MRI Contrast

I have to get an MRI next week to look for fistula tracts after my colorectal surgeon found some signs last month. For the MRI I have to get the gadolinium dye and I'm worried that it's toxic. My GI doc says the dye is needed because they are looking at really small details.

Has anyone here had a bad reaction to the dye? I'm reading stuff online that says as of 2015 there is research showing that gadolinium stores in the brain, bones and other soft tissue and can cause long-term issues in some people.

I'm really nervous about more toxic stuff being put in me, but I feel this scan can help to figure out a lot about my disease. It can also tell me how far gone my bowel wall is.

Could anyone share their thoughts about this with me?

Over the years I have had 3 different ones & never had a problem. I have to agree with Beave, getting to & from the place is probably going to be riskier. I would have the test to find out what’s going on in there.

Take care.

I spent so much time freaking out about having to get dye and when I got there they told me that they didn't need dye to look for fistula tracts. I was so relieved. It's weird because my GI doctor told me ahead of time that the dye was necessary, but then the radiologist said no? Well anyway I am happy that the end result was so harmless!

Yesterday I did not get any dye but I still felt hot in the area that was being scanned, which was my pelvis. It's a powerful magnetic machine so it's bound to cause something like that to happen.

On the websites that talk about gadolinium poisoning, people say it feels like being on fire and that it's long-term. I feel perfectly fine today despite feeling warm after the MRI. Like I said, I didn't have any dye though.