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dye for mri contrast, reactions?

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Posted 2/7/2015 5:18 PM (GMT 0)
Had mri earlier today w/ dye contrast , feeling super out of it still, can the dye cause lyme flares ,.. and more brain fog?
Posted 2/7/2015 5:44 PM (GMT 0)
I would say yes. The stress that's involved with getting an MRI, the stress on the body due to injection of an unnatural substance that it now has to detox back out all add up when you are really sick from Lyme like you are.
Posted 2/7/2015 7:47 PM (GMT 0)
After my failed back surgery I have had four not in the past year.I have never had a reaction at all so I think you will be fine.
Posted 2/8/2015 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
No reaction here.
Posted 2/8/2015 12:44 AM (GMT 0)
I had an mri with contrast (brain) months before my diagnosis and it was uneventful .

I dont like the fact that I had the dye injectef into my veins but I didnt react negatively to it.
Posted 2/8/2015 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
I started shaking violently after being injected with the dye. It lasted 5 minutes or so until they could put me into the machine.

The rest of the day I felt very out of sorts.


Also I had MRI's two different times about a month apart. The first time no contrast, 2nd time with contrast. Both times it felt like my left side of my face was being pulled on. That is the same side I had Bell's Palsy. The techs said they had never heard anyone say that before.
Posted 2/8/2015 3:15 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks all. ( sorry Girlie and ohiolyme ,that sounded rough) drinking more water and resting, feeling a bit better.
Posted 7/2/2016 5:33 PM (GMT 0)
I am about to have at CT SCAN of my abdomen done at the hospital, and I just drank two glasses of oral contrast. Gross tasting stuff-taste like cherry Chrytal light. Has anyone one of us Lyme sufferers done a Ct abdomen Scan with oral contrast( allergic to IV contrast-so I have to do oral contrast only), and if so what was your experience as it relates to the Lyme, if any.

Thanks,

rjb
Posted 7/2/2016 6:25 PM (GMT 0)
wellbeautifulspirit I would call and see if there was iodine in your contrast. If that was in the contrast you could be allergic to that.
Posted 7/2/2016 6:30 PM (GMT 0)
Pretty sure it was iodine-it's been about an hour since I drank the contrast-no reaction so far not the place I want to be on July 4th-butvoh well what can do.

Rjb
Posted 7/2/2016 7:16 PM (GMT 0)
I've noticed that I usually always feel a bit better after getting the contrast, apart from the common reactions most people get (warmth, slight burning in bladder, feeling like you gotta pee). I've figured it's probably the iodine, yeah.

Though, that usually goes out of the window as soon as I get in the MRI/CT scan things. They stir stuff up or something.
Posted 7/2/2016 7:26 PM (GMT 0)
I think I am getting a bit of a flare up, because the contrast I drank tasted very sugary, and as you know, sugar and Lyme don't mix. I am having abdomen, and I am wondering if it is related to the Lyme. My LLMD says that Lyme can cause stomach pain and nausea. They want to give me a painkiller. Waiting for results.

Rjb
Posted 7/2/2016 7:27 PM (GMT 0)
Bonnawanna, I had a cat scan in Jan. and don't remember any reaction. I had the oral contrast.

Wellbeautifulspirit, I have had MRI's in the past and they were uneventful. It may depend on the infections one is dealing with.
Posted 7/2/2016 7:32 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks
Posted 7/2/2016 7:49 PM (GMT 0)
Keep an eye on wherever the injection site was. I had a brain mri done 2 weeks ago and I herxed from it somewhat that evening. I joked about the bugs in my brain taking issue with the contrast material. But 2-3 days later my left hand and part of my arm ballooned painfully up. She had ended up injecting in the back of my left hand after several failed attempts in hitting an arm vein. I headed for google and learned that she had 'nicked' the artery and the contrast material infiltrated the surrounding area.

The top of my hand remained sore to the touch for several days after, until it was all completely absorbed.
Posted 7/2/2016 8:16 PM (GMT 0)
I have had that happen to me a couple of times, out of the many visits to the hospital over last two or three years. It's scary when you know the people in the ER by their first name, and they say welcome back when they see you. It nevervusedco be like this

Rjb
Posted 7/3/2016 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
All very interesting. This Friday I am having a test that could have used a contrast, however when I said to my cardiologist , "Oh we aren't going to use a contrast." He said, "No, I didn't think it would be good for you." Hmmm....so I guess he is somewhat Lyme/co literate. I'm glad that he at least took this into consideration as possibly not such a good thing for me at this time.
Posted 7/3/2016 3:44 PM (GMT 0)
I had no issues with contrast during my MRIs but detoxed helped!

-p
Posted 7/4/2016 3:53 PM (GMT 0)
Most of the time that I had to have MRI's and such where contrast was required, I didn't know that I had Lyme and so I didn't know why I always had a really rough next couple of days. I really don't remember enough to be able to determine if it was from a herx or a flare due to the contrast - either way, I felt bad!
Posted 9/5/2016 9:38 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all-I hope everyone is doing well. I had to go back to the ER again yesterday, as I have been experiencing some SERIOUS abdomen pains. My LLMD believes it is from the Lyme, and My GI thinks it is IBS, for which he wants to put me on something called Librax. On the STRONG recommendation from the ER doctor, I ended up doing an abdominal CT scan with IV Iodine contrast. Also, I was given a 50mg dose of Benadryl before the procedure, in order to prevent a possible allergic reaction from the contrast(which has happened to me before).The good news is that the results from the scan were for the most part OK, but I am feeling like a VERY TIRED and WIRED Zombie today. I wish I could turn back the clock and not have done the scan(as I had just had an oral contrast stomach CT done 2 months ago), but unfortunately that's not going to happen. I am wondering if it was the Benadryl/the Iodine/or the radiation itself(or a combination of everything) that has caused this intense flare up. I feel like I am having a 10 Martini hangover-without the fun, only the brain fog/the shakes and pain. I am hoping that this is just a short term bump in the road, because I am feeling REALLY bad right now-this may be an Epsom salt bath/Ativan night. I will await some feedback-I know that there are differing opinions regarding Benadryl and Lyme. Both of my LLMDs said that Benadryl is OK(not like steroids). I will never do another CT scan again(especially with contrast), unless I am in mortal jeopardy. I would appreciate any and all responses from fellow LYME brethren.

Thanks in advance,

rjb
Posted 9/6/2016 1:58 PM (GMT 0)
It's likely it was due to the dye and the radiation. We simply don't detox well, and those things are hard on the body.

A couple of years ago, I sliced my finger open pretty seriously on "something" in the trash (we still have to take our trash to the dump ourselves here) and had to get a tetanus shot as I could feel something "going wrong" in my body. I had no clue the ridden was in for after that shot. The only thing I could think of was to really dedicate myself to my detoxing. Fortunately, it helped after a few days.

I hope you feel better soon!
Posted 9/6/2016 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the input. I felt a little better last night after detoxing and Epsom salt bath-but I woke up this morning shaking pretty badly. I will detox again today.

There is always something with this insidious disease.

rjb
Posted 9/6/2016 3:12 PM (GMT 0)
Our bodies can become sensitive to the smallest of things at times while we are fighting these infections - at least that's been my experience. When I'm infected, if it's not absolutely necessary to use dyes and things for testing, I am careful to avoid them. I simply don't need anything to upset the balance I may have going on - and I certainly don't need to feel worse if I don't have that balance going on!

I hope that you continue to recover quickly - and I'm so sorry that you have had to get through this!
Posted 11/20/2016 5:30 PM (GMT 0)
I just had an EMG/NCS on Friday, and it revealed pretty severe Neuropathy in my leg(most likely from the Lyme). In addition to the Dr. Zhang's Chinese Herbal treatment that I have been doing for about 6 months, I am also starting to get weekly 1.25ml Bicillin shots as part of my overall Lyme treatment. I just did got my 4th shot this past Wednesday, and I have been having some REALLY INTENSE HERXING-shaky-tingling legs/rapid hyperventilating breathing/massive ANXIETY etc,. I am supposed to get a shoulder(probably non Lyme related) non contrast MRI today in about 4 hours, but I am wondering if I should postpone it, due to my existing strong symptoms . I have heard about Lymies feeling worse after an MRI, but I have also read about Lymies feeling better after an MRI. If anyone has any input on this topic-please weigh in as soon as you can. Thanks, rjb
Posted 11/20/2016 5:36 PM (GMT 0)
I would say that if you are herxing pretty seriously right now, I would be inclined to postpone it. If for no other reason than I don't want to sit around in a hospital waiting for an MRI when I feel horrid. I want to be at home where I can address whatever I need to address to feel better. Even without contrast, some Lyme patients have had reactions.
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