]

I agree with Sarah's Mom.  Just ask for the contrast. Sometimes they have to battle with your insurance, but Drs offices are use to this and know how to get it approved.

Do you have copies of your reports so far? That has to be 1st order of the day. Since you are not getting lined up for the new imaging until next year. You do have time to get to the office, obtain the copies of your file so far.

If you do this while at an appointment, you don't even have to ask the Dr.  Just ask the office staff at the beginning of your appointment. You can say "I forgot to get copies of my reports last time. Can you copy them for me so they are ready when I leave?"

If you do not have one lined up then just call them and arrange it. If they give you the run around, tell them you'll stop by to get them to make it easier for them (humor them).

Please let us know what you've already had so far, it will help us help you get a few good questions lined up.

ttys,
Shell

[Sarahsmom46]

That's good that you are getting the opportunity to have your next follow-up will be on a 3T MRI.  If you want contrast, ask your doctor. There is no risk in asking other than he might ask you why you want it, but I doubt he will. They know they should use contrast especially if it has been awhile since your last one.  

What were the results of your last LP?  

Are you have any new symptoms right now?  I ask because my neuro said he would do another LP if my f/u MRI didn't show any new lesions, but because I started having new and increased symptoms then he said they can do a another LP to see if more bands show up.  See what you doctor thinks about doing another one since he didn't bring it up.  

Take care,

Julie