Contrast dye - non ionic iodine

[wookielove]

I've been recommended to a CT scan, with and without constrat dye. I can't get straight answers from the techs, other than yes there's risk but they don't know how much. I've forgone the contrast dye in MRIs until now, however this particular CT would only be done if I can do contrast dye. I would benefit from the CT scan, but the dye is freaking me out. I've been sitting on this for a month. Has anyone else researched or are aware of the risks? I do suspect I have subpar kidney function, although it's not indicated on the blood tests.

 

[cfs since 1998]

I am facing this right now, with different doctors wanting CTs and MRIs for various reasons. I have decided to decline all contrast.

I read about the CT contrast affecting your thyroid. As I have a family history of thyroid problems, I don't want to mess with it. I'm declining the MRI contrast as well because I met someone with believes their small fiber neuropathy was caused by the gadolinium. And SFN-like symptoms are the whole reason I'm getting the MRI so I don't want that to happen.

What is your CT for? Mine was ordered for enlarged lymph nodes.

 

[wookielove]

Mine is for a potential bone fracture. I'm going to forgo it also, after thinking on it overnight. The risks from something happening aren't worth it.

 

[bertiedog]

I had a CT scan with contrast last year and was extremely worried about it but I was absolutely fine. The only issue was that for 24 hours I could taste the dye but that disappeared thankfully. I should add that I react to all sorts of things like vaccinations and many foods plus things like MSG.

I have hypothyroidism but had no effect on my thyroid and I took my normal thyroid medication which is both T4 and a very low dose of T3 but I don't think I took the tiny dose of T3 until after the scan.

It showed that I had a 10 mm cyst in my pancreas but it wasn't in a bad place but a follow up MRI was recommended which I hated to be honest as the noise was horrendous. That wrecked my nervous system for a few days but again they weren't concerned at all. Everything else looked fine so I was relieved that the weight loss I had wasn't anything nasty and so I take 10,000 units of lipase which each meal and I have maaged to put 10 lbs of weight back on and look a lot better for it.

It was explained to me that it isn't iodine as such that they use but a variation which is highly unlikely to cause any issues.

Pam

 

[JadeD]

I had a very severe reaction to iodine based CT contrast dye a year ago ending up in hospital for a couple of days. I was bright right head to toe and burning hot and horrendously itchy for weeks after despite steroids and antihistamines. At one point my skin started peeling it was that red and hot.

I think they blew the vein injecting it so quickly by an automated machine but my veins are tiny and overly constricted.

It’s since made my SFN worse. However many do not react this way I was very unlucky. But I would way up the risks and benefits and ask the dr what the merit is of having contrast. Can they easily diagnose the fracture without?

 

[kushami]

@JadeD, I had a similar reaction, although I don’t think it was from dye. I had just had surgery and vaguely remember being told it was from morphine.

Did they give it a name?

 

[JadeD]

@JadeD, I had a similar reaction, although I don’t think it was from dye. I had just had surgery and vaguely remember being told it was from morphine.

Did they give it a name?

I think it was a morbilliform drug reaction but essentially the hives eventually merged and I had no normal white skin left it was all pure red, itchy and hot. I looked like a lobster! Sorry you had a similar experience with morphine. I think it was just a profound drug reaction the dermatologist essentially referred to it as that. I even had a skin biopsy done to confirm.