Reaction to contrast

[XUSNORDIE]

Yesterday evening I had a Brain MRI with and without contrast. I've had many MRIs/Scans with contrast injections. This is my second Brain MRI, last was almost 20 years ago.

Contrast sometimes made me feel a bit off. You always feel it going in, the warm feeling, the smell/taste in your mouth, etc. Sometimes, much later, usually on the drive home or when I got home I would feel nauseous and have a slight headache. A nap would cure it. No biggie.

Last evening they pulled me out of the tube after the first part, and injected the contrast into the IV port. The smell and metallic taste appeared, but didn't feel the typical warmth. Soon as they got me back in the tube my face suddenly felt flush, and I became extremely nauseous and thought for sure I was going to vomit or crap myself. I have never come so close to squeezing that little ball to stop the procedure. When it was done and the Techs took off the face plate I must have looked white as a sheet. Everything was spinning. They helped me to a sitting position. Had to sit there awhile. Tech was apologizing stating he may have pushed the saline/contrast in too fast. I don't think so. It would have stung or burned. They helped me to the locker to retrieve my clothes, and put a chair in the restroom for me to get changed. I sat in there for 10 min before I could get dressed. When I finally came out, a Tech was there ensuring I was OK, gave me a barf bag for the drive home and walked me to the lobby. I almost thought about sitting down again, but made it to my car. I sat in there for another 10 min prior to heading home...about a 25 min drive. I got home sat in my chair, sipped on some water, and slept. Wife woke me up and it was time for bed. Slept like a rock last night.

I have never had a reaction to contrast like that. Anyone else have that happen?

 

[XUSNORDIE]

This is what they used:

• gadobenate dimeglumine (MULTIHANCE) Last given 10/23/2024 5:46 PM

 

[Mobuck]

I had 'dye' injected prior to surgery to repair the damage to my neck/face/jaw done by shrapnel but I was in such bad shape I didn't notice much about the physical effects. :(

 

[mr surveyor]

Back in 2016, during my unfortunate experience, I had the brain MRI done. Same two trips through the tube - one without the dye and the second with the dye. Actually went through it twice during that time period .... not a fun way to spend 15-20 minutes per ride through the tube. Fortunately, my reaction to the dye was almost exactly as the technician had advised me - mainly letting me to expect that I was taking a leak, and a mild tingle/burning sensation. My main concern was whether I'd survive the ride without having a shorted out cranial nerve seizure.

jd

 

[woodsy]

I am allergic to the contrast dyes, and I let every doc and nurse know about them right up front.

 

[RC44Mag]

Had it done 3-4 times over the years and the only side effect I can remember is that almost immediate taste in my mouth. My memory sucks so i could have had similar effects but none that come to mind. Hope all is well and they right the ship with your issue.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I had 'dye' injected prior to surgery to repair the damage to my neck/face/jaw done by shrapnel but I was in such bad shape I didn't notice much about the physical effects. :(

I've had a ton of XRAY, MRI and CT SCAN. They always ask on the forms if you have any metal devices/etc...the list for me grows every time.
Last night prior to putting the IV in the Tech asked me again as he reviewed the list. Then he looked at my shirt, I was wearing a Navy "AO Masters of Disaster" shirt (getting worn out, can't get another those anymore sadly), and he saw my Magpul phone case. My hands are heavily scarred, and I have a "Frankenstein" looking scar from top of my head down to my eyebrow. He asked me again if there was anything in my body that I wasn't born with ...I answered yep, titanium plate and six screws in my neck, titanium pins in my lower back, and titanium in my right knee. He specifically asked about shrapnel (there is a wide definition to some of what it actually is). I laughed and told him no shrapnel.... way back then I could out run it. :ROFLMAO:

Most folks associate "shrapnel" with a military injury. I have a buddy that still has shrapnel in him after attempts to remove it all. He didn't serve in the military or was ever in that type of situation. However he was on a work site where a propane tank exploded. They couldn't get it all out. When he tells people he has shrapnel in him everyone immediately thanks him for his service. He then tells them he was awarded the HHCM..... Hank Hill Commendation Medal :ROFLMAO:

Back in 2016, during my unfortunate experience, I had the brain MRI done. Same two trips through the tube - one without the dye and the second with the dye. Actually went through it twice during that time period .... not a fun way to spend 15-20 minutes per ride through the tube. Fortunately, my reaction to the dye was almost exactly as the technician had advised me - mainly letting me to expect that I was taking a leak, and a mild tingle/burning sensation. My main concern was whether I'd survive the ride without having a shorted out cranial nerve seizure.

jd

Same. The worst thing about the brain MRI is you can't listen to music since the earphones wouldn't fit in the head gear. I never got the taking a leak thing...usually just the warm feeling. This time was very different.

I am allergic to the contrast dyes, and I let every doc and nurse know about them right up front.

They always ask. I tell them no, but sometimes I get mild headache and nausea....but now I think I will tell them I'm possibly allergic. By now you'd think I'd immune to the stuff unless it was something different this time.

Had it done 3-4 times over the years and the only side effect I can remember is that almost immediate taste in my mouth. My memory sucks so i could have had similar effects but none that come to mind. Hope all is well and they right the ship with your issue.

I've had it too many times to the point I should be glowing in the dark. Still waiting on results. Usually hits the online patient portal shortly after but nothing yet.....thanks....the ship is at least afloat for now

 

[woodsy]

Allergies, to anything, can appear later in life. My wife, when she turned 73 or so, became allergic to shrimp (!). Lab tests confirmed it, after she had a couple of distressing dinners.

 

[RC44Mag]

Allergies, to anything, can appear later in life. My wife, when she turned 73 or so, became allergic to shrimp (!). Lab tests confirmed it, after she had a couple of distressing dinners.

My SIL at about 30 got pretty bad allergic reactions to shrimp out of the blue for about 5 years or so. Her face and skin would bright red, blotchy and itchy but since she really loved eating the little bugs she would take a little nibble here and there and slowly her body built up a tolerance and now she can eat a small plate of them without issue and she does.
Can’t explain it or recommend that for others but worked for her, saw it my own eyes.

 

[mr surveyor]

could you imagine becoming allergic to coffee?

 

[jimbo1096]

I’ve never experienced the nausea with the contrast dies. I have several of the other symptoms. But now I can’t have anything that puts a strain on my kidney so dies are a no-no. I wonder what they do when they can’t use it.

 

[mr surveyor]

I've never experienced the nausea with the contrast dies. I have several of the other symptoms. But now I can't have anything that puts a strain on my kidney so dies are a no-no. I wonder what they do when they can't use it.

brings a whole new meaning to the word dye .... die

tough situation to deal with


jd

 

[Hankus]

I developed an allergy to peppers (Bell, jalapeño, etc) around age 40. I never was much of a fan(when my mother made stuffed peppers I would peel the pepper off and eat the stuffing), but I loved spicy foods. I really got a taste for spicy foods serving several tours in Korea in the ‘80s and ‘90s. I was even at the first Hooters several nights the first week it was open and could tear up a plate of their Three Mile Island wings, with lots of beer to wash them down.
I was at a wedding reception in 2004 and ate a slice of pepper jack cheese and my lips started itching and swelling, and they itched and split, taking 10 days to heal. The allergy progressed to the point where I can’t even eat a bowl of chili made without peppers, only containing chili powder … . I’ve dealt with that for twenty years now.

 

[wildwilly]

I've never experienced the nausea with the contrast dies. I have several of the other symptoms. But now I can't have anything that puts a strain on my kidney so dies are a no-no. I wonder what they do when they can't use it.

They put you on a IV for about half a day before they do the tests.I can’t remember what it called.Had it done twice go in the morning get hooked up do the tests in the afternoon it makes for a long day

 

[Acorn]

I had the contrast and as I was on the table I got a very warm feeling in my crotch.
Great, I thought to myself, I pissed myself, but when I felt down there I was dry.
I warned a co-worker about what happened, and afterwards she thanked me. She had the same sensation.

 

[blume357]

XUSNORDIE, you know I think you should never have attempted to drive home in that state? At the very least someone else should have been with you and it sounds like you should have just stayed in the hospital. But then I drove home once with my main heart artery completely blocked ...... you'd think as we get old we'd get smarter.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Blume, you are probably right. They didn't push me out at all, and offered for me to stay as long as I needed. Somehow when they handed me the barf bag (Designed for use when driving, which I found odd) It sort of gave me false confidence. I figured once I got outside the fresh air would help. When I got to my vehicle I texted my Wife and told her I was going to sit there for a bit. She was tracking me on her phone (LIFE 360). Going forward I plan on advising the techs of the episode, and if it happens again I will have a seat in the lobby.

 

[blume357]

I'm a sexist for sure... yesterday I related one of my best stories to some friends.... I actually did drive home with a blocked artery..... then when I got home I yelled for my wife and she came down to my office where I was laying on my bench... and I said the dumbest thing I'd said to her in our 40 years together.... that I wanted to lay there for 5 to 10 minutes and see if I felt any better because I thought I was having a heart attack. This is where in the story I make the sexist comment.... "WOMEN ARE SMARTER THAN MEN!" What did she do? she picked up the phone and dialed 911..... and she pretty much saved my life... that and the half a bottle of baby aspirin she shoved in my mouth and the EMT's showing up in 2 minutes... and then throwing me in the ambulance 3 minutes later... and doing something never advised on the 5 minutes ride to the hospital... TWO nitroglycerin tablets.. then it was one hell of a whirl wind at the ER and 65 minutes after my wife called 911 I had a stint in....... If we ever have another East Coast Ruger Gathering I'll even tell y'all about the valley I looked down into when they were putting the stint in.