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#342421 - 05/11/06 02:18 PM
Re: MRI with Contrast
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GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 08/16/05
Posts: 1142
Loc: Suitcase
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I too would like to say I'm sorry. I was unable to decipher your post, but you seemed to really need help, so I simply tried to help in anyway I could.
I wish you well, and as for the going without a referral for anything, I think that is one of the biggest issues we have in this country. You are forced to see one doctor, so that you can go see another, or to get tests, even lab work for jimmies sake. It's not right, and I do feel for those without ins. and even for those who do, but have high copays. It really is unfair. (Except to the doctors.)
_________________________
I don't answer the phone.
I get the feeling whenever I do,
that there will be someone on the other end.
~Fred Couples
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#342424 - 05/11/06 08:31 PM
Re: MRI with Contrast
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GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 1977
Loc: Living in Tyranny
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Quote:
Leave ME alone..being an amatuer physco doc..is not your calling. LEAVE ME ALONE! I MEAN IT! ***MODS!!! PLEASE?-!***
Limper, Jimmy was just trying to help you out. Anyway, it sounds like all your questions were answered. The only thing I am not sold on, is whether you can hoble in off the street, but, you can certainly call one up and tell them your hips hurt, you don't have insurance, you want a scan to know what is wrong, what is the cash price and can they do it without a referral.
I know the place I worked at had a doc who, well, was like a medical director, so, if all else fails, the medical director doc could write the precription.
So, good luck to you! It sounds like you are having some pain and you just need some help. If that is the case, it would be way cheaper to go to an urgent care facility or some family doctor, give them your history, let them do a physical which will document your condition. Then, you could use an OCS as you would have your "records".
But, if you (or your doctor) want to investigate the "cause" of your injuries, then other than an XRAY, an MRI is probably your best bet but as you saw, costs big bucks. Maybe try the university hospitals like was suggested earlier. Oh, and, it isn't "one shot" like an xray. It is a full study. After an MRI, there are about 40 or 50 film slides taken, depending on the machine strength and how thick of a slice they want to examine. Good luck!~~peace
_________________________
Reclaim our liberties, the Constitution, and America! Get the truth At infowars.com
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#342427 - 05/12/06 12:34 AM
Re: MRI with Contrast
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Veteran
Registered: 06/20/05
Posts: 506
Loc: Florida but always a New Yorke...
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Quote:
ionce rejected the dye for a ct scan once myself. like stated above if you are ok with shell fish you should have no problems. i just recently..... last week had a milogram done on my loer back with a spinal tap...not fun, but thats where they inject dye into your spinal canal. anyways i did it and besides a blood pressure loss cause i'm a wimp everything was ok. here is a bit of advice. after the procedure keep your head elevated for 6-8 hours or longer if you can. this keeps the dye from reaching your brain as much. also drink lots and lots of fluids to wash out the dye as quickly as possible. the dye does leaves 1 and 3 people with headaches, and may cause nausea. but the more you drink the better you will feel. the doc told me to drink as much caffeine as possible.... not sure why. good luck you'll be ok
rxzanaflexxx,
Thanks for the reply and info. I am really a wimp and don't even like to have a blood test. Even after reading these posts about how easy it is I don't want to do it. I have already cancelled twice and if I do it again they are not giving me any more appointments. It causes headaches in 1 to 3 people!! That is why my doctor told me to take a vicoden. Of course she didn't bother to tell me that those were the odds. I know I need to just get it over with but I also know that since I have been getting the exact same type of headache, in the same area of my head, and already had an MRI without contrast that showed absolutely nothing, this is just ludicrous. I know I am no doctor but isn't that common sense?
Peace,
Alice
_________________________
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind. Bob Dylan
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#342433 - 05/12/06 09:13 PM
Re: MRI with Contrast
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Banned. Celebrating and cheering very nasty and offensive posts
GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 09/13/04
Posts: 1722
Loc: Definately NObody IN there!!!
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Hi IMSUSCOT1, I beg to differ with you there. I have been getting MRI'S since 1996 w/ and w/out contrast and well they used to do it with the IV and now they 'supposively' got a 'new' dye as they told me and they just inject it into my arm. Still the metal taste, but w/ the straight injection I noticed I dont have the "burning" sensation up thru out my head and all anymore. BUT I always have and still get headaches afterwards. It takes about 2 hrs after the test and I start feeling like I'm just wore completely down. I drink all the fluids, esp. water, that I can to try and flush it thru, but it doesnt help that much at all. After my head starts hurting I get extremely tired and sleepy. My last one was back in April and I had it at 10:30am and got home at 12pm by 12:30pm I was in bed dead asleep with a splitting headache (I did take a lortab) and slept til 3:15 got up and went back to bed at 4pm and slept til 7pm. So I beleive everyone's body is different and its NOT in our heads. Now one thing that does concern me is that noone has ever asked if I was allergic to shell fish.. I dont think I am lol. I just have always had these reactions and I had the Mri's once every yr until 2000 then started every 6 months then in 2003 I have had them every 3 months. You would think I would get used to the dye by now. As far as the taste now, I learned to be chewing gum when I am coming in for the test so most the juices r gone and then hold in my mouth VERY STILL WITHOUT MOVING!! and I dont get the metal taste or an aftertaste. I wasnt being smart or anything I just wanted to let you know that I know when my head hurts and I normally always have migraines, but I definately know, its not 'in my head'. There is 'something' in my head, but thats another topic. thanks for listening!! cali 
_________________________
♰When the power of LOVE,
overcomes the love of POWER,
then the world will know PEACE.♥
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#342434 - 05/13/06 01:37 PM
Re: MRI with Contrast
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Veteran
Registered: 06/20/05
Posts: 506
Loc: Florida but always a New Yorke...
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Quote:
The MRI with contrast DOES NOT CAUSE headaches...these people are talking about an injection into the epidural space a TOTALLY different test.....the MRI contrast is merely injected into a PERIPHERAL vein in the arm and NO HEADACHE is EVER occurred unless it's ALL IN YOUR HEAD, get it. Have the test or don't but having an MRI without contrast is like peeing without pulling your panties down, you get the job done but it's not really that effective.
IMSUSCOT1,
What is this "get it" stuff anyway? It is a very condescending way to get your point across in my opinion. Further, I personally believe that what my doctor said and what Uni said is a lot more credible. Do you get that?
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#342436 - 05/16/06 04:16 PM
Re: MRI with Contrast
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GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 1977
Loc: Living in Tyranny
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Quote:
Hi IMSUSCOT1, I beg to differ with you there. I have been getting MRI'S since 1996 w/ and w/out contrast and well they used to do it with the IV and now they 'supposively' got a 'new' dye as they told me and they just inject it into my arm. Still the metal taste, but w/ the straight injection I noticed I dont have the "burning" sensation up thru out my head and all anymore. BUT I always have and still get headaches afterwards. It takes about 2 hrs after the test and I start feeling like I'm just wore completely down. I drink all the fluids, esp. water, that I can to try and flush it thru, but it doesnt help that much at all. After my head starts hurting I get extremely tired and sleepy. My last one was back in April and I had it at 10:30am and got home at 12pm by 12:30pm I was in bed dead asleep with a splitting headache (I did take a lortab) and slept til 3:15 got up and went back to bed at 4pm and slept til 7pm. So I beleive everyone's body is different and its NOT in our heads. Now one thing that does concern me is that noone has ever asked if I was allergic to shell fish.. I dont think I am lol. I just have always had these reactions and I had the Mri's once every yr until 2000 then started every 6 months then in 2003 I have had them every 3 months. You would think I would get used to the dye by now. As far as the taste now, I learned to be chewing gum when I am coming in for the test so most the juices r gone and then hold in my mouth VERY STILL WITHOUT MOVING!! and I dont get the metal taste or an aftertaste. I wasnt being smart or anything I just wanted to let you know that I know when my head hurts and I normally always have migraines, but I definately know, its not 'in my head'. There is 'something' in my head, but thats another topic. thanks for listening!! cali
I think you are confusing CT Scan with MRI. With a CT Scan, it is also like a tube that you go in, but it is done with XRAYS and uses DYES and has to do with SHELLFISH and causes HEADACHES, etc Those CT Scan contrast agents do cause some nasty side effects in some people, and they do have some new stuff, at least, the last scan I had they did.
MRI is a totally different technology and they don't use iodine and to the absolute best to my knowledge, shellfish have absolutely nothing to do with the equation. That is all CT scan (AKA CAT SCAN) related.
Now, if you got a headache after having been injected with Gadolinium, it may be that you are sensitive to the gadolinium, which is basically a metallic substance suspended in fluid. It is rare, but some people can be allergic to it, but again, extremely rare. There are different brands, but they are the same basic material. Perhaps one brand would work better for you, such as, it may be suspended in another form of fluid. And, I agree, ANYTHING being pumped directly into your vein can give you a weird taste. I mean, it is circulating in your system fast. Last month when I went to the hospital, just plain saline to flush the IV gave me a glue like smell or sensation momentarily.
Now, I would not say that an MRI without contrast is like peeing with your pants on. LOL It all "depends" (pardon the pun) on what you are being examined for. However, if the doctor ordered it, I highly recommend following his advice as it is VERY beneficial especially in dignosing any UBOs or Unidentified Bright Objects that show up on a non-contrasted scan. I have performed many scans without contrast, some with. Brain scans, in my opinion, should always use contrast. You are in there, being scanned, get it with contrast. Do it once. Otherwise, there may be a "questionable" item, then you go back for the "contrast". Just Get'R'done!
Cali: Why so many MRI's if I may ask? What's the diagnosis? And, if they are CT instead, that is a lot of radiation!!
~~peace
_________________________
Reclaim our liberties, the Constitution, and America! Get the truth At infowars.com
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#342437 - 05/16/06 04:32 PM
Re: MRI with Contrast
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GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 1977
Loc: Living in Tyranny
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Quote:
wow, uni, you are full of surprising information!
My kids swear that I glowed in the dark for two nights after my ABDO MRI but that was drinking that Barium milkshake delights & they are VERY imaginative offspring.
Now, the isotope for my cardiac stress test even I could walk myself to the bathroom without stubbing my toe in the dark for three days after THAT one...just kidding.
Got more use outta my lamaze classes during these torpedo tube machine gun experiences & a pair of foam earplugs than I ever did for actual childbirth or my spouse's snoring.
Goodnight. I know, I'm looney from the tornado watch & the lightning is closing in so I'm Logging off before I get to FEEL the power of this comedy without even grabbing the back of the monitor (or television set, as Robin Williams said...)
Good Glowing Night to all.
Ummm not to argue or anything, but Barium delights are typically used for CT not MRI. Barium is an XRAY contrast agent and the gut (intestines) are difficult to MRI because they are constant moving like little aliens LOL
However, I have not performed any MRIs since the late 90s and I know they were trying to determine a means to do so. BUT, if you drank barium for an MRI, it was probably just an extra because an MRI uses magnetic fields, not XRAYS so I don't see the need for barium milkshakes. Unless it has something to do with 3D or fMRI (functional MRI). I wasn't involved in those and they may have used some type of agent other than Gado for an fMRI. I know they can do 3D heart studies and arterial studies, etc All the fun stuff I never got to do. Maybe the barium was a way to fill the gut and would be easy to exclude from the "normal" tissue. Could maybe work, I guess, what do I know? I'm no freakin doctor LOL
I know what you mean about the stress test though, nuclear medicine. I had one of those done. I also had one done for a gall bladder function test. NOT FUN. They don't tell you they are gonna make you feel like hurling at the end when the inject CCK(sp). But that is also nuclear medicine that watches all the isotopes collect in the liver and shoot out the gall bladder and all. Lay still for like an hour. Didn't even give me a pillow or a TV. LOL I didn't see if I would glow in the dark hummm that could been fun. BUT, I'm NOT going through THAT again for some glow in the dark fun LOL
~~peace
_________________________
Reclaim our liberties, the Constitution, and America! Get the truth At infowars.com
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#342438 - 05/16/06 04:51 PM
Re: MRI with Contrast
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GRAND Pooh-Bah
Registered: 11/08/02
Posts: 1977
Loc: Living in Tyranny
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Quote:
Uni,
You really are a wealth of information. I want to thank you for taking the time to share it with us. Personally, I would rather know these things before going in for the tests. Are you telling the good as well as the bad? LOL
You have to excuse me but I really do not want to do this.
Peace,
Alice
Yup! The only BAD is if you don't like small spaces (claustrophobic). If you are, get someone else to drive and take a xanax or a valium so you can relax. Listen to the headphones instead of the banging. Relax and hold still. 30 to 45 minutes later, you are done.
My last scan was about a year ago (scanned my inner ears for tinnitus) and they set up the little IV of contrast in my arm and connected the syringe ahead of time. They put me in the tube, about 3/4 done, they pushed the stuff in the vein, then finished the scan.
The hardest part is relaxing and staying still (and the banging sound). But, you will do fine, really. If you are the nervous type though, take a xanax. It will "feel" like you are going in a coffin, but in reality, only your upper body is in the tube. The higher the tesla number of the machine, the faster the scan will be over with. Piece of cake, just noisy.
Just be sure you remove ALL jewelry even any umm hidden ones. Remember, it is a super magnet LOL I can imagine someone with a breast piercing with a magnetic piece of jewelry trying to go inside and not removing it. That could be painful LOL
Oh, some people say they see flashing lights (seeing spots) during part of the brain scan. So, if you do, don't freak. It is normal and means they have a good machine! Although, I didn't see any. Maybe I have no brain though...hummmmmm.
If you want to get to the bottom of your migraines or whatever, Get'R'Done, ya wuss!! j/k Let me know how it goes!!~~peace
_________________________
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